Move Vodacom eSim iPhone?

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ebendl

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Hi all,

I got a Vodacom prepaid eSim a while back and loaded it on my iPhone.

I have since gotten a new iPhone but unfortunately it can't transfer the eSim. Does anybody know how I am to move it from my old iPhone to the new one?

I still have the slip with the QR code.
 
Why doesn’t Transfer from a Nearby iPhone work?

IMG_4543.png
Or for that matter Use QR code?
 
bwana said:
Why doesn’t Transfer from a Nearby iPhone work?

View attachment 1613221
Or for that matter Use QR code?
Click to expand...
It shows this (I used the iPhone to iPhone transfer settings and it "transferred" the SIMs, but then it shows the below):

IMG_89F6651DB926-1.jpeg

Get a similar message about not supporting transfer when I try "Transfer from nearby iPhone".

Back at home now, will try the eSIM QR code again. Doesn't work for Ubigi, unfortunately.
 
OK, no, tried scanning the SIM's QR code again and it says "Unable to activate eSim" as below:

IMG_1750D434427C-1.jpeg


I foresee a visit to the Vodacom service center soon :(

So far my eSims have been
1. More useful than a normal SIM when activating for the first time (Ubigi and Vodacom)
2. More useless than a normal SIM when it comes to transferring phones...
 
Last edited:
ebendl said:
OK, no, tried scanning the SIM's QR code again and it says "Unable to activate eSim" as below:

View attachment 1613301


I foresee a visit to the Vodacom service center soon :(

So far my eSims have been
1. More useful than a normal SIM when activating for the first time (Ubigi and Vodacom)
2. More useless than a normal SIM when it comes to transferring phones...
Click to expand...

Delete the eSim on the old phone , then try scanning the QR code on the new phone
 
Turns out moving an eSim is quite painful - at least for Vodacom.

You can't just "take it out" by deleting it - you basically have to do a SIM swop. And of course it being fairly new and prepaid, the Vodacom frqnchises' software do not support it yet.

I was told by one to take it to Vodaworld. No thanks - not for an extra number I have for occasional data use with R40 airtime.

On a side note - can one have too "many" RICA'd Sims on your name? If I take out another prepaid eSim and let this once lapse - will I eventually "run out" of allowable Sims on my name? I've done a fair number over the years but many have expired.
 
ebendl said:
Turns out moving an eSim is quite painful - at least for Vodacom.

You can't just "take it out" by deleting it - you basically have to do a SIM swop. And of course it being fairly new and prepaid, the Vodacom frqnchises' software do not support it yet.

I was told by one to take it to Vodaworld. No thanks - not for an extra number I have for occasional data use with R40 airtime.

On a side note - can one have too "many" RICA'd Sims on your name? If I take out another prepaid eSim and let this once lapse - will I eventually "run out" of allowable Sims on my name? I've done a fair number over the years but many have expired.
Click to expand...
mybroadband.co.za

How many SIMs you can have on Vodacom, MTN, and other mobile networks

The maximum number of SIMs South Africa’s mobile networks allow varies from 10 to unlimited.
mybroadband.co.za mybroadband.co.za
 
I have a data contract that has been used for years in a portable wifi dongle. I've not used it in 6 years but my wife uses it from time to time. The battery on the device is pretty shot so not much use when not near a usb power point. So the obvious answer to this is to do a sim swap to an esim and load that on the wife's phone.

So after phoning Vodacom customer care I was informed that it has to be done in-store. The store will then email the QR code to the registered email account for that number! WTF! Why do I have to go to a store for them to send me an email?
 
ghaye said:
I have a data contract that has been used for years in a portable wifi dongle. I've not used it in 6 years but my wife uses it from time to time. The battery on the device is pretty shot so not much use when not near a usb power point. So the obvious answer to this is to do a sim swap to an esim and load that on the wife's phone.

So after phoning Vodacom customer care I was informed that it has to be done in-store. The store will then email the QR code to the registered email account for that number! WTF! Why do I have to go to a store for them to send me an email?
Click to expand...
honestly their system is pretty useless when it comes to eSims. The stores uses a different in-store system (and they have a dedicated tech helpline that the stores can phone to get support) - they probably only developed it for the in-store version.
 
ebendl said:
Hi all,

I got a Vodacom prepaid eSim a while back and loaded it on my iPhone.

I have since gotten a new iPhone but unfortunately it can't transfer the eSim. Does anybody know how I am to move it from my old iPhone to the new one?

I still have the slip with the QR code.
Click to expand...
Did this with my German Vodafone last month.

You need to delete the SIM from your old phone, and then use the QR code on the new phone.

Transfer doesn’t really work the way it’s intended.
 
Nicholas Lisse said:
Did this with my German Vodafone last month.

You need to delete the SIM from your old phone, and then use the QR code on the new phone.

Transfer doesn’t really work the way it’s intended.
Click to expand...
Doesn't work with Vodacom in SA, I tried it.
 
Thought I was being smart on Thursday by doing a sim swap from a physical sim to an esim on iPhone 13 Pro. The process was smooth and within minutes my esim was activated and working perfectly. Happy Days, or so I thought! Today I wanted to listen to online music on my AirPods via the Cellular Watch during a Parkrun as I’ve done every week for the last 2 years. Eish, the esim in my watch no longer works. Phoned Vodacom Customer care. They have no clue on the concept that my phone has a active esim (after sim swap) and my watch also has an esim (always did). 15 minutes trying to the lady, I think she’s even more confused than ever! No idea how I’m going to get this sorted out
 
Last edited:
Armchair said:
Thought I was being smart on Thursday by doing a sim swap from a physical sim to an esim on iPhone 13 Pro. The process was smooth and within minutes my esim was activated and working perfectly. Happy Days, or so I thought! Today I wanted to listen to online music on my AirPods via the Cellular Watch during a Parkrun as I’ve done every week for the last 2 years. Eish, the esim in my watch no longer works. Phoned Vodacom Customer care. They have no clue on the concept that my phone has a active esim (after sim swap) and my watch also has an esim (always did). 15 minutes trying to the lady, I think she’s even more confused than ever! No idea how I’m going to get this sorted out
Click to expand...

They moved your OneNumber which your Apple Watch was using and didn’t do a proper sim-swap. A pain in the ass to fix.
 
Armchair said:
Thought I was being smart on Thursday by doing a sim swap from a physical sim to an esim on iPhone 13 Pro. The process was smooth and within minutes my esim was activated and working perfectly. Happy Days, or so I thought! Today I wanted to listen to online music on my AirPods via the Cellular Watch during a Parkrun as I’ve done every week for the last 2 years. Eish, the esim in my watch no longer works. Phoned Vodacom Customer care. They have no clue on the concept that my phone has a active esim (after sim swap) and my watch also has an esim (always did). 15 minutes trying to the lady, I think she’s even more confused than ever! No idea how I’m going to get this sorted out
Click to expand...
Why did you decide to go to an eSim?
 
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