Multiple eSIMs on iPhone: How Many You Can Use

TL;DR

• Stored vs. active: An iPhone can store several eSIM profiles, but only one or two are active at once, depending on the model.
• iPhone 13 and newer: Two eSIMs can be active together. Older models (XS, XR, 11) pair one eSIM with one physical SIM for Dual SIM.
• One data line at a time: Both lines can handle calls and texts, but only one carries cellular data. You choose which in Settings > Cellular.
• Before you fly: Install the travel eSIM at home on Wi-Fi, set your default lines, and turn your home line's data roaming off.

Stored eSIMs vs. active eSIMs

These two numbers get mixed up in most answers online, so separate them first.

1. Stored eSIMs are profiles saved on the phone. They take up no SIM tray space and do nothing until you switch them on. Apple says you can manage up to eight or more eSIMs on a supported iPhone.
2. Active eSIMs are the lines the phone is using right now. This is the limit that matters for daily use.

The practical result is simple. You do not have to delete your home line to make room for a trip. You install the travel eSIM, switch it on when you land, and switch it off when you are home again.

How many eSIMs your iPhone can run, by model

Apple's support documentation draws the line at the iPhone 13 series.

The same Apple page notes that earlier models require a physical SIM for Dual SIM, while the iPhone 13 and later can use two active eSIMs. If you want to check your own model before buying a plan, our device compatibility checker takes a minute.

U.S. iPhones without a SIM tray

If you bought a recent iPhone in the U.S., you may not have a physical SIM tray at all. That is not a limitation for travel, because every line you use is an eSIM. We cover which models are affected in our guide to U.S. iPhones that ship without a SIM tray.

A caution about region

The iPhone you hold may have been sold for a different market than the one you are in. Apple lists regional differences. In mainland China, only select models support eSIM, and in Hong Kong and Macao some models use two physical nano-SIM cards for Dual SIM instead. If you bought your phone abroad, check its model and region in Settings > General > About before you rely on any eSIM plan. Travelers heading to China can read our China eSIM guide for what to install before landing.

What two active lines can and cannot do

Dual SIM sounds like two phones in one, and for calls it nearly is. Apple's guidance on using two lines says the following.

• Both numbers can make and receive voice calls and FaceTime calls.
• Both numbers can send and receive iMessage, SMS and MMS.
• Only one cellular data network can be used at a time.

That last point shapes how you set up a trip. One line is your data line. The other is voice and text only, or idle.

Allow Cellular Data Switching

Apple includes a setting called Allow Cellular Data Switching. When it is on, the phone can use data from the second line if the first has no coverage. Apple describes it in the same dual eSIM support article. It is useful at home with two domestic plans.

Abroad, think before you leave it on. If the fallback line is your home plan, data may flow through it, and that can mean roaming charges. For a trip, we suggest turning the setting off unless you have confirmed what your home plan charges abroad.

Voicemail and messaging gaps

Two details trip people up.

1. Visual Voicemail and MMS. When data roaming is on for your active data line, the other line, if voice-only, may lose Visual Voicemail and MMS. Apple's dual SIM documentation covers this, so confirm with your carrier what your plan supports abroad.
2. Conversations stay on the line that started them. If you start an SMS or iMessage thread from one line, you generally cannot move that thread to the other line. You would delete it and start a new one. Choose your sending line before the first text.

Most travel eSIMs are data-only. That means calls and texts to your usual number keep going to your home line, as long as that line stays on. We explain what to leave on and off below.

How to set up a travel eSIM next to your home line

This is the order we recommend. It keeps you from doing anything at the airport on weak Wi-Fi.

1. Check support. Confirm that your iPhone is carrier-unlocked and supports eSIM. Our eSIM vs. physical SIM guide explains the compatibility checks.
2. Buy the plan at home. Pick your destination and read the data amount, validity and terms before you pay.
3. Install over Wi-Fi. The eSIM is delivered by email as a QR code. Scan it in Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM. Installing the profile at home is much easier than at a busy arrivals hall. Our walkthrough of three ways to activate a travel eSIM covers each method.
4. Label the lines. Give the lines clear names, such as Home and Travel. Apple lets you label each line in Cellular settings, and it prevents mistakes later.
5. Set defaults. In Settings > Cellular, choose your default voice line and your cellular data line. Apple notes that setting these defaults before you travel helps avoid accidental roaming on your home line.
6. Leave the travel line off until you land. Some plans start counting validity at first connection, and some at installation, so read the terms. Our guide on avoiding lost paid days is worth a look first.

