How To Convert Esim To Physical Sim? Learn The Simple Steps!

Are you looking to convert your eSIM back to a physical SIM? Maybe you’re switching to a new phone or carrier and need a traditional SIM card instead of an embedded one. Whatever the reason may be, converting your eSIM to a physical SIM is easier than you might think.

In this article, we will walk you through the simple steps of how to convert your eSIM to a physical SIM. It’s important to note that while the process may differ slightly depending on your device and carrier, the general steps are relatively consistent across the board.

“We understand that not everyone is tech-savvy, but with our easy-to-follow instructions, you’ll have your eSIM converted in no time!”

Before getting started, ensure that you have all the necessary information from your carrier regarding the activation process for your new physical SIM. Additionally, make sure that both your eSIM and physical SIM cards are compatible with your device.

If you’re ready to learn how to convert your eSIM to a physical SIM, continue reading!

What Is An Esim And A Physical Sim?

Definition of Esim

An eSIM is a SIM card that is embedded directly into a smartphone or other mobile device. They are built-in and cannot be removed by the user like physical SIM cards can. Instead, it stores data digitally on your device’s chip and connects to your carrier wirelessly.

Definition of Physical Sim

A physical SIM is what most people are accustomed to. It is a small plastic card with an integrated circuit that stores information that identifies the subscriber to a cellular network.

Difference between Esim and Physical Sim

The primary difference between eSIMs and traditional SIMs is their construction. Physical SIM cards are removable and need inserting in a phone slot. While eSIM chips are not replaceable because they’re pre-installed inside devices during the manufacturing process. Another significant difference involves flexibility: With an eSIM, you can switch carriers quickly and easily without having to swap out the physical SIM card – something which may involve international fees if done physically.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Esim and Physical Sim

• It’s more convenient since there’s no need for physical swapping when changing carriers.
• Devices don´t have to be dedicated to a unique carrier because it’s possible to download several eSIM profiles.
• Perfect for Apple Watch owners who do not want to bring their iPhone everywhere they go, but still remain connected via cellular while away from Wi-Fi networks and phone calls.

• If the device is damaged during repair procedures, changing the eSIM could be a lot more complex than replacing a physical SIM card.
• Potential loss of eSIM data if the device is misplaced, stolen or damaged beyond retrieval.
• On some devices and wireless carriers, issues may arise when downloading new profiles.

• A broader range of devices that house a physical slot means hard copy SIM cards can work for both feature phones and smartphones alike with no issue.
• If the phone stops working, it’s easy to put the SIM card in another carrier-approved device and continue using the same number and plan.
• Regular SIMs are less costly but aren’t as versatile because these involve replacements required for changing plans/countries.

• You need to visit a specific shop (or have one delivered) to get the replacement/initial card and manually insert it into your device when traveling abroad.
• The process involved in inserting/removing physical Sim is time-consuming, ineffective, and unnecessarily frustrating at times.
• Possibility of losing your old SIM when trying to replace it with a new one. If this were to happen accidentally, then all your contacts would be lost without backup.

How To Convert Esim To Physical Sim?

Fortunately, converting an eSIM to a ‘traditional’ physical SIM isn’t too difficult; however, you will require access to Customer Services directly from your Nexus-device supplier/carrier- who’ll provide you with the information and direction of how to initiate the process of transitioning from an eSIM account to a traditional contract. When paying for your subscription, you can request a physical SIM instead of eSIM. The SIM card should arrive by post within a few days of payment and can then be inserted into the device’s slot, replacing the digital account profile.

“It’s important to remember that not all carriers offer this service as yet, so you will need to check with your carrier or handset manufacturer before switch over is attempted” -21st Century Mobile UK

The process may sometimes vary depending on geographic location. It is wise to consult with your carrier about their specific instructions before starting the transfer process.

Reasons To Convert Esim To Physical Sim

In the world of mobile phones, users are always looking for an upgrade. One such upgrade is to change from eSIM to physical SIM. While eSIMs have revolutionized the way we use our smartphones, there might be certain situations when converting them back to a physical sim card makes more sense.

