Using Dual SIM with an eSIM

An eSIM is a digital SIM that allows y'all to activate a cellular program from your carrier without having to use a concrete nano-SIM. With iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13, and iPhone thirteen mini, you can use Dual SIM with either two active eSIMs or a nano-SIM and an eSIM. iPhone 12 models, iPhone eleven models, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR, feature Dual SIM with a nano-SIM and an eSIM.1

How can you use Dual SIM?

  • Use one number for business organisation and another number for personal calls.
  • Add a local information plan when you travel outside of the country or region.
  • Have separate voice and data plans.

With iOS thirteen and later, both of your phone numbers can make and receive voice and FaceTime calls and send and receive messages using iMessage, SMS, and MMS.2 Your iPhone can use one cellular information network at a time.

If you want to apply 5G with Dual SIM on iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, or iPhone 12 Pro Max, brand sure that y'all accept iOS fourteen.5 or later.

What you lot demand

  • An iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, or later with iOS 12.1 or later
  • A wireless carrier that supports eSIM

To use two different carriers, your iPhone must be unlocked. Otherwise, both plans must exist from the same carrier. If a CDMA carrier provides your first SIM, your second SIM won't back up CDMA. Contact your carrier for more than data.

If you have an enterprise or corporate cellular service program, check with your company administrator to see if they support this feature.

  • Prepare upwardly your cellular plan with eSIM

  • Use two phone numbers

  • Learn nigh Dual SIM status icons

  • Change your cellular data number

  • Manage cellular settings

  • Erase your eSIM

Set your cellular programme with eSIM

On iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone thirteen Pro, iPhone thirteen, and iPhone xiii mini, you tin can apply 2 eSIMs for 2 or more cellular plans—two active at the same time—or a physical nano-SIM for a cellular program and an eSIM for 1 or more than other cellular plans.

On iPhone 12 models, iPhone eleven models, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR, you lot can use a concrete nano-SIM for a cellular plan and an eSIM for one or more other cellular plans. If you lot don't accept a nano-SIM and your carrier supports information technology, an eSIM can serve as your only cellular plan. The eSIM provided past your carrier is stored digitally in your iPhone.

Learn how to actuate a cellular program on an eSIM.

Y'all tin store more than one eSIM in your iPhone, simply you can use only i at a time. To switch eSIMs, tap Settings, tap either Cellular or Mobile Information, and and so tap the plan you lot want to use. Then tap Turn On This Line.

Screenshot shows Secondary plan selected.

Label your plans

Afterwards your second plan is activated, label your plans. For case, yous tin label one programme Business and the other programme Personal.

You'll utilize these labels when you cull which phone number to utilise for making or receiving calls and messages, to designate a number for cellular data, and to assign a number to your contacts and then you know which number you volition use.

If you alter your listen afterward, yous can change your labels past going to Settings, tapping either Cellular or Mobile Data, and so tapping the number whose label yous want to change. So tap Cellular Programme Label and select a new characterization or enter a custom label.

Image shows where to choose default line.

Prepare your default number

Choose a number to use when y'all telephone call or send a message to someone who isn't in your Contacts app. With iOS 13 and later on, choose which cellular plans you want to utilize for iMessage and FaceTime. With iOS 13 and later, you tin choose either or both numbers.

On this screen, choose a number to be your default, or yous can choose which number is to exist used just for cellular information. Your other number will be your default. If y'all want your iPhone to use cellular data from both plans, depending on coverage and availability, turn on Allow Cellular Data Switching.

Employ two telephone numbers for calls, messages, and data

At present that your iPhone is set up with two phone numbers, here's how to use them.

Image shows contact info with number to use.

Allow your iPhone remember which number to use

When you call one of your contacts, you don't demand to choose which number to utilise every time. By default, your iPhone uses the aforementioned number that you used the final time you called that contact. If you oasis't called that contact, your iPhone uses your default number. You can likewise specify which number to use for your calls with a contact. Follow these steps:

  1. Tap the contact.
  2. Tap Preferred Cellular Plan.
  3. Tap the number yous want to use with that contact.

Make and receive calls

Y'all can make and receive phone calls with either phone number.

