How to transfer your Movistar eSIM to another Android phone (summary)
To transfer your Movistar eSIM to another Android phone, there's no "move" button: you need to request a new QR code from Movistar via the app or support chat, confirm that the new Android is eSIM compatible, and scan that code in the SIM card menu. The previous profile automatically deactivates when the new one is activated.
That's the summary. If you already know this and just need the details for each step, here's the actual order, from most to least probable scenario:
- Access the official Movistar app (or your account on their website) from any phone with a connection and look for the option to manage your eSIM or request a new profile.
- If the app doesn't allow you to do it directly (this often happens when changing devices), contact support via chat or WhatsApp and ask them to resend the QR code for the new phone.
- Verify that your new Android has the eSIM feature before attempting anything: check the technical specifications or the network settings menu.
- With the new Android connected to Wi-Fi, go to Settings and look for the option to add an eSIM (the exact name varies by brand).
- Scan the new QR code or, if you can't scan it, manually enter the activation code.
- Confirm that you have signal before storing the old phone or deleting its eSIM profile.
What you need before you start
Before you waste time going back and forth through menus, gather these things. It will save you at least one full round trip to Movistar support:
| What you need | What it's for |
|---|---|
| Access to your Movistar account (app or web) | This is where you manage the new eSIM request or open a support chat with your identity already verified. |
| The new Android powered on and with Wi-Fi | You need data to download the eSIM profile; without a connection, you can neither request nor install it. |
| A second device (another phone, tablet, or computer) | If the QR arrives by email, you need it to display on screen while scanning from the new Android (I'll explain why below). |
| The IMEI of the new Android handy | Some support flows request it to confirm that the model supports eSIM before issuing the code. |
| The old phone still available (if possible) | Serves as a connection backup while the new profile finishes activating. |
How to get your Movistar eSIM QR code
The QR code you used to activate your eSIM the first time almost never works for a second phone: most operators, including Movistar, generate single-use codes. If that QR has already activated a profile, scanning it again on another Android usually does nothing or results in an error.
What does work is requesting a new code. The two most common ways are:
- From the Movistar app or customer portal: look for the line or SIM section and the option to request an eSIM for a different device.
- Via chat or WhatsApp support: if the app doesn't allow you to do it directly (this often happens), an agent can generate the QR code and send it by email or display it on screen during the conversation.
Save that code or the email where it arrives: it usually includes both the QR image and the equivalent text data, the SM-DP+ address, and the activation code. That text is your backup if the QR can't be scanned.
Installing the eSIM on the new Android, step-by-step
With the new code in hand, the process within Android is similar across most brands, although the exact menu name varies:
- Go to Settings and look for Connections or Network & internet (on some models, it appears directly as "Mobile data" or "Networks & Internet").
- Enter SIM card manager or SIMs & networks.
- Select Add eSIM or Download carrier SIM.
- Choose to scan a QR code or, if you cannot, "use activation code" and enter the text manually.
- Wait for the phone to download and validate the profile; this happens with the phone connected to Wi-Fi.
- Activate the new line and check for signal and that you can make a call or browse before considering the process complete.
An eSIM is not a file that is copied and pasted between phones: it is a network profile associated with a specific device. Therefore, when you activate the new profile on the Android you just set up, the operator automatically deactivates the previous one on the old phone, even if you don't touch anything there.
If the QR code arrived by email and you open it directly on the new Android (the same phone where you're trying to install the eSIM), you won't be able to scan it: a phone cannot photograph its own screen. In such cases, open the email on another device and use the new Android's camera to scan that external screen, or directly choose the option to manually enter the activation code instead of scanning.
Transferring an eSIM is not the same as porting your number
These two processes are often confused because both end with a new eSIM on your phone, but they solve different problems:
| Situation | Transfer eSIM to another phone | Number Portability |
|---|---|---|
| What changes | The device. You stay with Movistar and the same number. | The operator. You can keep your number, but it moves to another company. |
| Who manages it | Movistar (your current operator), through the app or support. | The new operator you are switching to; they initiate the process. |
| What you need | A new QR code for the destination phone. | Details of your current line and, depending on the country, a porting code or request. |
| Final result | Same line, same operator, different phone. | Same number, different operator. |
If your question was "how do I transfer my Movistar eSIM to another Android phone?", you're looking at the first column. If you actually want to switch providers without losing your number, that's the second, and the process is initiated by the operator you're switching to, not Movistar.
Porting with an eSIM: what happens to your number if you change operators
When porting involves an eSIM, the general mechanism is: you request the change from the new operator, they validate your identity and your current line, and once the number is released from Movistar, the new operator provides you with the QR code for your eSIM, now with your number ported. Until this process is confirmed, your Movistar line continues to function normally, so you won't lose service overnight.
The time it takes for the process depends on the destination operator and the country, so there's no single figure that applies to all cases. What you can control is not deleting or deactivating your Movistar eSIM until you have confirmation that the porting is complete and the new line already has signal.
My Android doesn't show the eSIM option: most common causes
If "Add eSIM" doesn't appear in Settings, it's usually one of these reasons, ordered from most to least frequent:
- The model doesn't have an eSIM chip. Not all Androids include it; even within the same brand, there are versions with and without eSIM depending on the region where it was sold.
