iphone physical sim card to Esim for later model iphone

Unfortunately, Koodo no longer offers eSIM vouchers. You can try to set up the eSIM on your Self-Serve account. https://www.koodomobile.com/en/help/esim-and-esim-vouchers

The most cost-effective way is to borrow an eligible iPhone that is newer than the iPhone XR from a family member or close friend, insert your SIM card into their phone, and do the eSIM swap from that device to your new phone. https://www.koodomobile.com/en/help/esim-on-apple

What do you mean the iphone 8 cannot do the quick transfer?  Are you getting an error when you try?

Is the iphone 8 on ios16?

When you setup the iphone 17e, you should walk through the Quick Start process which includes moving your physical sim from your iphone 8 to an esim on the 17e

I have the same problem, different cause. My iPhone 12 is malfunctioning badly, so it will not complete the transfer of my cell n7mber to the new iphone 15.  Iphone 12 is runnung iOS 18, cannot update further because software update not working, cannot update via computer either.

Koodo dumb dumb keeps saying I can do a swap via self serve, that I will new the EID from new phone. BUT there is NO option or information in self serve on doing the swap. So I just go round in circles…..

What is the malfunction with your iPhone 12 ​@talpplat ?

Where did you get your iPhone 15 from? The iPhone 15's sold in Canada still used physical sim cards so you can just take your sim card out from your 12 and put it in your 15.

If you're using an iPhone with an eSIM and your iPhone 12 is running iOS 18.4 or later, you can transfer the eSIM directly between devices by following these steps: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/118669 There’s no need to use Koodo Self-Serve; just make sure both phones are signed into the same iCloud account.

Thanks, Dennis

Exact nature of malfunction unknown, but I’m pretty sure there is a problem with the physical SIM card. I could not transfer the number during the QUICK START process, Couldn’t convert it to an eSIM on the iPhone 12 (wouldn’t complete process). Software update no longer functioning on iPhone 12, and couldn’t update via computer because phone wasn’t recognized. iPhone 12 won’t connect to the internet either in the last couple of days. Would still receive and make calls, fortunately. Spent over an hour on phone with Apple Support, to no avail.

I ended up doing what you suggest, putting the physical SIM in the iPhone 15. But when I tried to switch the physical SIM to an eSIM on the iPhone 15, everything went wonky. It did not complete the process properly, so it showed the number, but no associated cellular settings, etc. were available. And it still told me I could transfer the number from the iPhone 12! Very peculiar. As I said, pretty sure the SIM card is wonky — which is why I wanted to switch it to an eSIM.

Anyway, couldn’t make or receive calls on the iPhone 15. Tried putting SIM back in iPhone 12, apparently recognized it, but couldn’t make or receive calls.

Went back to my Koodo account for the 50th time to see if one of the SIM options would apply. Tried the option for “Recover deleted eSIM or get replacement SIM.”  That finally allowed me to get the required download to the iPhone 15 and install the new eSIM.  Calls in/out working, all cellular services functioning.

All in all, a very frustrating day. That happens with devices. But the truly angst-ful part was the endless circle of the Koodo digital idiot, which  endlessly assured me in ten different ways that “if you have an iPhone, you can complete the transfer during startup” OR “you can switch your physical SIM to an eSIM on the iPhone by following these directions…” OR “you can manage your SIM through Self Serve” (but NEVER ever explaining WHERE that mysterious process was hidden). Even when I finally found it, none of the options really applied —  i just got desperate and tried the one that seemed most likely. 

Hi, Dinh

Thanks for the response. But I don’t think you really read my message. As I said, the iPhone 12 was malfunctioning badly, so every attempt to transfer the number between devices was unsuccessful — many times. You helpfully pointed me to the directions I had already read on the Apple support site AND the Koodo site — many times.  If you care to see my response to Dennis, it became obvious that the SIM card was corrupted to some degree, so none of the usual methods could work. That’s why I was looking for help.

Hi, Alan

I just had similar problems, but I found the solution and it should work for you. I put together a guide with some screenshots. Hopefully it helps.

You will need an internet connection (not your cellular data) to complete this process.

If you are switching to a newer phone OR replacing a physical SIM card in your current phone, remove the existing SIM card (keep it till you are sure you have successfully installed the eSIM!). If you don’t remove the physical SIM card, Koodo will still detect it on the phone. Keep the phone where you want the eSIM installed powered on and connected to the internet, so it can receive the necessary info from Koodo.

Login to your Koodo account, click the Self Serve drop-down tab, choose Mobile Services from the list.

 On the next screen you'll see Phone Services…scroll down…

…click on Get help with SIM cards and eSIMS

Choose Recover my deleted eSIM or request a replacement SIM card, click Next.

 Click Start Recovery

Confirm your email or other available contact (not your cell number!) and click Continue.

Check your email for the verification code from Koodo, enter it, and click continue.

I couldn’t get any more screenshots because I don't need another eSIM. But on the next screen you’ll be asked for the EID number from your phone (the phone where you want the eSIM). On an iPhone, open Settings, go to General, choose About. Scroll down till you see the EID (further down than the model and serial numbers). Enter the EID in the box on the Koodo page (if you have someone handy, get them to read it out for you, then double-check it) and hit Continue.

Koodo will prompt you to look for a notification on your phone about the available eSIM. On my iPhone 15, running iOS 26, the notification was an item at the top of Settings with a red one. I clicked on that, followed the prompt to install the eSIM, and that was it.

Hi again AlanI!

Don’t know what happened. I had all the screenshots in place, but when I hit send they seem to have gotten deleted!!  But I think you can still follow the guide…. I certainly hope so. If you run into trouble, send a shout. Good luck.

Hi, I did read your comments. You mentioned it was “malfunction” and didn’t provide more detail about the type of SIM you had. Hence, I asked if you were using eSIM and the instruction from Apple  doesn’t contain the same information  as Koodo Link. 

Anyway, It appears you already solved the problem. If you haven’t, I recommend you visit a Koodo kiosk and ask them for a replacement SIM. It might be the easier approach.