WHAT IS ESIM?

We are proud to announce that Consumer Cellular will be eSIM compatible! This is just one of the latest innovations allowing us to offer the latest devices, including iPhone 14. For those who might not be familiar, an eSIM is a small chip embedded in your smartphone that will eventually take the place of the removable plastic card, also known as a SIM card.

You cannot remove an eSIM and put it into another phone, but, in reality, it’s much easier to switch networks with an eSIM. Instead of needing to order a new SIM card, waiting for it to arrive, then inserting it into your phone, you can switch to a different network with a simple phone call or online. The hassle-free activation will only take 15 minutes or less!

You also won’t need to hunt for a SIM’ ejector tool’ to remove the old SIM from your phone. As we mentioned, an eSIM will eventually eliminate the need for a physical SIM card and its tray. This extra space could potentially mean smartphone manufacturers will use this space to increase battery size or add more features.
FAQs about eSIM

How do you use eSIM?

You can download the eSIM to your device over Wi-Fi.

Is my phone eSIM compatible?

Many of the latest mobile phones from all major manufacturers are eSIM compatible. If you are unsure, you can use our IMEI checker to find out. Please note the phone must also be unlocked.

What if my device is not eSiM compatible?

You will need a physical SIM card if your device is not eSIM compatible. See our Bring Your Own Phone page to order online. You can also use the Store Finder to find a retailer near you.

How do I set up an eSIM?

If you purchased an eSIM compatible iPhone, your iPhone wouldn’t arrive with a SIM card installed. To activate your iPhone, turn it on, connect to a Wi-Fi network, and follow the onscreen instructions.

Otherwise, if you need to set up an eSIM, you can also scan the QR code we provided.

  1. Open the Camera app and scan your QR code.
  2. When the Cellular Plan Detected notification appears, tap it.
  3. Tap Continue, at the bottom of the screen.
  4. Tap Add Cellular Plan.

Since eSIM is new for almost everyone, we expect there to be questions about it. If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to call. As always, our 100% U.S. based customer support team is here to help; give us a call at (888) 583-0087.

38 Thoughts on "WHAT IS ESIM?"

  1. Frank Shaut says

    How do I download esim ?

    • Hi Frank, thanks for your question. You’ll want to use your camera to scan the Q code that is for the eSIM and then follow the prompts to get it set up. If you need any help with this process, give us a call at 800-686-4460 or chat with one of our live agents on our website here to follow up.

  2. James Dickson says

    After paying another $36 (as we have EVERY MONTH for about 5 years, our phone service was completely cut off, WITHOUT ADVISING US that as of 9/20/2022, our phone service will be cut off – OR – we must buy a more advanced phone!!! WHAT A WAY TO TREAT YOUR CUSTOMERS!!! Consumer Cellular took our money, then CUT OFF OUR PHONE SERVICE in the middle of making hospital arrangements for my wife. This is OUR ONLY PHONE. Now we have NO PHONE SERVICE, but CC took our money. LEGAL???

    • Hi James, thanks for your post. We recently updated our network so that phones that aren’t compatible with our VoLTE network or are 3G do need to be replaced otherwise the network will stop working on it. I apologize for the trouble that this causes, but if you have received this message, I would recommend replacing the phone as soon as possible.

  3. BF says

    James – numerous announcements were made for well over 6+ months alerting people that needed to upgrade. I don’t see how you could have missed it.

  4. Ken says

    Hi, Just confirming, will you support the Apple Watch Ultra with it’s eSim?

  5. Karen Martn says

    I am new to CC. Can I add names to our phones. Friends are only seeing the number when we call them and NOT our names. We have 2 phones me and my husband. Hope you can assist.

  6. Bob Wagner says

    Quite certain Consumer Cellular notified you of the upcoming change. In fact I saw the notice, even though it didn’t apply to me, in my statement many, many months
    before it happened. You simply ignored it or forgot about it as you needed to know what type of service your phone was running on – 3G -, which was discontinued by ALL carriers not just CC. This was your fault not CC’s because you failed to check on it.

  7. Alonzo Salgado says

    How can we get a sim card for a phone purchased at target in Odessa, Texas we were informed they no longer carry your phones

    • Hi Alonzo, thanks for your question. You can place an order for a SIM by giving us a call at 800-686-4460 or you can also go online to our website and you can place an order for one of our physical SIM cards there as well.

  8. Katrina says

    I am currently using straight talk. I would like to switch to your company as well as purchase a new phone but I don’t want to lose everything on my phone. Would it be possible to switch? Thanks.

    • Nicole at Consumer Cellular says

      Hi Katrina, if you transfer your number from StraightTalk to our service with a new phone, any information you had on your old phone will remain there.

