Telefónica has given a new boost to digitization of mobile lines in Spain by finally bringing to Android a feature that until now only iPhone users enjoyed: the direct conversion of a Physical SIM in eSIM, as well as transferring an eSIM between devices, all from the phone's own settings.
The new feature is being launched for customers of Movistar and O2 and allows the process to be completed in a autonomous, safe and freewithout having to go to a store, download additional applications, or contact customer service. As a result, line management is no longer an external process but is integrated into the operating system.
Essentially, the operator enables any user with a compatible Android mobile phone to convert your traditional SIM card into a digital eSIM profile or move the eSIM from one device to another while keeping the exact same phone number. The physical card is no longer involved in the process and is replaced by a credential stored on the device itself.
This change brings Android closer to the experience that has been available for some time in the Apple ecosystem, where The eSIM transfer between iPhones is done entirely digitally. and facilitates the switch from iPhone to AndroidTelefónica is now extending that logic to a large part of the Android market, reinforcing its position as one of the pioneering operators in the deployment of eSIM in Spain.
The functionality is available from the initial phone setup It can also be activated later from the device settings. This way, both those getting a new phone and those wanting to upgrade their current SIM to an eSIM can do so by following a guided wizard, without additional steps or physical documentation.
How native SIM to eSIM transfer works on Android
The key to this new feature is that the management is carried out as a native process within AndroidThe user, upon turning on their new phone for the first time (or upon entering the network settings later), will find the option to convert your physical SIM to eSIM or transfer an existing eSIM from another compatible device.
During the wizard, the system checks that the line belongs to Movistar or O2, performs a secure user identity verification and downloads the eSIM profile onto the chip integrated into the device. All this without QR codes, additional forms, or external steps.
If the customer is changing mobile phones, the process also covers the transfer of an eSIM or existing SIM from the old phone to the new oneThe line retains the same number and tariff plan; only the "card" that manages it changes: from a physical plastic to a digital profile, or from an eSIM stored in one device to another eSIM in a different terminal.
Once the operation is complete, the old physical SIM card is no longer used, and the eSIM profile takes over connectivity. For the user, the practical effect is that the new phone It becomes operational in a matter of minutes.without having to handle trays, pins or adapters.
This move transforms the eSIM into a genuine integrated system serviceThis moves it away from the idea of a commercial transaction requiring QR codes, paperwork, or external assistance. The mobile device itself guides the user and handles all the technical aspects in the background.
Compatible models and deployment by manufacturers
In this first phase, the native eSIM experience on Android has been activated on a selection of devices, with a particular focus on the Spanish market. The company confirms that the feature is available on Xiaomi, Oppo and Motorola models with Android 14, as well as in Samsung devices running One UI 8.0 or later.
This means that many of the phones recently launched by these manufacturers can already take advantage of the new option, provided they offer hardware support for eSIMIn terminals where the integrated chip does not exist, the functionality cannot be activated, so the technical requirement remains decisive.
Telefónica has indicated that the The list of compatible models and brands will be expanded in the coming months.As manufacturers incorporate standard integration with carrier systems and Android continues to strengthen native eSIM support in new versions.
This gradual deployment is the result of direct coordination between Telefónica and the Android ecosystemThis is because the experience is built on the operating system's own options, not on third-party applications. This collaboration makes changing the SIM card part of the standard setup process, just like Wi-Fi or your Google account.
Meanwhile, those who do not yet have one of the enabled models can continue to use the traditional eSIM activation methods: Movistar and O2 app and website, or in-person management at Movistar stores, where it is possible to obtain or pre-install the digital profile at no additional cost.
Parity with iOS and evolution of the eSIM ecosystem
With the arrival of native SIM to eSIM transfer on Android, Telefónica achieves to standardize the experience between the two major mobile ecosystemsAndroid and iOS. On iPhones, the company was a pioneer in Spain by allowing... December 2023 the digital transfer of the eSIM from one terminal to another without QR codes or store visits.
After in December 2024Movistar expanded the options by allowing customers to take their New phone with the eSIM already pre-configured in storeWith no additional charges and a digital profile ready to use from the first time it's turned on. This option remains available as an alternative for those who prefer in-person support.
