Wondering how to transfer Optus eSIM to new phone? Well, this is a straightforward method.
According to our research, many of you struggle to transfer an activated eSIM from your old mobile to a new one.
To be honest, this process is prone to various misconceptions and if you miss a step from the process, the entire process may fail, leaving you without mobile service.
So, we have created a simple, step-by-step guide to carry you through the entire process!
To transfer an activated Optus eSIM to a new phone, first, you must use the Optus app to deactivate the eSIM on your old phone. Then, you must download, install, and sign into the Optus app on your new device and activate the eSIM.
How to Transfer Optus eSIM to New Phone Easily?
Tip: If you’ve never transferred an eSIM before, we recommend following all the steps below!
1. Verify eSIM Requirements (New Phone)
It’s crucial to verify that your new mobile device will be compatible with the eSIM card that the old device is currently using.
This must be done before deactivating your SIM card so you can verify that you’ll remain connected to the network and avoid compatibility issues down the road.
Your new mobile phone must comply with the following requirements:
There are additional things such as the mobile device’s firmware version, whether it’s up to date, and your internet connection.
You must verify that everything is intact before proceeding further.
2. Deactivate the Optus eSIM (Old Phone)
Before you can activate your eSIM card on the new phone, you must deactivate the eSIM card on your old device using the Optus mobile app.
For this purpose, the app should be up-to-date, and you need to be signed in to the correct Optus account, which includes the eSIM for transfer.
Here’s how to deactivate your eSIM on your old mobile phone:
- Open the Optus application on your old mobile.
- Verify that you’re signed in to the correct account.
- From the main screen, go to the “Account” tab.
- Press the “SIM Management” option in the menu.
- Finally, select the “Transfer or Restore eSIM” tile.
From there, you’ll be guided through several steps that will either prompt you to deactivate the eSIM on this mobile or restore it.
You need to make sure that the eSIM is deactivated so you can proceed with the configuration and activation of your new mobile device for Optus eSIM.
Keep reading to learn precisely what you need to do!
Note: Deactivating the eSIM does not mean you’re unsubscribing from Optus!
3. Migrate Your Optus App (New Phone)
The app migration is nothing to worry about.
However, this is a significant part of the Optus transfer eSIM to the new phone process, so let’s break up the most critical process steps.
First, you need to ensure that the most recent version of the Optus app is installed on your new phone and you’re signed in to the same account.
- If you use a different account, you cannot download your eSIM card on the new device, as account ownership is essential.
It does not matter whether you’re transferring the eSIM from Android to Android, Android to iPhone, or vice versa as long as the new phone is compatible with the eSIM.
The Optus app is available for both Android and iOS, respectively, in the Google Play Store or the App Store.
When you’re signed in, it’s time to activate the eSIM on your new phone!
Reminder: We recommend signing out and uninstalling the Optus app on your old mobile!
4. Activate the Mobile eSIM (New Phone)
When your new, compatible mobile is equipped with the latest version of the Optus app, it’s time to go into the settings and activate your eSIM.
The most crucial aspect here is your internet, whether the connection is good, and if you can download the data for the eSIM on the new phone.
Here are the steps you need to undertake:
- Verify your mobile is connected to the internet.
- Open the Optus mobile app on your new phone.
- Verify that you’re signed in to your Optus profile.
- Then, go to “Account” → “SIM Management.”
- As previously, select “Transfer or Restore eSIM.”
This time, when prompted, you must restore and download the eSIM card, which takes about 4-5 minutes on average.
Your new mobile must be connected to the internet, or downloading the necessary data is impossible, and the process length depends on how fast your internet is.
5. Set eSIM as the Primary Service (Optional)
If your device supports more than one SIM, for example, you’re transferring an eSIM, but your new phone is also equipped with a physical SIM, you can select the primary one.
This process is different on different mobile device brands. Hence, the steps are not the same for everyone.
Here’s how it’s done on some of the most popular mobile brands:
Set Primary Service eSIM on Samsung:
- First, go into your mobile’s Settings.
- Then, tap on the “Connections” tab.
- Next, press on “SIM Card Manager.”
- Select your preferred primary eSIM.
Set Primary Service eSIM on an iPhone:
- From the main screen, go to Settings.
- Then, tap on the “Mobile Data” pane.
- Advance into the “Cellular Data” tab.
- Select the preferred service number.
That was how to transfer eSIM to a new phone Optus, and how to manage multiple numbers on the same mobile.
Let’s next take a quick look at some key questions some of you may have!
Optus eSIM Activation: How Long it Takes?
When your eSIM card is activated on your mobile device, you won’t be immediately connected to the Optus network.
Typically, the Optus services will come online on your device after about 15 minutes up to 4 hours after successful activation.
Many Optus users recommend rebooting the mobile a few minutes after the activation to speed up the process, but it’s unclear whether this works.
However, if you’ve waited for hours but the new mobile device is not connected to the Optus network, perhaps you did something wrong.
Optus eSIM Transfer Not Working – Quick Fix
So, if you’ve transferred the Optus eSIM card by using the steps above but the process did not work, there are a few things that you need to inspect.
Here’s exactly what to do chronologically:
Step #1 Reboot Your Optus Mobile
Restarting your mobile via complete shutdown is essential by holding the Power button and then waiting for a few minutes.
If there is a physical SIM card in the new phone, and the unit only supports one SIM card, it’s essential to eject the physical SIM while the device is “OFF.”
Step #2 Toggle on/off Airplane Mode
If you’ve successfully transferred the eSIM from the old phone to the new one, but the Optus service is not available, perhaps it’s a network bug.
We recommend turning on and off the Airplane mode on your device to refresh the networking and restore the services immediately.
Step #3 Factory Reset Your Device
If your Optus eSIM has been transferred, but the device can’t connect to the Optus network, we recommend performing a factory reset or network reset.
This method is especially useful if the device had a physical SIM or another eSIM inserted before the eSIM migration from the old one.
Note: If nothing helps, we recommend contacting Optus Customer Service!
Quick Recap:
Hence, to transfer Optus eSIM to a new phone you need to deactivate the eSIM on your old mobile and then install the Optus app on your new phone.
To activate the eSIM on your new phone, you must go to the “Transfer or Restore eSIM.”
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Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.