The method and apparatus described herein transfers soft SIM credentials from a transferring mobile device to a target mobile device while ensuring that only one mobile device contains active soft SIM credentials at a time. Broadly, a transferring mobile device securely transfers the soft SIM credentials to a target mobile device either directly or via a network server. Before the target mobile device receives or activates the soft SIM credentials, the transferring mobile device deactivates the soft SIM credentials to ensure that only one mobile device contains the active soft SIM credentials.