SIM card & eSIM (original) (raw)

The SIM card or eSIM is your device's ticket to the T-Mobile network!

On this page:

• What's a SIM card / eSIM?
• Set up your SIM card
• Buy a SIM card
• Set up your eSIM
• Get help with your eSIM
• Watch our video on installing SIM cards

What's a SIM card / eSIM?

SIM card

• A SIM card is a small chip that contains information your device needs to connect to the T-Mobile network.
• T-Mobile SIM cards come with adapters to allow for use with Nano, Micro, or Standard SIM sized devices.

eSIM

• Embedded SIM (eSIM) is just a SIM card gone digital, so you don't have to wait for a physical SIM.
• Just download your eSIM over Wi-Fi and connect to the T-Mobile network in minutes!

Set up your SIM card

I’m a T-Mobile customer

If you're an existing T-Mobile customer upgrading to a new device you'll need to activate your new SIM first. New customers will have their SIMs shipped activated.

1. Make sure SIM Protection is disabled.
2. Open the T-Life app while you’re connected to the T-Mobile network.
3. Select the Manage tab and choose the line you want to change the SIM on.
4. Choose SIM transfer or activation > Get Started.
5. Enter the IMEI number for the device you’re transferring your SIM to, then select Continue.
6. Choose to activate a SIM card, then select Continue.
7. Enter the ICCID, then select Continue.
8. Review the requested change and select Activate.
9. If prompted, respond to the interactive SMS (iSMS) to confirm the change.

Once you have your active SIM, follow these steps:

1. With the device off, open the SIM card tray and insert the SIM card.
   • For orders with multiple devices, use the order confirmation email to verify which SIM card goes in which device.
   • Here's a short video to guide you through the process.
2. Turn the device on. Your service should be working.
   • If you're bringing your own device from a different carrier or company and data isn't working, add T-Mobile's APN settings.
   • If you don't have bars of signal, check out No Service Troubleshooting.
3. To transfer data from your old device, review Set up a new T-Mobile phone.

I'm a T-Mobile Home Internet customer

If you just signed up for T-Mobile Home Internet, the SIM card is already in your device and active! Check out T-Mobile Home Internet Support for information on device placement and setup.

If you've just replaced your Home Internet Gateway, you'll need to remove the SIM card from your old gateway and insert it into the replacement. Check out Set up your T-Mobile Gateway & Network for information on replacement gateway set up.

Buy a SIM card

• Postpaid: Review our SIM card page to order online. You can also find one in a T-Mobile store.
• Prepaid: Review the Prepaid SIM Card page to order online. You can also stop by a store.

Set up your eSIM

• If you're upgrading or transferring service to a new device, make sure to turn off SIM Protection before following these steps. If you don’t, you’ll receive an error.
• If you're switching between Apple & Android or don't have your old device, follow the steps for Other devices.
• To activate a new Prepaid account, check out the T-Mobile Prepaid eSIM app.

Apple iPhone

There are a few ways to setup your eSIM:

• During the initial setup, you'll be prompted to activate an eSIM or transfer one from an existing iPhone.
• If you've already set up your iPhone and are connected to Wi-Fi, your iPhone will prompt you when the T-Mobile Cellular Plan is ready to be installed.
• Didn't get a prompt or chose to activate later? You can activate your eSIM from the device Settings > Cellular.
• Our Universal Tutorials have steps to activate your eSIM on supported devices.

Transfer existing SIM from Google phone to Apple iPhone after initial setup

1. Confirm devices meet these requirements.
   • Current device: Google Pixel 10 series
   • New device: Apple iPhone 11 or newer running iOS 26 or higher
   • PIN / Password enabled
   • Bluetooth enabled
   • Not available for Government accounts
2. Place your new iPhone close to your current Google device.
3. On your new iPhone, select Settings > Cellular > Set Up Cellular. If you already have another SIM set up on your iPhone, select Add eSIM.
4. On ‘Transfer Your Phone Numbers screen’ select Other Options > Transfer from Android.
5. Scan the QR code with your current Google device.
6. On your Google device, select the line to transfer and confirm transfer.
7. After the transfer is complete, select Done on both devices.

Samsung

• During initial setup, you'll be prompted to activate an eSIM or transfer one from an existing device.
• If you've already set up your device and are connected to Wi-Fi, you'll be prompted to activate your eSIM when it's ready to add.
• If you didn't get the prompt or chose to activate later, select Settings > Connections > SIM manager > Add eSIM to set up a new eSIM or transfer a SIM fron another device.
• Our Universal Tutorials have steps to activate your eSIM on supported devices.