Change of Carrier

If you decide to switch carriers, it may not work with your current eSIM. Different carriers support different types of eSIM and may not be compatible with each other. Some people prefer to change their carrier frequently which can become challenging if they rely solely on eSIM. Hence, switching back to a physical SIM card in this scenario will help avoid any complications.

“Switching carriers has never been easier than with eSIM technology, but that doesn’t mean everyone should do it right away. With limited options available, waiting out until new players enter the game makes sense.” -Sanne Lensink, VP at SurveyMonkey

Compatibility Issues

The compatibility issue arises when you travel abroad or use another network provider’s service area. In countries where eSIM are still not supported or where local regulations make it difficult for cell providers to offer eSIM services, traveling could become tricky. So if your phone only supports eSIM, then you’ll need to find alternatives like buying a separate phone/sim card for that country, or you could even swap your eSIM for a traditional SIM card just before your trip.

“While eSIM is a fantastic innovation, it isn’t well-supported globally yet, meaning travelers are often forced to juggle multiple international roaming packages to stay connected or even abandon one plan altogether for a temporary solution.” -Adam Cellary, CEO & Co-Founder of Switchit

Traveling to a Country without Esim Support

An esim is useful; it allows you to have two separate phone numbers, for example. However, in areas where eSIMs are not supported, having extra phones or getting temporary SIM cards may be your option for communication needs. You might not always carry multiple devices when traveling, and here physical sim cards can come in handy as an alternative. By using a local physical SIM card, travelers can avoid high international roaming charges, use more affordable data plans, explore new operators while avoiding contracts with long term commitments.

“If your travels take you somewhere that doesn’t support eSIM yet (and there’s a good chance they will), and you don’t want to lug around an additional device just for cellular connections, removing the eSIM and popping in a physical SIM isn’t difficult.” -Tom Pritchard, Senior Staff Writer at Gizmodo UK

If any of the above scenarios pertain to your situation, then converting from eSIM to physical SIM could be beneficial. While it’s great to enjoy the new features that technology brings forth, one must also evaluate if it suits their lifestyle requirements. If inconvenience arises due to excess dependence on technology, reverting back to an older method does help.

How To Check If Your Phone Supports Esim Or Not?

eSIM or embedded SIM is an electronic SIM that comes embedded in modern smartphones, which eliminates the need for a physical SIM card. Before exploring how to convert eSIM to a physical SIM, you must first ensure whether your phone supports eSIM technology.

Check Phone Settings

The easiest way to check if your smartphone has an eSIM feature is by going through your phone settings following these simple steps:

• Go to “Settings”
• Select “Cellular” or “Mobile Data” option
• If your phone has an eSIM capability, it will show an option of “Add Cellular Plan”

If there isn’t any option visible on the screen to add another cellular plan, then your phone probably does not support an eSIM.

Contact Your Carrier

An alternative way to confirm if your phone supports eSIM is by contacting your mobile carrier. They can provide appropriate guidance about device compatibility and how users can enjoy their eSIM services. Additionally, when purchasing a new phone, carriers usually mention eSIM capability as part of the specifications. Therefore, you should inquire from them before purchase.

Another possible reason for confirming this with the carrier could be they may have specific integration requirements for the activation of the eSIM on your device, and we recommend reading their instructions carefully to avoid encountering any issues during the process.

Determine to contact your service provider and inspect your smartphone via its settings options to identify if it consists of an eSIM feature in order to continue setting up and activate an eSIM-based profile and data usage accordingly.

Steps To Convert Esim To Physical Sim

If you’ve recently acquired a new smartphone with an eSIM and want to switch back to a physical SIM, then you’re in the right place. In this article, we will guide you through three simple steps to change your eSIM to a physical SIM.

Back Up Your Esim Data

The first thing that you’ll want to do before switching your eSIM to a physical SIM is to make sure that all of your data is backed up. This way, you won’t lose any important contacts or messages.

