Nowadays, most Android smartphones come with eSIM functionality, offering users flexibility and convenience. While eSIM offers many advantages over traditional physical SIM cards, it also has some drawbacks. Users can not easily recover the network without the help of carriers if their device is lost or damaged. Google now aims to solve this problem, allowing Android phone users to back up and restore eSIMs through Google One device backups.
You may be able to restore eSIM soon via device backups
Google One allows users to back up photos, videos, contacts, and more on their mobile devices. This helps users to restore the content to a new device if they break or lose their device. Recently, Android Authority discovered code within Google Play Services v25.16.33 beta that hints Android users will soon be able to back up and restore SIMs.
While the code only mentions SIM, the publication believes it is likely referring to eSIMs, as physical SIMs remain unaffected by data wipes. However, as Android Central points out, Samsung already offers a tool to convert physical SIMs to an on-device eSIM, suggesting that Google’s upcoming feature might handle physical SIM cards as well.
Android Authority further says that the redesign of the Device Backup screen has added mentions of SIM cards. Previously, the app did not mention SIMs or include them in the device backup. As of now, it’s unclear how this feature will work, but it’s a good move from Google. Since the new feature will arrive as part of Google One device backup, it may require a paid Google One subscription to use.
It is worth noting that the feature is hidden in the APK file of Google Play Services. Right now, there’s no word on when Google will make the eSIM backup feature available to the public. Carrier support may play a big role in its availability. On top of that, Google may also face regulatory hurdles in some regions, resulting in limited availability. We will let you know when we have more information.
