If you already have a Panda Mobile US number, you can switch between different SIM forms, or move your number to another phone without opening a new line.The steps below follow each situation separately.
Choose the Right Process for Your SIM or Phone
Changing your SIM means moving an existing Panda Mobile line from a physical SIM to an eSIM, or the other way around. Your account and phone number stay the same.
Changing phones does not always require changing the SIM type. You can move an active physical card into another compatible phone. With eSIM, you need a new installation profile for the replacement device. A previously deactivated physical card cannot be reused when switching back from eSIM.
Number porting moves your phone number to a different provider. That is not the same as a SIM change within your Panda Mobile account. If you are moving between providers, see our how to port a phone number in the USA guide.
Before You Start: Check Your Device and Account
Start with the device. It should be unlocked and compatible with the SIM type you plan to use. If you are switching to eSIM, look for Add eSIM in your phone settings. You can also check whether the phone displays an EID, then confirm compatibility for its specific model and region. A phone using a physical SIM needs a compatible card slot. For more background, see our US SIM card and eSIM options guide.
Have a stable Wi-Fi connection, access to your Panda Mobile account, and a backup way to sign in to your bank, school, or other important services. Text messages may be briefly unavailable while you switch, so avoid doing this when you urgently need a verification code.
When changing to a new physical SIM, keep the ICCID printed on the replacement card available. The ICCID identifies a SIM card, while the EID identifies an eSIM-capable device and the IMEI identifies the phone. Enter the ICCID only when Panda Mobile asks for the new physical card number.
If you are in mainland China, check the timing with support before making changes. Panda Mobile does not support initial eSIM activation there, and an existing-line eSIM replacement may have location-specific setup requirements.
Changing Between a Physical SIM and eSIM
From an Active Physical SIM to eSIM
If your Panda Mobile number is already active on a physical SIM, use the existing line in your account to make the switch. You do not need a new account or a new US phone number.
1. Confirm that your target phone supports eSIM, connect it to Wi-Fi, and sign in to your Panda Mobile account.
2. Find your active US number, click the “+” beside it, and select Change SIM.
3. Choose eSIM, then use the phone that will receive the number to scan the new QR code generated in your account. Follow the on-screen installation instructions.
4. Turn on the newly installed US line in your phone settings and check that it connects to a mobile network. Complete the call, text, and data checks described below.
Once the replacement eSIM is activated, your previous physical SIM is automatically deactivated. That old card cannot be restored if you later switch back to a physical SIM; Panda Mobile provides a new replacement card at no charge. Avoid submitting repeated SIM-change requests while the new line is being set up.
If you are getting your first US number instead of replacing an existing SIM, follow our how to get and activate a US eSIM guide. The QR code in the illustration is only an example; scan the unique code generated in your own Panda Mobile account.
From eSIM Back to a New Physical SIM
To change an existing Panda Mobile eSIM line back to a physical SIM, request a new physical card from our support team. The replacement card is free, and your existing US phone number stays the same. This applies even if you still have the physical card you used before converting to eSIM: a deactivated card cannot be reactivated.
Once the new card arrives, sign in to your Panda Mobile account. Find your current number, click “+”, select Change SIM, choose Physical SIM (pSIM), enter the ICCID from the new card, and select Confirm SIM Swap. Insert the new card into an unlocked, compatible phone and restart it. When the new physical line becomes active, the old eSIM stops working.
Keep the working eSIM profile in place until you are ready to follow the replacement instructions. Do not delete it or assume that inserting your old physical card will restore service. If a step is unclear, contact Panda Mobile support before continuing.
Moving Your Existing US Number to a New Phone
If Your Current Line Uses an Active Physical SIM
For a phone upgrade, you can usually take the physical SIM currently providing your service out of the old phone and insert it into the new, unlocked phone, provided the new device has a compatible SIM slot. Restart and test the line. This is a device change, not the same as reactivating an old SIM that was disabled during a previous eSIM conversion.
If the new phone has no physical SIM slot, use the physical-to-eSIM steps above on your existing Panda Mobile number instead of ordering a new line.
If Your Current Line Uses eSIM
An eSIM profile cannot simply be removed from one phone and inserted into another. Sign in to Panda Mobile, select the active US number, open Change SIM, and use the new QR code issued for the replacement phone to install the line. Confirm that the new device is ready before wiping or selling the old one.
Some iPhones offer eSIM Quick Transfer, but availability depends on provider support. For Panda Mobile, use the account-based Change SIM process rather than assuming that an iPhone-to-iPhone transfer will work. Android settings may differ by model.
If Your Previous Phone Is Lost or Broken
Try signing in to your Panda Mobile account from another device. If you cannot verify ownership or obtain the new eSIM installation details, contact our support team for help moving your existing number. You do not need to purchase a new US number solely because your phone is damaged.
Check That Your US Number Works After the Change
After the SIM change, test five things in order: make an outgoing call, receive an incoming call, send and receive regular text messages, use mobile data with Wi-Fi turned off, and confirm that an important service such as your bank or school can still send a verification code to your existing US number.
If your phone has both a Chinese and a US line, check which one is selected for calls, texts, and mobile data. See our essential mobile settings and troubleshooting guide for more detailed checks.
If the SIM Change Does Not Complete
If the QR code will not scan, check your Wi-Fi connection, the new phone’s eSIM compatibility, and whether you are using the most recent QR code from your account. If installation fails, ask support whether a replacement code is needed instead of repeatedly scanning an old one.
If the previous SIM has stopped working but the replacement has no service, confirm the new US line is enabled, restart the phone, and review its network settings. Do not repeatedly submit Change SIM requests or remove an active eSIM without instructions. Save any error messages so support can investigate.
If you cannot find Change SIM in your account, check that you are signed in to the correct account and viewing the right number. Our English- and Chinese-speaking support team, including WeChat support, can help if the option is unavailable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will My Contacts, Photos, and Apps Move When I Change SIMs?
No. Panda Mobile changes the mobile line associated with your SIM or eSIM; contacts, photos, and apps stored on a phone do not move as part of a SIM change. Back up your old phone or use the phone maker’s transfer tools when upgrading devices.
Do I Need a Transfer PIN to Change SIMs Within Panda Mobile?
No. A SIM change within your existing Panda Mobile account does not require a number-transfer PIN. Porting a number from another provider is a separate process and usually requires information from the previous account, including a transfer PIN.
What Should I Do if Verification Texts Stop Arriving After a SIM Change?
First, test ordinary text messages. If regular SMS works but codes from one bank or service do not arrive, check whether that service requires extra security verification after a SIM change. If no texts arrive at all, confirm the correct US line is enabled and tell Panda Mobile support when you changed SIMs and what error messages you see.