The next step came in March 2025, when the operator activated the Free eSIM management from the Movistar and O2 app and websiteso that the customer could register, duplicate and change without having to go to a physical location.
Native integration in Android now joins that roadmap and completes the picture: the mobile line can now be managed from the operating system itself, from the store, or from digital channelsdepending on what is most convenient in each case. The user gains flexibility to decide how and when to migrate to eSIM or change devices.
All of this reinforces Telefónica's position as key player in the consolidation of the eSIM ecosystem in Spain, an area in which the company has been promoting new features since the initial launch of this technology in 2018.
What can you do with eSIM with Movistar and O2?
Beyond the technical change from a physical SIM card to a digital profile, the eSIM enables a set of additional options that are especially useful for those who frequently change phones or manage multiple lines. Within the Movistar and O2 offerings, the eSIM allows, among other things, Register a new line completely digitallywithout needing to go to a store.
It is also possible that, when buying a new smartphone at a Movistar point of sale, the customer will take it home. with the eSIM already installed and ready to useThis avoids having to scan codes or wait for future transactions. This practice has been gradually implemented across the operator's network of stores.
If the user decides to upgrade their device, the eSIM makes it easier to The line transfer between one mobile phone and another takes only seconds.without relying on adapters, microSIM or nanoSIM. All the information needed to connect to the network is associated with the digital profile.
In addition, the company allows you to do eSIM duplicates and changes through online channels free of chargeThis significantly reduces friction when recovering a line in case of loss or theft of the terminal, provided that the established security protocols are followed.
Taken together, these possibilities make the eSIM function as a kind of "digital ID" for the mobile line: Portable across devices, remotely manageable, and less dependent on physical media that may deteriorate or get lost.
Wearables, MultiSIM and family lines
Telefónica's commitment to eSIM is not limited to smartphones. The company has been extending this technology to other connected devices, in particular Smartwatches and wearables associated with AndroidThese devices can activate their own mobile connectivity via eSIM, allowing them to function more independently of the phone.
From smartphone app to which the watch is linkedMovistar and O2 customers can configure the wearable line in both MultiSIM mode (sharing number with the main mobile) as through specific additional lines designed, for example, for children or elderly people who need to be locatable without carrying a smartphone.
This unified management from the phone simplifies the process for those who want their secondary devices—watches, trackers, or other connected gadgets—to have access to the mobile network. Using eSIMs eliminates the need to handle small cards, which is especially relevant in very small devices where there is no room for a conventional SIM tray.
By extending the same self-management logic to these products, Telefónica consolidates a connectivity ecosystem around the user's main line, in which adding or modifying additional devices becomes a guided, paperless operation.
All of this contributes to the eSIM not only being an alternative to the physical SIM, but the foundation upon which the connectivity for multiple personal and family devices, increasingly present in everyday life.
Practical advantages, safety and sustainability
On a practical level, the main benefit of native eSIM integration in Android is the drastic reduction of steps and waiting timesChanging your mobile phone or updating your SIM card no longer requires visits to the store or waiting for a card to arrive by courier; the device itself guides the process and resolves it instantly.
For the average user, this translates to It maintains its number and its service active almost without interruption.even when you upgrade your device. The experience is very similar to logging into a cloud account: the new phone "inherits" the line without any physical complications.
In terms of security, the eSIM offers an advantage over a conventional SIM card. Since it is not removable, it is more difficult to manipulate or stealThe activation and replacement processes incorporate additional verifications. This helps mitigate certain types of fraud associated with SIM card theft or duplication.
There is also a significant environmental component. The mass deployment of eSIMs It reduces the manufacturing, transportation, and disposal of plastic cards.as well as the associated packaging and documentation. This is another step towards reducing waste related to the provision of mobile services.
Finally, the fact of being able manage multiple profiles on the same device It opens the door to more flexible uses: alternating personal and professional lines, combining a national line with a travel line, or configuring secondary devices without depending on specific physical cards.
With this integration of native SIM to eSIM transfer in Android, Telefónica reinforces a strategy it has been building for years: that mobile connectivity be managed like any other system setting, in a way that simple, digital, and under the direct control of the user, both in Movistar and O2, and covering everything from main smartphones to wearables and associated lines.
