Difficulty transferring to new iPhone. Sim details lost.

Question

Level 1

18 points

Difficulty transferring to new iPhone. Sim details lost.

new phone transfer esim … a cautionary tale

New iphone … i remeber being impressed by the simplicity of moving to an exciting new phone. Today, less so!

the new os suggested i convert my physical sim into an esim. I trusted apple! I was wrong. It disabled my physical sim card and failed completely to generate an esim! I cannot even call my service provider … no phone!

it also failed to pair with my watch and did not transfer all of my settings across … i am still working on what is broken, for example siri has returned :-( and does not seem to have a disable option … just says downloading!

is there a way to resurrect my sim card? Disable siri? Get my watch out of a permanent reboot loop, retire my app and watch settings? … a long list of fustration I realise … is there a good user-based site that will help? The apple support site is appalling, and most other sites are simply regurgitating the same stuff (ai slop)

Thanks.

iPhone 17 Pro Max

Posted on Feb 4, 2026 4:19 AM

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Answer 1

Jeff Donald

Level 8

45,852 points

Feb 4, 2026 5:11 AM in response to IHadaName

Contact your cellular service provider. They will need to reprovision your current SIM or provide a new SIM or eSIM.

Try a forced restart to get your Apple Watch out of a boot loop.

If your Apple Watch is stuck on the Apple logo - Apple Support

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Answer 2

IHadaName Author

Level 1

18 points

Feb 4, 2026 7:45 AM in response to Jeff Donald

Thank you.

I have now contacted them … using a friend’s phone … and having to get past the ‘call from the registered number’ and speak to the ‘ai assistant’s hand’ brush-offs. Unfortunately I am with O2 (UK). They say they will send me a new physical sim at some point since they were unable to reactivate the old card (thanks apple) and unable to activate an esim (thanks again apple). We will see.

Currently, without phone, sms, 2FA, I cannot make contact with so institutions. I am just hoping that my nphone number remains intact …

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Answer 3

IHadaName Author

Level 1

18 points

Feb 5, 2026 4:37 AM in response to IHadaName

An update. Somewhere during the night the. eSim became active.

Apple did not warn that it could mean that you will be without a phone, credit cards (wallet) or mobile data for up to 24 hours if you choose this option!

O2 service support did not seem to know it either!!!

Much fustration suffered through a lack of communication by those who should know! My feelings towards Apple have shifted negatively in a significant way, not helped by the appalling glass ui and the inability to revert software to no glass ui.. i do not want ai doing what I never asked it to and am perfectly capable of achieving … I just want a readable screen on my phone!

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Answer 4

Jeff Donald

Level 8

45,852 points

Feb 5, 2026 4:43 AM in response to IHadaName

Your eSIM is basically controlled and updated by your carrier. If they didn’t inform you of their procedures, that’s on your carrier. When I’ve had eSIM issues with my carrier, AT&T, issue are resolved by my carrier in about 15 minutes. Apple cannot possibly warn individuals that carriers may delay service for the hundreds of carriers that support iPhones.

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Answer 5

Jeff Donald

Level 8

45,852 points

Feb 4, 2026 8:04 AM in response to IHadaName

You’re welcome. No worries, as long as you pay your bill the number is yours. If your carrier has physical stores, they should be able to handle your needs as well. Good luck!

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Answer 6

LD150

Level 10

101,952 points

Feb 5, 2026 7:19 AM in response to IHadaName

I have never has iOS advise changing to eSIM, are you sure it wasn't an invitation from your provider?

When I did it, it was through my provider and it was seamless. Get the QR code, take out the SIM, tap add eSIM, process the QR code. Done.

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