You know that moment. Your phone, which is basically an extension of your hand, starts acting… strange. Apps crash for no reason. It’s slower than a line at the DMV. That little spinning wheel of doom is your constant companion.
And everyone’s solution is the same: “Just factory reset it!”
It sounds so simple. But if you’re using an eSIM, a little voice in your head whispers: “Wait. What about my phone number? Is this going to delete my eSIM?”
We’ve all been there. Let’s have a real chat about this, without the confusing tech jargon.
Table of Contents
What’s a Factory Reset?
Doing a factory reset is like flipping that backpack upside down over a bin and shaking it until every last crumb and mystery item is gone. Then you zip it up, and boom, it looks fresh again, like it just came out of the box.
But here’s the catch, everything that made it yours disappears too. Your photos, your apps, your playlists, your weirdly specific phone settings, all wiped clean. It’s a total reset, meant for those “nothing else works” moments when your phone’s acting like it’s possessed.
Does a Factory Reset Delete eSIM?
Let’s not drag this out. You came here for a straight answer.
Here’s the truth: In most cases, yes. A standard factory reset will delete your eSIM.
Why? Because to your phone, your eSIM profile isn’t some magical, untouchable thing. It’s just data. And when you give the command to “erase everything,” it means everything. Your eSIM gets swept away in the digital clean-up.
Think of it like this: Your eSIM is the digital key to your apartment (your mobile network). A factory reset doesn’t just take your key; it demolishes the whole building and rebuilds it. Your old key is useless. You’ll need a brand new one to get back in.
Exceptions and Variations
A handful of the newest Android phones might show you a little checkbox during the reset that says “Delete eSIM” or “Erase downloaded SIMs.”
If you see it and carefully uncheck it, you might save your eSIM.
But honestly? Don’t rely on this and always assume a full factory reset and your eSIM cannot coexist. Plan for it to be deleted.
How to Reset Without Losing Your eSIM?
“But what if I just want to fix a minor bug?”
We feel you. Luckily, there are softer ways to give your phone a refresh.
For the iPhone Crew
Apple actually gives you a really easy way out.
Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone. You’ll see two options:
- Reset All Settings: This is like tidying your room instead of burning the whole house down. It resets your preferences back to default. But it leaves all your personal data, apps, and crucially, your eSIM, completely alone.
- Erase All Content and Settings: This is the true “factory reset.” This will delete your eSIM, along with everything else. Only use this if you’re selling your phone or it’s completely beyond repair.
For the Android Fam
Android menus can be a bit of a maze (looking at you, Samsung, Google, etc.), but the same idea exists.
Before you tap the scary “Factory data reset” button, go on a quick hunt in your settings for these gentler options:
- Reset Settings: This only resets your system preferences, not your personal stuff or eSIM.
- Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth: This is like just cleaning out your wallet. It clears your saved networks and connections, which can solve a lot of weird issues, and your eSIM won’t even notice.
When You Should Be the One to Pull the Plug
Sometimes, you need to be proactive. It’s about taking control before your phone does something for you.
You should manually delete your eSIM from your old phone in two main situations:
- When you’re selling or giving away your phone
- When you’re switching to a new plan or carrier
What to do if the eSIM is Deleted During Factory Reset?
Here is the most comforting thing to remember: Your phone number lives with your carrier, not on your physical phone. When the reset deletes your eSIM, it just erased the “key,” not your entire account.
Getting back online is usually super simple. You basically just need to reset your eSIM connection, which means:
- Getting a new QR code from your provide.
- Scanning it with your phone’s camera.
- Waiting a minute or two for your service to kick back in.
It’s a minor inconvenience, not a catastrophe. It’s like losing your debit card, your money is still in the bank, you just need a new card to access it.
Wrapping It Up
So, does a factory reset delete eSIM? Yes. Pretty much always. Just go in with that expectation.
Try the “soft reset” first. Use “Reset All Settings” on iPhone or the milder options on Android. They fix more problems than you’d think!
Be the boss. Manually remove your eSIM before you sell your phone. It’s the smart and safe thing to do.
If it gets deleted, don’t stress. Your number is safe. A quick chat with your provider for a new QR code is all you need to get back in action.
You’ve got this. Now you can handle that factory reset like a pro, with no surprises. Go give that glitchy phone a fresh start.