With iOS 13 and later, when you lot're on a telephone call, if the carrier for your other phone number supports Wi-Fi calling, you tin reply incoming calls on your other number. When you're on a call using a line that isn't your designated line for cellular data, you need to plow on Allow Cellular Information Switching to receive calls from your other line. If you ignore the call and you accept voicemail prepare with your carrier, yous'll go a missed-telephone call notification and the call will get to voicemail. Bank check with your carrier for Wi-Fi calling availability and observe out whether additional fees or data usage applies from your information provider.

If you lot're on a telephone call and your other line shows No Service, either your carrier doesn't support Wi-Fi calling or you don't take Wi-Fi calling turned on.iii Information technology could also mean Allow Cellular Information Switching is not turned on. When you're on a call, an incoming call on your other phone number will become to voicemail if you lot prepare voicemail with your carrier.4 All the same, y'all won't become a missed-phone call notification from your secondary number. Call Waiting works for incoming calls on the same telephone number. To avoid missing an important call, you can plow on call forwarding and forward all calls from one number to the other. Cheque with your carrier for availability and to find out whether additional fees use.

Image shows Primary number near the top.

Switch phone numbers for a telephone call

You tin switch phone numbers earlier you make a telephone call. If you're calling someone in your Favorites list, follow these steps:

  1. Tap the Info push.
  2. Tap the current phone number.
  3. Tap your other number.

If you're using the keypad, follow these steps:

  1. Enter the phone number.
  2. Tap the telephone number, nigh the top of the screen.
  3. Tap the number you want to use.

Send messages with iMessage and SMS/MMS

You can employ iMessage or SMS/MMS to send messages with either phone number.v Y'all tin choose a number to utilize earlier or later you lot start a conversation. Here's how.

Image shows number selection for conversation.

Choose a number before you transport an iMessage or SMS/MMS message

  1. Open Messages.
  2. Tap the New button, in the upper-right corner of the screen.
  3. Enter your contact'south name.
  4. Tap the electric current phone number.
  5. Tap the number you want to utilise.

Image shows switching number during conversation.

Switch numbers during a chat

  1. Tap the number you're using, about the top of the screen.
  2. Cull the number y'all desire to utilise instead.

Learn about Dual SIM status icons

Image shows carrier 1 in use.

When Carrier i is in utilize, the other line will prove No Service.

Image shows device connected to Wi-Fi.

The status bar shows that the device is connected to Wi-Fi and Carrier 2 is using Wi-Fi Calling.

Image shows carrier 2 using cellular data.

With Permit Cellular Data Switching turned on, the status bar shows that Carrier i is using 5G, and Carrier 2 is using the cellular data of Carrier 1 and has Wi-Fi calling enabled.

Alter your cellular data number

Ane number at a time can use cellular data. To alter which number uses cellular data, follow these steps:

Image shows primary number selected for cellular data.

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap either Cellular or Mobile Information.
  3. Tap Cellular Data.
  4. Tap the number you want to use cellular data.

If you turn on Allow Cellular Information Switching, then while y'all're on a voice telephone call on your voice-just number, that number automatically switches to use phonation and data.vi This lets you use both voice and data while on the telephone call.

If y'all plow off Permit Cellular Data Switching and yous're active on a voice number that isn't your designated cellular-data number, then cellular information won't work while you're on the call.

To turn on Let Cellular Information Switching, follow these steps:

  1. Get to Settings.
  2. Tap either Cellular or Mobile Data.
  3. Tap Cellular Data.
  4. Turn on Allow Cellular Data Switching.

Image shows cellular data settings screen.

Manage cellular settings

To change your cellular settings for each of your plans, follow these steps:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap either Cellular or Mobile Data.
  3. Tap the number you want to change.
  4. Tap each option and set information technology equally you lot usually would.

1. eSIM on iPhone is non offered in China mainland. In Hong Kong and Macao, iPhone xiii mini, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone SE (2nd and tertiary generation), and iPhone XS feature eSIM. Learn well-nigh using Dual SIM with 2 nano-SIM cards in Cathay mainland, Hong Kong, and Macao.
two. This uses Dual SIM Dual Standby (DSDS) engineering, which means that both SIMs can brand and receive calls.
3. Or if y'all're using iOS 12, update to iOS 13 or later to receive calls when you're using your other number.
4. If data roaming is on for the number that uses cellular data, then Visual Voicemail and MMS will be disabled on your vocalisation-only number.
v. Additional fees might use. Check with your carrier.
6. Your data line switches automatically for the duration of your call. This cellular-information switching won't work if you lot're currently using Information Roaming. Check with your carrier for availability and to find out if additional fees use.

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