"eSIM Transfer Not Supported": Moving to iPhone 15/16
US iPhones (14 series and newer) have NO physical SIM tray. You MUST use eSIM. But what if the transfer fails? It's usually a carrier permission issue.
Why "Quick Transfer" Fails
Apple's magical "bring phones close together" transfer only works if:
- Both phones are on the same iCloud account.
- Both phones are Unlocked or locked to the same carrier.
If your new iPhone 15 is locked to AT&T, but your old iPhone 13 uses T-Mobile, the transfer will fail with "The SIM is not supported".
The "QR Code" Workaround
If automatic transfer fails, call your carrier to generate a fresh QR Code.
Warning: Do not delete the eSIM from the old phone until the new one has signal! Once deleted, an eSIM cannot be recovered without carrier support.
Technical Glossary
EID (Embedded Identity Document)
A 32-digit unique serial number for the eSIM chip. Think of it as the "IMEI" for the electronic SIM.
SM-DP+ Address
The server address used to download the eSIM profile (e.g., rsp.truphone.com). If you manually add an eSIM, you need this address.
Dual eSIM
The ability of iPhone 13+ to have two active eSIM numbers simultaneously. Both IMEIs (Digital SIM 1 & 2) must be unlocked.