Replacing a physical SIM or an eSIM
This support article will give you key information about how to replace a physical SIM, how to go from a physical SIM to eSIM, how to go from an eSIM to a physical SIM, as well as how to replace an eSIM.
To get a free replacement physical SIM card, head to your nearest Vodafone store. You can also request a new SIM card if you are upgrading your plan or device online. Once you have your replacement physical SIM, you can activate it through My Vodafone following the steps below or by heading in store.
To activate your new physical SIM, you’ll need the last 10 digits of your new SIM number. Here’s how you can find your new SIM number.
How to activate a replacement physical SIM through My Vodafone
Get replacement SIM
Get your replacement physical SIM in store or as part of an online upgrade.
Login to My Vodafone
Login to My Vodafone. If you’re on a plan, navigate to 'Your plans' and click on 'Swap my SIM'. For Prepaid, 'Swap my SIM' is under 'Account Settings'. Activate your replacement physical SIM by following the steps.
Wait a couple of minutes
Once you've completed the steps, wait a couple of minutes. If you kept your old physical SIM in your device, it will stop working. Insert your new replacement physical SIM into your device. You may need to turn your phone off and on.
If you have an eSIM-enabled device, you can go from a physical SIM to an eSIM at any time through My Vodafone or by heading in store. You can check out our list of eSIM enabled devices on our eSIM support page.
How to go from a physical SIM to eSIM
Login to My Vodafone
Login to My Vodafone, and navigate to 'Your plans' and click on 'Swap my SIM'. Follow the prompts and make sure you select ‘eSIM’ when asked if you’re transferring your current SIM to a ‘Physical SIM card’ or to an ‘eSIM’.
Confirm your email address
Confirm or update your email address. We'll send the eSIM QR code to you via email for you to scan and download the eSIM to your device. The QR code needs to be displayed on another device or as a printed copy so that you’re able to scan it.
Follow the prompts
Scan the QR code and enter the 4 digit eSIM Confirmation Code. This Code will be sent to your registered Vodafone number that you are requesting a SIM Swap for.
Wait a couple of minutes
Once you've completed the steps, wait a couple of minutes. If you kept your old physical SIM in your device, it will stop working. You may need to turn your phone off and on.
Set up your eSIM
Once you have downloaded and installed your new eSIM, you can set up your preferred SIM settings on your device. For more information, head to our eSIM support page.
You can go from an eSIM to a physical SIM at any time through My Vodafone or by heading in store. To get a free replacement physical SIM card, head to your nearest Vodafone store. You can also request a new SIM card if you are upgrading your plan or device online.
To activate your new physical SIM, you’ll need the last 10 digits of your new SIM number. Here’s how you can find your new SIM number.
How to go from an eSIM to a physical SIM
Get replacement SIM
Get your replacement physical SIM in store or as part of an online upgrade.
Login to My Vodafone
Login to My Vodafone and navigate to 'Your plans' and click on 'Swap my SIM'. For Prepaid, 'Swap my SIM' is under 'Account Settings'. Activate your replacement physical SIM by following the steps.
Wait a couple of minutes
Once you've completed the steps, wait a couple of minutes. The active eSIM in your device that you have swapped will stop working. Insert your new replacement physical SIM into your device. You may need to turn your phone off and on.
If you have an eSIM-enabled device, you can request a replacement eSIM at any time through My Vodafone or by heading in store. You can check out our list of eSIM enabled devices on our eSIM support page.
How to request a replacement eSIM
Login to My Vodafone
Login to My Vodafone, and navigate to 'Your plans' and click on 'Swap my SIM'. Follow the prompts and make sure you select ‘eSIM’ when asked if you’re transferring your current eSIM to a ‘Physical SIM card’ or to an ‘eSIM’.
Confirm your email address
Confirm or update your email address. We'll send the eSIM QR code to you via email for you to scan and download the eSIM to your device. The QR code needs to be displayed on another device or as a printed copy so that you’re able to scan it.
Follow the prompts
Scan the QR code and enter the 4 digit eSIM Confirmation Code. This Code will also be sent via SMS to the registered Vodafone number that you are requesting a SIM Swap for.
Wait a couple of minutes
You may need to wait a couple of minutes. The active eSIM in your device that you have swapped will also stop working. You may need to turn your phone off and on.
Additional information
Your device is designed to take a specific sized physical SIM. Here are the different physical SIM sizes available.
| Standard SIM |  |
| Micro SIM |  |
| Nano SIM |  |
Our standard physical SIM cards can be pushed out and resized as a full size, micro or nano SIM. If you’re unsure which size of physical SIM you need, check out our device guides or contact your device manufacturer.
No. You will keep the same mobile number for your service.
If you have contacts stored on your existing SIM, they won’t be available when your SIM card is replaced. You can copy contacts stored on your existing SIM onto your device before activating your replacement SIM card. For more information, check out our device guides.
No. Prepaid Starter Pack physical SIM cards can’t be used as a replacement physical SIM.
To find out how to insert your physical SIM card into your device, check out our device guides.