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Three eSIM: how to get one, what it costs and which phones work

Checked 23 September 2026

Yes, Three offers eSIM on pay monthly and SIM only Three Your Way plans and on Pay As You Go. New customers get eSIM as the default at checkout. There is no charge: Three's price guide lists a replacement SIM as free. Existing customers swap in the Three app under Manage SIM, then Replace SIM. Most eSIMs work straight away.

Three eSIM at a glance

eSIM available on
Pay monthly, SIM only and Pay As You Go
Cost
Free
Where to get it
Online at checkout, the Three app, My3 or a Three store
Swap from a physical SIM
Three app: Manage SIM, then Replace SIM
Activation time
Usually instant, up to 7 hours
Smartwatch eSIM
Smartwatch Pairing Plan, pay monthly only

Which Three plans support eSIM

Plan typeeSIMNotes
Pay monthly Yes Choose an eSIM-compatible phone, tablet or smartwatch on a Three Your Way plan. eSIM is the default for new customers, but most devices can still take a physical SIM.
SIM only Yes Any Three Your Way SIM Only plan can be taken as an eSIM.
Pay As You Go Yes Data Packs are sold as eSIMs, from £10 for 40GB on 23 September 2026, and each includes a Go Roam allowance for use abroad. Existing Pay As You Go customers can swap to eSIM in My3 or the Three app.
Older pay monthly plans No Three says switching from a physical SIM to eSIM is for Three Your Way plans. Check which plan you're on in My3.

How to get a Three eSIM

New customer

  1. Choose a SIM Only plan, a Pay As You Go Data Pack, or an eSIM-compatible phone, tablet or smartwatch.
  2. Leave eSIM selected as your SIM type at checkout.
  3. Bought an iPhone or Google Pixel 11 from Three? Switch it on, join Wi-Fi and follow the prompts.
  4. Any other phone: wait for two emails, one with a QR code and one with a confirmation code.

Existing customer in the Three app

  1. Log in to the Three app.
  2. Tap Manage SIM on the Home page.
  3. Choose Replace SIM and follow the on-screen steps.
  4. Activate the new eSIM on your phone using the steps below.

Existing customer in My3

  1. Log in to My3.
  2. Go to Plan.
  3. Select Get a replacement SIM and follow the on-screen steps.

Convert on the phone itself (iPhone or Google Pixel 11)

  1. iPhone: go to Settings, then Mobile Service, and tap Convert to eSIM. Confirm, then double-click the side button.
  2. Pixel 11: set a screen lock, join Wi-Fi, then go to Settings, Network & Internet, SIMs. Pick the physical SIM and tap Convert to eSIM.
  3. When the eSIM is live, take out the old SIM card. On an iPhone, restart afterwards.

Activating your Three eSIM

  1. Connect to Wi-Fi.
  2. iPhone or Google Pixel 11: switch on and follow the on-screen steps. You don't need a QR code.
  3. Other Android phones: open Settings, then Connections, then SIM Card Manager, and tap Add Mobile Plan.
  4. Tap Scan Carrier QR code and scan the QR code Three emailed you.
  5. Enter the confirmation code from the second email.
  6. Wait for signal. Most eSIMs go live straight away.

Wi-Fi is required. The QR code and confirmation code arrive in separate emails and each works only once. Check your junk folder if one is missing. Activation is usually instant but can take up to 7 hours. Contact Three if it takes longer. iPhones and the Pixel 11 use seamless activation, so no codes are needed.

Which phones work with a Three eSIM

Most recent phones, tablets and laptops support eSIM, but older models may not. Three doesn't publish a single list. Look up your model on Three's device support site and check the SIM type under Specifications. For a smartwatch plan you need a cellular Apple Watch SE or Series 5 or later, a Galaxy Watch5 or Watch5 Pro, or a Google Pixel Watch 3.

Three's list of eSIM-compatible devices

If your Three eSIM is not working

My QR code or confirmation code email hasn't arrived

Check your junk and spam folders. The two codes come in separate emails and each works once. If either is missing, contact Three.

The eSIM still isn't working

Most eSIMs go live straight away, but it can take up to 7 hours. If you've waited longer, contact Three.

I can't order a replacement eSIM online

Three makes you wait 7 days after opening an account or changing your credit limit, and 2 days after changing your email address. To skip the wait, visit a Three store with photo ID (photocard driving licence, passport or European ID card).

No setup steps appear on my new iPhone or Pixel

Make sure the phone is on Wi-Fi, then try again.

Quick Transfer to a new phone fails

Put both phones on Wi-Fi, not a personal hotspot, and turn Bluetooth on. You need iOS 18 or later for Transfer from Nearby iPhone, and Android 15 or later on a Pixel.

Three eSIM FAQs

Is Three eSIM free?
Yes. Three doesn't charge for the eSIM itself. Its Three Your Way price guide lists a replacement SIM as free. You only pay for your plan or Data Pack.
Can I keep my number with a Three eSIM?
Yes. A replacement eSIM or eSIM Quick Transfer moves your existing number to the eSIM. Your old SIM stops working once the new one is active.
How do I move my Three eSIM to a new phone?
On a new iPhone, use Quick Start during setup, or go to Settings, Mobile Service, Set Up Mobile Service and transfer from your old iPhone. Between Pixel 11 phones, go to Settings, Network and Internet, SIMs, Add eSIM, then Transfer a SIM from another device. On other Android phones, order a replacement eSIM in the Three app or My3 and scan the new QR code.
Can I use a Three eSIM and a physical SIM together?
Yes, on a dual SIM phone. You can pair an eSIM with a physical SIM, or run two eSIMs, and keep two numbers on one phone.
Does a Three eSIM work abroad?
Yes. Pay As You Go Data Packs include a Go Roam allowance you can use in over 70 destinations. A smartwatch on Smartwatch Pairing is different: its cellular features don't work outside the UK, though it still works over Bluetooth with your phone.
What if my phone with a Three eSIM is lost or stolen?
Contact Three straight away so it can protect your account. If the phone was stolen, call the police first and get a crime reference number. Then order a replacement eSIM in the Three app or My3, or visit a store with photo ID.
Can I get an eSIM for my smartwatch on Three?
Yes, with a Smartwatch Pairing Plan. It shares your phone plan's allowances with a cellular watch. It's for pay monthly customers only, with one watch per plan. The Three Your Way price guide lists it at £7 a month on a 1-month plan, £6 on 12 months and £5 on 24 months. Setup can take up to 30 minutes.
Did the VodafoneThree merger change the Three eSIM process?
No. Three now runs on the combined Vodafone and Three network, but as of September 2026 Three customers still get and manage eSIMs through My3, the Three app or a Three store.

Sources

Every fact on this page was checked against Three's own help pages on 23 September 2026. Processes change, so check the official page before you start.