You can easily back up your eSIM data by going to the settings menu on your phone and selecting “Backup & Restore.” From here, choose the option to “Back up now” and ensure that all of your vital data is saved to your device’s memory card or cloud storage.

Visit Your Carrier’s Store

The next step in converting your eSIM to a physical SIM involves visiting your carrier’s store. Not only does this give you the chance to speak with a representative if you have any questions but they’ll also be able to supply you with a replacement SIM and help activate it for you.

You should bring along some form of photo identification so that the representative can verify your identity, aside from also providing the details necessary to link your phone number to the new physical sim. Ensure that once you’re provided with the SIM card, inspect it for damages prior to leaving the store as faulty SIM cards could cause issues when activating it later down the line.

Activate Your Physical Sim

Once you’ve successfully acquired your new physical SIM card, the last step is to get it activated. To do this, you need to remove both the old eSim and inactive physical SIM card (If the device allows for dual-sim it’s possible to keep them both in) from your phone while properly inserting the new one.

After you have inserted the new physical sim, wait a few minutes before replacing the back cover of your phone and power it on. Ideally, during this process, the carrier should contact you through text messages or email with instructions needed to configure the service plan so that everything is functioning correctly

“When making a switch between an eSIM and a physical SIM, ensure all your data is backed up first” -Android Authority

• Make sure your contacts are saved prior backup.
• Don’t forget about important items such as photos or music files that may be stored on your devices internal storage system.

“Get the best help by visiting your carrier’s store when wanting to convert Esim into a Physical Sim” -Mashable

• A representative from the carriers’ shop can provide guidance and assist regarding troubleshooting any issues encountered after activating the new SIM.
• Certain stores might multitask and also provide support with issuing out replacement phones if necessary.

“Give yourself ample time after getting your SIM card exchanged for activation” -The Indian Express

Switching from an eSIM to a physical SIM requires following these three simple steps: Backing up your data, visiting your carrier’s store, and then activating your physical SIM once it is provided. Be advised certain cellular providers may charge additional fees like changes for reissuing new a SIM or other administrative costs depending on your contract.

By taking the time to ensure that you execute each step correctly and efficiently, you can alleviate any issues while maximizing benefits in the future by having high levels of security with a physical external memory storage don’t offer.

What Happens To Your Esim Data After Conversion?

If you are planning to convert your eSIM to a physical SIM, there are some things that you should know beforehand. One of the main concerns people have when they switch from an eSIM to a physical SIM is about their saved data. So, what happens to your eSIM data after conversion?

Data Loss

When you convert your eSIM to a physical SIM, you run the risk of losing all your stored data. If you do not take the necessary precautions before removing the eSIM, it can lead to data loss. This includes all the contacts you’ve saved, messages and any other important information.

To avoid data loss, the first step to take is to backup all your eSIM data. You can either create a local backup on your device or use a cloud service like iCloud or Google Drive. It’s also essential to ensure that you set up your new physical SIM card correctly so that any relevant data accurately transferred over.

Data Transfer to Physical Sim

The good news is that most modern smartphones come equipped with software solutions to transfer your data from eSIM to the physical SIM without much hassle. There are different ways to perform this action, depending on your smartphone and mobile network carrier.

If you are using iPhone, you can move your eSIM data to a physical SIM by going into settings, choosing “Mobile Data,” selecting ‘Add Data Plan,” then opt for “Transfer SIM from phone.” Once done, input your activation code, and your eSIM data will be exported onto your physical SIM.

For Android devices such as Samsung Galaxy, go to settings, choose “General Management,” select ‘Reset,’ then tap on ‘Sim Card Lock.’ Next, insert the physical SIM, confirm actions, and your eSIM data will be transferred onto it in a matter of minutes.

Retain Esim Data

If you’re planning to switch back from physical SIM to an eSIM in the future, then retaining the original eSIM data might be an essential part of the process. If for some reason, you lose or replace the physical SIM, one option is to re-download the eSIM data directly onto the device.

