iPhone Duo, which Apple sells from $1,999 and opened for pre-order on October 16, 2026, uses only eSIM. Apple’s spec page says the phone “is activated with an eSIM and does not support a physical SIM,” so anyone switching from an Android phone has to bring their number across as an eSIM.
Apple’s support document Transfer your eSIM from Android to iPhone, updated September 17, 2026, lays out two ways to do that directly between phones, plus a fallback through your carrier. Here is what you need and how each method works.
What iPhone Duo supports
Apple lists the SIM setup for iPhone Duo as “Dual eSIM (two active eSIMs; stores eight or more eSIMs).” The spec page adds that the phone is “not compatible with physical SIM cards” and that using an eSIM “requires a carrier that supports eSIM and a wireless service plan.”
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That means a nano-SIM card from your Android phone cannot go into iPhone Duo at all. If your current line is on a physical SIM, your carrier has to issue an eSIM for the new phone. We covered the wider picture in our look at iPhone Duo being eSIM-only worldwide.
What you need before you start
Apple’s direct transfer works only when the carrier and both phones support it. Apple lists these requirements:
- An iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max or later with iOS 26 or later.
- A compatible Android smartphone with Android 16 or later. Apple says to check with your phone’s manufacturer to confirm compatibility.
- Both phones connected to a Wi-Fi network, with Bluetooth turned on.
- A supported carrier from the list below.
| Country | Supported carriers |
|---|---|
| USA | AT&T, Cricket, FirstNet, T-Mobile, Verizon, Xfinity Mobile |
| Austria | A1, Magenta |
| Brazil | TIM |
| Canada | Bell, Koodo, Lucky Mobile, Telus, Virgin Mobile |
| Czechia | T-Mobile |
| France | Free Mobile, Orange, SFR |
| Germany | Telekom, 1&1 |
| Japan | au, UQ |
| Mexico | AT&T |
| Netherlands | KPN |
| Slovakia | Slovak Telekom |
| Switzerland | Swisscom |
| UK | EE |
If your carrier is not on that list, or your Android phone does not support the feature, Apple says to contact your carrier to activate your eSIM. Carriers can do this through eSIM Carrier Activation or by giving you a QR code.
Method 1: transfer during iPhone Duo setup
If both phones are compatible, Apple says you can move the eSIM from your Android phone while setting up your new iPhone. Apple notes you can move your eSIM and data from Android this way without the Move to iOS app.
Once the transfer finishes, the SIM on your Android phone deactivates.
Method 2: transfer in the Settings app
If you have already set up iPhone Duo, you can do it from Settings. Apple says to place the two phones next to each other so you can see the prompts on both screens.
1. On iPhone Duo, open the Settings app.
2. Tap Set Up Cellular, then tap Transfer from Android. If the iPhone already has another SIM, tap Cellular, then Add eSIM, then Transfer from Android.
3. Tap Transfer From Android. The iPhone shows a QR code.
4. Scan that QR code with your Android phone’s camera.
5. On the Android phone, select the phone number you want to move and tap Transfer.
6. If asked, tap Yes to use the transferred SIM as your primary eSIM.
7. When the transfer is complete, tap Done on the iPhone, then tap OK.
8. Make a phone call on the iPhone to check that cellular service works. If the call fails, contact your carrier.
As with setup, the SIM on the Android phone deactivates after the move.
If the Android camera cannot scan the QR code
Apple provides a manual route using a session ID and pairing code:
1. On iPhone Duo, select Other Options under the QR code.
2. On the Android phone, open Settings and tap Google services.
3. Tap All services, then Pair with iPhone or iPad.
4. Tap Transfer eSIM.
5. Enter the session ID and the pairing code shown on the iPhone, then tap Next.
6. Select the phone number to transfer and tap Transfer. Tap Yes if asked to make it your primary eSIM.
7. Tap Done on the iPhone, then OK, and place a test call.
If neither method works, Apple’s advice is to contact your carrier.
Two lines on one phone
Because iPhone Duo keeps two eSIMs active at once and stores eight or more, you can move a personal and a work number from Android and keep both running. Repeat the Settings transfer for the second line, using the Add eSIM path in step 2.
Going the other way
Apple also documents the reverse trip. In iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3, an iPhone can send its eSIM and data to an Android device from Settings, under General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, Transfer to Android. That direction needs a compatible version of Android 17, and Apple lists a shorter set of supported carriers: AT&T, FirstNet, T-Mobile and Verizon in the USA, KDDI in Japan, DT-DE in Germany, SFR in France and EE in the UK. Once the transfer completes, the number no longer works on the iPhone.
