Using Dual SIM with an eSIM

An eSIM is a digital SIM that allows you to actuate a cellular plan from your carrier without having to use a physical nano-SIM. With iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone thirteen Pro, iPhone 13, and iPhone 13 mini, you can apply Dual SIM with either two active eSIMs or a nano-SIM and an eSIM. iPhone 12 models, iPhone 11 models, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR, feature Dual SIM with a nano-SIM and an eSIM.ane

How tin can you utilize Dual SIM?

  • Utilize ane number for business and another number for personal calls.
  • Add together a local information plan when y'all travel outside of the land or region.
  • Have split voice and data plans.

With iOS 13 and later, both of your telephone numbers can brand and receive vocalisation and FaceTime calls and transport and receive letters using iMessage, SMS, and MMS.2 Your iPhone tin use one cellular data network at a time.

If you want to use 5G with Dual SIM on iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, or iPhone 12 Pro Max, make certain that y'all have iOS 14.five or afterwards.

What you lot need

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

To employ 2 different carriers, your iPhone must be unlocked. Otherwise, both plans must be from the aforementioned carrier. If a CDMA carrier provides your first SIM, your second SIM won't support CDMA. Contact your carrier for more information.

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

  • Set up your cellular program with eSIM

  • Utilize two phone numbers

  • Learn virtually Dual SIM condition icons

  • Change your cellular data number

  • Manage cellular settings

  • Erase your eSIM

Set up your cellular programme with eSIM

On iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13, and iPhone 13 mini, you lot tin use ii eSIMs for 2 or more cellular plans—two agile at the same fourth dimension—or a physical nano-SIM for a cellular plan and an eSIM for one or more 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 i or more than other cellular plans. If you don't have a nano-SIM and your carrier supports information technology, an eSIM tin can serve as your only cellular programme. The eSIM provided past your carrier is stored digitally in your iPhone.

Learn how to activate a cellular program on an eSIM.

Yous can store more one eSIM in your iPhone, only you can use only one at a time. To switch eSIMs, tap Settings, tap either Cellular or Mobile Information, so tap the plan you desire to use. Then tap Turn On This Line.

Screenshot shows Secondary plan selected.

Label your plans

Later your second plan is activated, characterization your plans. For example, you tin label one plan Business and the other plan Personal.

Yous'll utilise these labels when you choose which phone number to apply for making or receiving calls and messages, to designate a number for cellular information, and to assign a number to your contacts then y'all know which number yous volition employ.

If yous change your mind afterward, y'all tin change your labels past going to Settings, tapping either Cellular or Mobile Data, and then tapping the number whose characterization y'all want to change. So tap Cellular Programme Label and select a new characterization or enter a custom characterization.

Image shows where to choose default line.

Set your default number

Choose a number to utilize when you call or send a message to someone who isn't in your Contacts app. With iOS 13 and later, choose which cellular plans you desire to utilize for iMessage and FaceTime. With iOS xiii and later, you can choose either or both numbers.

On this screen, choose a number to be your default, or you tin choose which number is to be used only for cellular data. Your other number will be your default. If you want your iPhone to utilise cellular data from both plans, depending on coverage and availability, turn on Allow Cellular Information Switching.

Utilize two telephone numbers for calls, messages, and information

Now that your iPhone is set up with two phone numbers, hither's how to utilize them.

Image shows contact info with number to use.

Let your iPhone remember which number to employ

When y'all telephone call one of your contacts, y'all don't need to choose which number to use every time. By default, your iPhone uses the same number that you used the terminal fourth dimension you called that contact. If you haven't called that contact, your iPhone uses your default number. You can too specify which number to employ for your calls with a contact. Follow these steps:

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

Make and receive calls

Yous tin make and receive phone calls with either phone number.

With iOS 13 and later, when you're on a phone call, if the carrier for your other phone number supports Wi-Fi calling, you lot tin answer incoming calls on your other number. When y'all're on a call using a line that isn't your designated line for cellular data, you need to plough on Allow Cellular Information Switching to receive calls from your other line. If you ignore the phone call and you have voicemail set upward with your carrier, you lot'll get a missed-phone call notification and the call will go to voicemail. Cheque with your carrier for Wi-Fi calling availability and find out whether additional fees or information usage applies from your data provider.

If you're on a call and your other line shows No Service, either your carrier doesn't back up Wi-Fi calling or y'all don't accept Wi-Fi calling turned on.3 Information technology could likewise mean Permit Cellular Data Switching is not turned on. When you're on a call, an incoming call on your other phone number will go to voicemail if you fix voicemail with your carrier.4 However, you won't get 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 telephone call, y'all can turn on call forwarding and forward all calls from one number to the other. Check with your carrier for availability and to find out whether additional fees apply.

Image shows Primary number near the top.

Switch phone numbers for a call

You can switch phone numbers earlier you make a call. If yous're calling someone in your Favorites listing, follow these steps:

  1. Tap the Info button.
  2. Tap the current telephone number.
  3. Tap your other number.

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

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

Ship messages with iMessage and SMS/MMS

You lot tin can utilize iMessage or SMS/MMS to transport messages with either telephone number.five Yous can choose a number to use before or after you showtime a conversation. Here'south how.

Image shows number selection for conversation.

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

  1. Open up Messages.
  2. Tap the New push button, in the upper-correct corner of the screen.
  3. Enter your contact's name.
  4. Tap the current phone number.
  5. Tap the number you want to apply.

Image shows switching number during conversation.

Switch numbers during a conversation

  1. Tap the number you're using, about the top of the screen.
  2. Choose the number you desire to use instead.

Learn most Dual SIM status icons

Image shows carrier 1 in use.

When Carrier 1 is in apply, the other line will prove No Service.

Image shows device connected to Wi-Fi.

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

Image shows carrier 2 using cellular data.

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

Modify your cellular data number

One number at a fourth dimension can use cellular data. To modify which number uses cellular data, follow these steps:

Image shows primary number selected for cellular data.

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

If you plough on Allow Cellular Data Switching, then while y'all're on a voice phone call on your voice-only number, that number automatically switches to use voice and information.vi This lets you utilize both voice and data while on the call.

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

To plough on Allow Cellular Data Switching, follow these steps:

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

Image shows cellular data settings screen.

Manage cellular settings

To modify 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 modify.
  4. Tap each option and set it as you normally would.

ane. eSIM on iPhone is non offered in Communist china mainland. In Hong Kong and Macao, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone SE (2nd generation), and iPhone XS characteristic eSIM. Learn near using Dual SIM with two nano-SIM cards in China mainland, Hong Kong, and Macao.
ii. This uses Dual SIM Dual Standby (DSDS) engineering science, which means that both SIMs can make and receive calls.
3. Or if you lot're using iOS 12, update to iOS 13 or afterwards to receive calls when you're using your other number.
4. If information roaming is on for the number that uses cellular data, then Visual Voicemail and MMS will be disabled on your vocalisation-only number.
five. Additional fees might apply. Bank check with your carrier.
6. Your information line switches automatically for the duration of your call. This cellular-data switching won't piece of work if y'all're currently using Data Roaming. Check with your carrier for availability and to find out if additional fees apply.

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