How to transfer M1 eSIM to a new iPhone. Easy Peasy.

Recently I needed to transfer M1 eSIM to new iPhone.

A long while ago, I set up the eSIM for Dual SIM usage on my iPhone XS Max. I blogged about it here. It has served me well as I can have both my personal line as well as my business line on the same phone. Easier to handle one phone.

Recently, I changed my phone to a iPhone 12 Pro Max. The main reason was simply I need the screen size as I am getting old and my eyes are not too good.

Update Dec 2022 : Or a new iPhone 14 Pro Max. I repeated these same steps when moving from the iPhone 12 to iPhone 14 and it still worked too.

Anyhow, as part of the move to iPhone 12 Pro Max or iPhone 14 Pro Max, I needed to “migrate” or transfer the eSIM from the old phone to the new one. I was wondering how many times I needed to call M1 to get this done 🙂

Actually it turned out to be pretty easy. Everything is done on the M1 app and no calls needed. Haha.

These are the steps to transfer M1 eSIM to new iPhone

On the old iPhone

Go to the Settings > Mobile Data > Data Plans > M1 Line and choose your M1 line and then click on it to go into the details.

Click on “Remove Data Plan” to say good bye to this line (actually the eSIM Profile set up on this phone).

And then next, go make a coffee. Or pee. Or do a one minute mediation. Give it a little bit of time.

On your new iPhone with eSIM

Now go to your “My M1” app (assuming you installed it or have copied it from your old phone).

Click on the “More” icon on the bottom right of the screen. Scroll down to settings. Look for eSIM profile.

You should see this screen.

You can then click on “Activate eSIM profile”. And you are done.

Easy peasy. It should work now. It worked for me, at least.

Until you get the bill. Ha.

The change or transfer cost me $4.67.

5G now work on Dual Sim iPhone (Update Dec 2022)

All is great until I discovered something I did not know before. I am guessing many knew except me. Hahahaha. As usual.

That if you have Dual SIM on an iPhone, 5G is not going to be available on your iPhone.

Update Dec 2022 : That if you have Dual SIM on an iPhone, 5G is now going to be available on your iPhone.

As per this from Apple itself. From its own documents.

The attached picture is kept here for reference but not true anymore 🙂

So it meant that on an iPhone with Dual SIM, if both lines are active (hello, isn’t that the purpose of a Dual SIM phone… wtf), then 5G is not available.

If you want 5G on your 5G line (Eg SingTel), you need to turn off the other line (Eg M1).

Shocking.

Proof : With both lines, 5G line now appears

NOW

BEFORE

With M1 line completely switched off….. 5G works.

And because I don’t have 5G subscription for my M1 eSIM, iPhone will use 4G for my M1 line.

I have no idea if this is the case for an Android 5G dual sim phone. I hope someone can tell me. And if that’s the case, then this is totally ridiculous from Apple. Else probably a technical reason.

Totally crazy. I wasted my 5G subscription. HA.

I have been enjoying using eSIM for my iPhone so that I can have two lines on my iPhone. In fact, whenever I go travel, I no longer buy any SIM cards but just use Airalo which comes with eSIM for every country possible.

Referral Link 🙂

Hey, have you tried an eSIM? Get US$3 off your first eSIM data pack from Airalo. Use code PATRIC1448 when you sign up or apply it at checkout. 

https://ref.airalo.com/LyFA

No need carry any SIM router or change SIM card.