- The phone is locked to another operator. If you bought it financed or subsidized by another company, it may have restrictions on activating lines from different operators until it's unlocked.
- It already has two active eSIM profiles. Several models allow you to save more than one profile but only use one or two at a time; you need to delete or deactivate one before adding another.
- The operating system is outdated. A pending update sometimes hides or breaks the eSIM management menu.
- The phone was sold without the feature enabled in your region. This happens with some imported models: they have the hardware, but the regional software doesn't expose the option.
If you've ruled out all of the above and it still doesn't appear, then it's worth writing directly to Movistar technical support with the exact phone model handy.
Movistar eSIM vs. physical SIM when changing phones
If you frequently change phones, it's worth considering which format causes fewer headaches. There isn't a single answer, but there are clear differences depending on what matters most to you:
| Aspect | eSIM | Physical SIM |
|---|---|---|
| Changing phones | Requires requesting a new QR code from the operator each time. | Can be taken out of one tray and put into another, without needing support. |
| Risk of physical damage or loss | Does not exist: it's a digital profile. | Can be lost, bent, or the tray damaged when removing it. |
| Operator dependency | High: without their support, you can't get the new QR code. | Low for phone changes, though you still depend on them for initial activation. |
| Space in the phone | Does not occupy a physical tray; useful in models without a slot or with dual SIM. | Occupies a physical tray, sometimes shared with expandable memory. |
If your priority is not to depend on your operator's support every time you change phones, thoroughly review the complete comparison in eSIM vs. physical SIM.
When it's better to use a travel eSIM instead of battling with your local operator
Everything above applies when the goal is to continue using your usual line on a new phone. But there's a different scenario: realizing this problem just before traveling, or encountering issues with your Movistar eSIM while already abroad and needing data now, not after waiting for a support response.
For that scenario, an international travel eSIM doesn't replace your local line, but it provides a quick solution: it activates in approximately 1 minute, doesn't depend on number portability or dealings with your usual operator, and covers over 200 destinations. Since you have up to 180 days from purchase to activate it, you can prepare it in advance and use it on the day you need it, without being at the mercy of a support queue for an operator you don't know in another country.
The practical difference lies in support: if a technical problem strikes you at midnight in an airport, having 24/7 multilingual help via email and WhatsApp is more important than anything else. You can view available options by destination in international eSIM for travel, and if you've never installed one, the general process is the same as described above: we explain it in full in how to install an eSIM.
Before deciding if it's suitable for your next trip, it's also useful to understand the difference between relying on a local eSIM and using eSIM vs. roaming with your home operator, and to check which Android phones are compatible in eSIM compatible phones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the same Movistar eSIM QR code on two phones?
No. eSIM QR codes are usually single-use: once they activate a profile on one device, scanning them again on another phone usually doesn't work. You need to request a new QR code for each device.
Will I lose my number when transferring the eSIM to another Android?
No, if you continue with Movistar. Transferring the eSIM to another phone changes the device, not the line: your number remains the same. Your number only changes if you also port it to another operator.
What if my old Android is damaged and I can't access the app from it?
You can manage the new QR request from any other phone or computer with access to your Movistar account, or directly via chat or WhatsApp support using your identity details.
Are all Androids compatible with eSIM?
No. The function depends on the model and, in some cases, the region where the phone was sold. Before requesting the new QR code, confirm in your Android's technical specifications that it includes eSIM.
Can I have the Movistar eSIM and another travel eSIM active at the same time?
On most recent Androids, yes, as long as the model supports more than one saved eSIM profile. You can keep your Movistar line for local calls and data, and activate a separate travel eSIM when you need it.
Can the Movistar eSIM be used for data when traveling to another country?
It depends on your plan and the international coverage you have contracted with Movistar; this should be confirmed directly with your operator. If you're looking for an option independent of your local plan, an international travel eSIM is a separate alternative, not a replacement for your line.
What do I do if the Movistar QR code has expired or has already been used?
Contact Movistar support again via the app, web, or chat and ask them to generate a new code for you. There's no way to reactivate an already used QR from the phone itself.
Do I need to be connected to Wi-Fi to install the eSIM on the new Android?
Yes, or at least have some type of internet connection at that moment (Wi-Fi is the most practical). The phone needs to download the eSIM profile before it can be used for calls or data.
Conclusion
Transferring your Movistar eSIM to another Android phone is done by requesting a new QR code from the operator and scanning it (or entering it manually) on the destination Android; there's no shortcut to avoid this step because the eSIM is tied to the device, it's not a transferable file. If you're also changing operators, that's number portability, a different process managed by the new company. And if this headache caught you just before a trip, you don't need Movistar to resolve it quickly to be connected when you leave home: you can prepare an international eSIM in advance that activates in minutes on the day you need it, with 24/7 email and WhatsApp support in case something goes wrong along the way. Check options by destination in international eSIM for travel, and if it's your first time using an eSIM, the complete guide is in the ultimate eSIM guide for travel.
