Why Is My eSIM Transfer Not Supported? – (Instant Fix!)

Some users encounter problems with their eSIM transfer, leading them to ask: Why is my eSIM transfer not supported? In this article, we’ll guide you with the solutions you need to fix it. 

When transferring your eSIM, you want to use it as quickly as possible. If you run into any issues, it can be quite frustrating since you know you’re going to be doing some troubleshooting.

Find out how!

To get your eSIM to transfer without a hitch, you must ensure your phones are connected to a stable WiFi network.

You’ll also need to look at transfer options such as the eSIM Quick Transfer feature, which minimizes errors. Knowing the cause of the problem can help us find the best solution.

So, here is a list of the most common reasons your eSIM transfer is not supported. 

Reasons Why My eSIM Transfer Not Supported

To transfer eSIM between iPhones faster and more conveniently, ensure your devices run the latest iOS version.

Some users still encounter issues, even with their iPhones running iOS 16.

If you have the same problem, it could be due to the following: 

• Your phone does not have a passcode
• Your phone locks during the transfer process
• Connectivity issues, especially with the Bluetooth module
• Temporary software bugs and glitches can cause this issue
• Both phones are not connected via a stable connection

These are the possible reasons your eSIM transfer is not supported. Now, let’s proceed to the solutions. 

All the Ways to Fix iPhone eSIM Transfer Not Supported

Before we move on to the solutions, verify that your phones are connected to a stable Internet connection.

You need both WiFi and Bluetooth enabled to start the eSIM transfer. Turn the Bluetooth and WiFi off and on to refresh the connection. 

If the iPhone eSIM transfer not supported issue persists, try to power cycle your modem and router. 

• Unplug the router first, then the modem. 
• Wait for 30 seconds.
• Plug the modem back, followed by the router. 

These basic troubleshooting steps should get you to transfer your eSIM to your new iPhone.

However, if these don’t work, you can use other solutions below.

Solution #1: Make Sure Your Device Has a Passcode

It’s not often mentioned, but a passcode is an important requirement to set up on your phone so you can successfully transfer your eSIM.

It might seem trivial, but it’s something that your phone needs to have, or the transfer won’t go through. It’s certainly a security issue, and having one ensures that your details are protected all the time.

Here’s how to set up your iPhone’s passcode:

1. Open your phone’s Settings.
2. Go to the Face ID and Passcode menu,
3. Tap on Turn Passcode On.
4. Enter the passcode you want to use.
5. Type it again to confirm and activate it.

Note: Your iPhone’s passcode is six digits by default, but you can change some settings to reduce it to four.

Solution #2: Set Your Phone’s Auto-Lock Feature to Off

Now that your phone now has a passcode, it can lock itself out whenever it’s idle.

Depending on your current screen timeout and lock settings, your phone can lock itself before the process is complete.

For the eSIM transfer to complete, your phone must be switched on and active the entire time.

That means that it won’t lock automatically, as this also cuts network connections like Bluetooth and WiFi, which is essential when it comes to transferring your eSIM.

Here’s how to disable your iPhone’s auto-lock feature:

1. Go to your phone’s Settings.
2. Scroll down to Display and Brightness.
3. Tap on the Auto-Lock option.
4. Choose Never to stop your iPhone from locking.

Pro Tip: For security and privacy reasons, you will need to revert this once you have successfully transferred your eSIM.

Solution #3: Toggle Your Network Modules, then Attempt to Transfer

Apart from your iPhone needing to have a passcode and be active, there’s another essential requirement that you need to look out for.

Transferring your eSIM from one device to another requires that they’re connected for the entire transfer process. You need WiFi and Bluetooth working on both phones for this to happen.

If there’s an issue with either WiFi or Bluetooth, it can hinder the transfer process.

When any of this networking hardware gets cut off, the process can stop and result in you getting the eSIM transfer not supported error.

Here’s how to ensure that your WiFi and Bluetooth work before transferring your eSIM:

1. Activate Airplane Mode to disconnect all connections.
2. Wait for around 30 seconds to a minute before deactivating Airplane Mode.
3. Turn off your phone’s WiFi, and turn it back on after a minute.
4. Switch off Bluetooth, and turn it back on.
5. Attempt the transfer process again.

Pro Tip: Do this on both iPhones at the same time for the best results.

Solution #4: Momentarily Deactivate the eSIM Line You’re Transferring

Transfering your eSIM from your old iPhone is a dance of two devices.

Both phones need to work flawlessly for around 5 to 10 minutes to get everything moved to your new device.

Your old phone can also play a part and can malfunction. If this happens, you want to perform a soft reset of your current eSIM line.

You must reactivate it so your phone recognizes it again and successfully sends its configuration to your new device.

Here’s how to reset your eSIM line and prepare it for transfer:

1. On your old iPhone, activate Airplane Mode.
2. Wait for 10 seconds, then deactivate Airplane mode.
3. Open your phone’s Settings, then go to Cellular.
4. Check if you can still see the number.
5. If you can, deactivate the line and turn it back on after 2 to 5 minutes.

Note: You can also follow these steps on your new iPhone while checking on Control Center to see if it detects the signal.

Solution #5: Reset Your Phone’s Network Settings

If you’re asking, why is my eSIM transfer not supported, you need both old and new phones to be properly connected.

They will usually use two modes to achieve this, Bluetooth and WiFi. For the most part, they need both to work so the configuration files are transferred seamlessly and quickly.

If there’s a problem with your network settings, it will be impossible for you to transfer and eventually set up your eSIM.

You will need to fix it to get it to work correctly. The best way to do it would be to reset your phone’s network settings.

Here’s how you can reset your iPhone’s network settings:

1. Go to your phone’s Settings.
2. Select General.
3. Tap on Transfer or Reset iPhone.
4. Choose the Reset option.
5. Click on Reset Network Settings to confirm.

Solution #6: Use the eSIM Quick Transfer Feature on Your iPhone 

One eSIM option that you have, if you’re with one of the major carriers, is to use the Quick Transfer feature.

It’s a convenient feature that allows you to move your eSIM from one device to another without needing to contact your carrier. 

If you have not gone through these steps before, you’ll want to follow this as this is a supported method of successfully moving your eSIM.

Here’s how to use the eSIM Quick Transfer on your iPhone:

1. On your new iPhone, open Settings.
2. Go to Cellular, and select Add Cellular Plan.
3. Tap on the Transfer from another iPhone option.
4. On your previous iPhone, tap Transfer to confirm the transfer.
5. On your new iPhone, wait until you see the Finish setting up an alert, and tap on it.

Note: Before starting the Quick Transfer process, you want to ensure that both iPhones are connected to the same WiFi network with their Bluetooth modules activated.

There you go!

These solutions should help you get your eSIM transferred to your new phone without running into any problems.

Now, if none of these steps successfully transfer your eSIM, you will need to contact your carrier’s customer support department, as it could be an error on their end.

Bottom Line

Now that you know the answer to why is my eSIM transfer not supported, you won’t have to worry whenever you encounter this error. It’s an easy fix that won’t take more than 20 minutes of your time, all you need to do is follow these solutions carefully, and you’re done.

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