Redownload eSIM if you delete it

Newer Samsung devices, like the Samsung Galaxy S25, can redownload an eSIM if it's accidentally deleted.

1. From the Home screen, choose Settings > Connections.
2. Select SIM manager > Add eSIM > Recover deleted eSIM.
3. Log in with your T-Mobile ID & password.
4. Follow the on-screen steps to complete 2-factor authentication.
5. If multiple lines are on the account, enter the phone number that you’re transferring.
6. Choose Reconnect.

Google

• During initial setup, you'll be prompted to activate an eSIM or transfer one from an existing device.
• If you've already set up your device and are connected to Wi-Fi, you'll be prompted to activate your eSIM when it's ready to add.
• If you didn't get the prompt or chose to activate later, select Settings > Network & Internet > SIMs > Add SIM. Select Set up an eSIM or Transfer a SIM from another device and follow the steps to activate your T-Mobile eSIM.
• Our Universal Tutorials have steps to activate your eSIM on supported devices.
• If your device asks for a QR code, contact us so we can email it to you.

Transfer existing SIM from Apple iPhone to Google phone after initial setup

1. Confirm devices meet these requirements.
   • Current device: Apple iPhone 11 or newer running iOS 26 or higher
   • New device: Google Pixel 10 series
   • Connected to Wi-Fi
   • PIN / Password enabled
2. Place your new Google device close to your current iPhone.
3. On your new Google device swipe up on the Home screen to view your apps.
4. Select Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > + Add SIM.
5. On ‘Connect to mobile network’ screen select Transfer a SIM from another device.
6. On ‘Transfer a SIM from another device’ screen select iPhone.
7. Scan the QR code with your current iPhone.
8. On your iPhone, select the number you want to transfer and confirm transfer.
9. Once the transfer is complete, you will see ‘T-Mobile SIM transferred’ on your new Google device, and ‘Continue on Android’ on your iPhone.

Motorola

• During initial setup, you'll be prompted to activate an eSIM or transfer one from an existing device.
• If you've already set up your device and are connected to Wi-Fi, you'll be prompted to activate your eSIM when it's ready to add.
• If you didn't get the prompt or chose to activate later, select Settings > Network & Internet > SIMs & mobile network > + Download new SIM > Set up an eSIM.
• Our Universal Tutorials have steps to activate your eSIM on supported devices.
• If your device asks for a QR code, contact us so we can email it to you.

TCL

• During initial setup, you'll be prompted to activate an eSIM.
• If you've already set up your device and are connected to Wi-Fi, you'll be prompted to activate your eSIM when it's ready to add.
• If you didn't get the prompt or chose to activate later, select Settings > Network & internet > Add SIM.
• You also have the option to transfer an existing eSIM from another device.
• Our Tutorials have steps for supported devices, like the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro.
• If your device asks for a QR code, contact us so we can email it to you.

T-Mobile Revvl

• During initial setup, you'll be prompted to activate an eSIM or transfer one from an existing device.
• If you've already set up your device and are connected to Wi-Fi, you'll be prompted to activate your eSIM when it's ready to add.
• If you didn't get the prompt or chose to activate later, select Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Add SIM.
• Our Tutorials have steps for supported devices, like the T-Mobile Revvl 8.
• If your device asks for a QR code, contact us so we can email it to you.

Other devices

1. Make sure SIM Protection is disabled.
2. Open the T-Life app while you’re connected to the T-Mobile network.
3. Select the Manage tab and choose the line you want to change the SIM on.
4. Choose SIM transfer or activation > Get Started.
5. Enter the IMEI number for the device you’re transferring your eSIM to, then select Continue.
6. Choose to activate an eSIM, then select Continue.
7. If prompted, turn on Wi-Fi or insert the SIM card.
8. Enter the EID, then select Continue.
9. Review the requested change and select Activate.
10. If prompted, respond to the interactive SMS (iSMS) to confirm the change
11. Connect to Wi-Fi and scan the QR code.

• Check in Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile Network for most Androids.
• Our Tutorials have steps for supported devices.

Get help with your eSIM

• For Apple devices, check out Apple eSIM troubleshooting.
• For Samsung devices, check out Samsung eSIM troubleshooting.
• Bringing your own device? Make sure it's compatible.

Watch our video on installing SIM cards!