If I buy an iPhone SE online from the Apple Store, will they be able to port my T-Mobile number over to an eSIM without my having to phone-wrestle with a T-M tech? I’m not able to go to a physical store. I have a newish hard SIM for my old 6S+, but it hasn’t been activated.
iPhone 6s Plus, iOS 15
No. Apple does not activate sims for phones themselves. That is something only you carrier does.
Once the physical SIM card has been activated by a carrier, it can then be converted to en eSim in the iPhone settings directly.
Only your carrier can activate the SIM card with your service. Unless you are changing carriers, there is no porting involved. If you want to still use T-Mobile then they have to provide an active sim card with the service,
If you want to change carriers away from T-Mobile, then you need to go to another carrier and ask them to port your number to their own network. You would still have to wrestle with T-Mobile to get a porting code form them so the new carrier can port the number.
Apple is not a carrier, it does not port numbers, not does it activate SIM cards. They can however help you convert an active physical sim, to an eSim.
click here ➜ About eSIM on iPhone - Apple Support
No. Apple does not activate sims for phones themselves. That is something only you carrier does.
Once the physical SIM card has been activated by a carrier, it can then be converted to en eSim in the iPhone settings directly.
Only your carrier can activate the SIM card with your service. Unless you are changing carriers, there is no porting involved. If you want to still use T-Mobile then they have to provide an active sim card with the service,
If you want to change carriers away from T-Mobile, then you need to go to another carrier and ask them to port your number to their own network. You would still have to wrestle with T-Mobile to get a porting code form them so the new carrier can port the number.
Apple is not a carrier, it does not port numbers, not does it activate SIM cards. They can however help you convert an active physical sim, to an eSim.
click here ➜ About eSIM on iPhone - Apple Support
Clear and straightforward. I chose the carrier. Many thanks.
Will Apple activate a new phone?
