Steps to Backup and Restore eSIM on Android

Nowadays, a lot of people are choosing eSIM instead of regular SIM cards. eSIM stands for embedded SIM, and it’s a digital SIM already built into your phone. But one common question users have is — Is It Possible to Backup eSIM on an Android Phone? With eSIM, you can connect to a mobile network without needing to put a physical SIM card into your phone.

But as much as eSIM seems convenient, many individuals have a critical question:

Can backup eSIM on an Android phone?

We will discuss what eSIM is, how it operates, and if Android phones support you to back up your eSIM. We will also outline various methods by which you can safeguard your eSIM information and what happens if you misplace your phone or upgrade to a new device.

What is eSIM?

An eSIM is a digital SIM card. Unlike the usual physical SIM cards, eSIM is actually built into your smartphone. You do not have to insert or pull anything out of your phone.

You just scan a QR code or download the eSIM profile from your cellular carrier, and your phone will be connected to the network.

Benefits of eSIM

Reasons why people love eSIM:

No need for a physical SIM card.
Simple to flip between several numbers.
Ideal for tourists who wish to include a local number.
Reduced risk of losing your SIM card.
Saves space within the phone, making devices thinner.

What is Backup of eSIM

Your phone’s cloud storage, such as iCloud for iPhones or Google Account for Android phones, is where eSIM backup stores your eSIM settings and activation information. Your carrier details, plan information, and eSIM activation codes are all included in this backup. These cached settings aid in rapidly reestablishing phone service when you restore your phone or set up a new device.

Is It Possible to Backup eSIM on an Android Phone?

Why Backup eSIM?

eSIM backup is a good idea because:

You can lose your phone.
You can change to a new phone.
You can inadvertently reset your phone.
You wish to retain a duplicate for protection.

With physical SIM cards, you would simply take out the SIM and put it in another phone. However, with eSIM, it is not that easy.

Is It Possible to Backup eSIM on Android Phone?

No, currently Android phones do not offer a built-in option to backup eSIM directly.

This is because eSIM profiles are linked to the phone’s hardware and are secured for privacy reasons.

Why Can’t eSIM Be Backed Up Easily?

eSIM technology has been developed with security in mind. Operators and phone manufacturers want to avoid fraud, unauthorized switching, and misuse. That’s why:

eSIM profiles are encrypted.
They are bound to the secure hardware of the phone (such as the secure element or the Trusted Execution Environment).
There is no easy method to export or copy the eSIM profile from your phone.

What Happens if You Lose Your Phone with eSIM?

If your phone is lost or stolen, your eSIM is lost too. However, that does not mean your phone number is gone forever. You can contact your mobile carrier and request a new eSIM for your replacement phone.

Most carriers allow you to:

Deactivate the lost eSIM remotely.
Issue a new eSIM QR code.
Scan the new QR code on your new phone to reactivate your number.

What About When Switching Phones?

When upgrading to a new phone, you cannot directly copy the eSIM profile from the old phone to the new one. Instead, you will need to:

Contact your carrier.
Request a new eSIM QR code for your new phone.
Scan the QR code on your new device.

Can You Backup eSIM QR Code Instead?

Even though you cannot backup the eSIM profile itself, you can preserve the initial QR code given to you by your carrier. The QR code is the one you’ll use to activate your eSIM. There may be a few instances when if you hard reset your phone, you could perhaps scan the same QR code.

Important: Not All Carriers Allow Reuse

Some mobile carriers only allow a QR code to be scanned once. If that’s the case, backing up the QR code will not work after you’ve already used it once.

Alternatives to eSIM Backup

While direct backup of eSIM profiles isn’t possible, here are practical alternatives:

1. Save Your eSIM QR Code

If your carrier allows reusing the QR code, save a PDF or screenshot of the QR code and keep it somewhere safe (like Google Drive, Dropbox, or a secure folder).

2. Backup Account and Contact Information

Even if you lose your eSIM, you should still have access to:

Your contacts (if synced to Google Contacts).
Your messages (if using apps like WhatsApp).
Your carrier account login to request a new eSIM.

How to Protect Your eSIM Information?

While you can’t back up the eSIM itself, you can take these steps to protect yourself:

1. Enable Find My Device

If your phone gets lost, you can remotely lock or erase it.

2. Keep Your Carrier Account Secure

Ensure your carrier account has a strong password and two-factor authentication.

3. Keep a Copy of Important Info

Save your carrier’s customer care number.
Keep a note of your eSIM activation code if your carrier allows.

Future Possibility: Will Android Allow eSIM Backup?

Right now, Google and most Android phone makers do not support direct eSIM backup. However, this may change in the future. As eSIM adoption grows, there’s a chance phone makers will work with carriers to allow secure eSIM backup through:

Google One backup service.
OEM backup solutions (like Samsung Cloud).
Carrier-specific apps that store your eSIM profile securely.

Summary Table: eSIM Backup on Android

Action	Possible Today?
Backup eSIM profile directly	❌ No
Backup eSIM QR code (if reusable)	✅ Yes
Transfer eSIM to new phone	❌ No direct transfer; requires new QR code
Restore eSIM after factory reset	⚠️ Sometimes, if QR code is reusable
Backup contacts, SMS, settings	✅ Yes, via Google backup

eSIM is a modern, convenient technology, but it comes with its own set of challenges — especially when it comes to backups. As of now, Android does not allow direct eSIM backups, but with the right precautions, you can still safeguard your eSIM access. As technology evolves, we hope Android adds this important feature in the future.