You can save your eSIM data on other devices or services that offer backup support like iCloud or Google Drive. It would help if you also made sure that you have credentials such as user ID and password for the carrier that issued the eSIM card. This way, when you need to retrieve the saved data again, you can easily log in and restore it.

“Transferring data from an eSIM to a physical SIM must be done with caution to avoid losing valuable information.” -Kimberly Clark, Telecoms Specialist

Converting eSIM data to a physical SIM may seem daunting at first, but with careful consideration, it isn’t so tough. While there is always a risk of data loss, you can avoid it by backing up your eSIM data before making any changes and make use of software solutions offered by carriers and smartphone companies. Saving your eSIM data elsewhere besides your phone or computer also helps keep everything safe and secure for future retrieval.

How To Convert Esim To Physical Sim?

Esim and Physical Sim are both viable options

The technological advancements have introduced a new player in the telecommunication game, Electronic-SIM or Esim. This small chip is programmed to store all your mobile network data like physical SIM but on an integrated circuit rather than using physical plastic. With an electronic sim card, instead of getting a physical sim card from our carrier we just get a QR code. But for some users, physical sim still remains a better option over Esim technology due to various reasons.

If you make a lot of international calls or travel frequently, then local carriers don’t always support Esims, so carrying a backup physical sim might come in handy.

Sometimes issues such as limited storage capacity, compatibility with older devices, and rare phone models may arise while using Esim, making physical sim a more reliable choice for certain users.

“Esim enables seamless connectivity; however, it’s not yet widely supported,” said Igor Glavić, Regional Sales Director at Adacta. “In some countries where roaming services are essential, a plastic sim card might be a better fit.”

Conversion is necessary under certain circumstances

If you have decided to switch from one type of sim to another, conversion becomes necessary. Some users choose to convert their Esim to a physical sim when upgrading or changing devices, or while traveling abroad, to avoid compatibility issues. The process might seem trivial, but please note that due to security reasons switching between these two sim types might require you to undergo legal documentation processes.

In addition, Esim line activations are related solely to your device EID (Embedded Identification), which prevents others from stealing your identity with spyware cloning that traditional SIM cards don’t offer – another barrier for switching back to a physical SIM card. In some cases, the subscription contract and plan of your carrier do not support such conversion thus requiring creation of all new subscriptions.

“Conversion from an Esim solution to a traditional plastic sim can be done online or by visiting the customer centre of your mobile operator,” advises Amir Naveh, Vice President of Sales at EwaveMD. “This will require creating a new account hoping all data remains as it was before. The process, however, may vary depending on the service provider.”

Choose based on personal preference and needs

As we mentioned earlier, both these types of sim cards have different strengths and weaknesses, affecting user experience differently in various situations. It’s important to consider your specific requirements, mobile device capabilities, travel plans and how you use your phone while deciding which option is best suited for you.

If you just bought a brand-new iPhone 13, rest assured that there isn’t too much hassle regarding choosing between one type of sim to the other, since all models released thereafter come with built-in dual-SIM (physical plus eSIM) technology. On the other hand, if you aren’t always online and prefer carrying a backup option due to internet connectivity issues, stuck in international roaming frequently or facing issues regarding compatibility then a physical sim might suit you better.

“If someone travels a lot, then really, they should probably consider an Esim card,” says Alex Damasceno, Founder and CEO at Cellfixx. “On the other hand, if someone lives in a remote area where there’s little or no network signal or access, a physically removable Sim Card is essential.”

Always back up your data before conversion

No matter what type of sim card you are using presently, backing up data before switching is mandatory. The switch might cause unexpected device behavior that could result in loss of important files, photos, messages etc., if not done properly

Many mobile devices offer cloud backup support while others provide SD card options for backup storage. You can also manually transfer your saved data to your computer or external hard drive. Once you have double-checked and backed up, only then should you proceed with the sim conversion process.

“Make sure you’ve backed up all your data, contacts and text messages,” warns Catrin Jones, Marketing Director at CVP Group. “You don’t want to lose anything during or after the transition”

Frequently Asked Questions