  9. Jerry says

    Apple Watch on Consumer Cellular

    You have seen multiple requests for Apple Watch support over a couple of years. I am certain that more people want this than have been willing/able to get that message to Consumer Cellular. The standard reply is “We will pass the request along to the appropriate department.” I think at this time we, your loyal customers, deserve an explanation as to why Consumer Cellular is not supporting the Apple Watch. This blog post states that Consumer Cellular will be supporting the eSim in iPhone 14. Surely now Apple Watch can get support?

    To all Consumer Cellular customers: May I suggest to get Consumer Cellular’s attention (and the search engines so everyone can find this) that everyone replies to this with the phrase:

    Apple Watch on Consumer Cellular.

    Hopefully Consumer Cellular will hear our demand once and for all and give their customers the respect they deserve instead of “We will pass the request on to the appropriate department.”

    Thank you,
    —Jerry

    • Hi Jerry, we understand this is frustrating. Apple Watch compatibility is something that is on our radar and we are planning on having compatibility for it in the future. We don’t currently have a date for this though and will let our customers know as soon as that changes. We appreciate your patience during this time.

  10. Joyce Smith says

    Apple Watch on Consumer Cellular, let’s hope it is sooner than later. I need a new phone with a long lasting battery & must have my I watch connected as well. I need my medical devices all connected. I will be standing in line, ready to come back to CC.
    Thanks, JMS

    • Hi Joyce, thanks for your post. Apple Watches are on the radar and we are planning on working with them in the near future, we just don’t have an exact date for this. If this changes though, we will let our customers know as soon as possible.

  11. Sue says

    Is it true that on 11-07-22 consumer cellular customers will be on Verizon?

  12. Ken says

    Jacob,
    Hi, I was told on your other site that the new Apple Watch with ESim is supporteded by y’all.
    Are you now saying that it is not??

  13. Ken says

    To confirm, you don’t offer plan for my new Apple Watch.
    and my only option is to go to a competitor.

    You can’t even tell me to wait a week or a month?

    • Nicole at Consumer Cellular says

      That’s correct, Ken. We don’t currently support eSIM on the Apple Watches. We don’t have a timeframe available, but we plan to support them in the near future.

  14. Ken says

    Thank you Nicole,
    I really hate that I have to go back to AT@T
    I wish you were allowed to give more info than “near future”, like within 3 months, but that’s policy.

    • Hi Ken, we definitely understand that feeling and appreciate that feedback. We will let our customers know as soon as possible when this is available though and we appreciate your patience during this time.

  15. Philip Russell says

    Since CC now supports the esim, when will I be able to add a second line to my dual line (sim/esim) iphone? I currently have an iPhone XS Max that has 1 sim slot, and an esim. It’s capable of 2 lines, but when I call to try and activate the 2nd line, I get confused agents that finally tell me it’s not available. When will that be available, and is it available on the newer iPhone 14 now?

  16. Philip Russell says

    If I understand what you’re saying, the iPhone can handle the 2nd line, just 1 line at a time. If that can be done, what would I need to do to move one of my other lines onto my esim as a 2nd line?

  17. Jim says

    In August I bought a GalaxyZ Flip4 from CC. It is SIM card and eSIM capable, but at the time CC wasn’t providing eSIM service. I want to keep the CC line I have on the Flip4 SIM card and move my office line, which is on another CC line and phone to the eSIM on the Flip4. Will CC now do this for my Flip4? Thank you.

    • Nicole at Consumer Cellular says

      Hi Jim, eSIM support is now available for Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 devices purchased through us. What we can do is have one of your numbers on a physical SIM, and the other on an eSIM. Since they are separate numbers, it would still count as two phone lines. Our customer service team can help with that if you give us a call at 888-345-5509 or chat with us here.

  18. cyndi says

    I have 3gb and my phone service wasnt cut off?

  19. Sharon Howe says

    Good morning,

    My husband and daughter were wanting to give me an Apple Watch with cellular and we called Consumer Cellular and were jut told you are not capable.

    So disappointed!

    When will you offer this?

    Update please

    Sharon

    • That’s definitely frustrating, Sharon. I’m sorry to hear about the trouble this has caused. We do plan on offering service for this option but we don’t have a date for when this will be available. If this changes though, we will let our customers know.

  20. Dan says

    Can I transfer my current CC sim card info over to an E-sim so I can add another carrier to the physical slot now occupied by CC?

  21. Laura says

    I really would like to have Apple Watch compatibility but am beginning to realize I may have to leave CC and go back to Verizon. Am sad, but you all don’t seem to have this as a priority – and you have had plent of time to do so…

  22. Juanita says

    I hear a lot about the apple watch, what about the galaxy watch ? I had to go back to Verizon because consumer cellular doesn’t support apple watch or galaxy watch. I love consumer cellular and am hoping one day i and my husband can bring our phones back and include our galaxy watches.

  23. Ginny says

    I agree with everyone! It’s time that Consumer Cellular match what the competitors can do. Geez, you support e-sim for iPhones. Get up to speed!