How to switch between eSIMs abroad

People searching for how to switch between eSIMs abroad usually want one of two things: to move data to the travel line, or to move a call or text back to the home number.

Moving data to the travel eSIM

1. Open Settings > Cellular.
2. Under Cellular Plans, tap your travel line and turn it on.
3. Under Cellular Data, select the travel line.
4. Tap your home line and turn Data Roaming off.
5. Check that the status bar shows a signal for the travel network.

If you want a fuller pre-flight checklist, we wrote one on iPhone travel data settings that stop roaming charges. Our separate piece on switching between eSIMs before you fly explains why we prefer to do this at home, not at the airport.

Calling from your home number

With a data-only travel eSIM, your home line stays on for voice and text if you leave it active. Calls and texts to that number still arrive, but your carrier may bill them at roaming rates. Check your home plan's international terms before you land. If you want to avoid that cost entirely, you can turn the home line off, and use Wi-Fi calling or messaging apps instead.

Switching back at home

When you return, turn the travel line off and select your home line for cellular data again. You can keep the travel eSIM stored for a future trip. If the plan has expired, you can delete it from Settings > Cellular to keep the list tidy.

Why a second eSIM is good for travel

Apple's travel guidance names several benefits of eSIM. It says an eSIM is more secure than a physical SIM because it cannot be removed if your iPhone is lost or stolen. It also means you do not have to get, carry or swap physical SIM cards, which can also be lost, or wait for them to come in the mail.

Beyond that, Apple lists using Dual SIM to add a local data plan when you travel to another country or region as one of its standard uses. Keeping your home number reachable while a separate line carries data is the main reason travelers choose it.

Our perspective

We sell prepaid travel eSIMs, so we see the same mix-ups from travelers again and again. Almost none involve the technology. They involve order of operations.

We think the safest trip has three rules. First, install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi, where you can fix a problem calmly. Second, read the plan terms before paying: data amount, validity, per-GB rate and top-up rules. That is why we show those details up front, with no account needed. Third, decide your data line and your roaming settings before the flight, not on arrival.

We also built top-ups so you can add data to the same eSIM without installing a new profile. That matters with Dual SIM, because a second install means a second round of line settings to get right. If you are unsure whether a multi-country plan fits your route, read our three checks before relying on a multi-country eSIM.

The eSIM does not have to be complicated. Do the setup once, label your lines clearly, and check the status bar when you land.

— Carl

Choosing a plan for your trip

Once you know your iPhone can handle a second line, the question is which plan. We list plans by region, with fixed and unlimited data options and a validity period on each.

• Heading to several countries in one trip? Look at Europe plans, Asia plans, Latin America plans or Africa plans.
• Covering a mixed itinerary? The Global plans come in several data sizes.
• Want no data cap worries? Browse our unlimited travel eSIM plans.

WayfarerSIM covers 205 destinations. You see the price and terms before payment, and you do not need to create an account. You can install at home, then switch the line on when you land.

Common mistakes with two eSIMs

1. Leaving data roaming on for the home line. This is the most common source of surprise charges. Turn it off for the home line before you board.
2. Leaving Allow Cellular Data Switching on. It can let your phone fall back to the home line when the travel network is weak.
3. Starting a message thread on the wrong line. You cannot move it later, so pick the line first.
4. Installing in the arrivals hall. Weak or paid airport Wi-Fi turns a two-minute job into a stressful one.
5. Assuming one profile means one trip. A stored profile that is turned off costs nothing to keep, but check the plan's validity before you reuse it.
6. Forgetting the phone must be unlocked. A carrier lock can block a new eSIM. Ask your carrier before you travel.

More practical reading is in our travel and eSIM guides.

FAQ

How many eSIMs can an iPhone have?

A supported iPhone can store eight or more eSIM profiles. The number you can use at once is lower: two active eSIMs on the iPhone 13 series and newer, or one eSIM plus a physical SIM on earlier models such as the XS, XR and 11.

Can I use two eSIMs at the same time on my iPhone?

Yes, if you have an iPhone 13 or newer. Both lines can make and receive calls and texts, but only one of them carries cellular data at a time. You pick the data line in Settings > Cellular.

How do I switch between eSIMs on my iPhone?

Open Settings > Cellular, tap the line you want, and turn it on. Then choose it under Cellular Data. Turn Data Roaming off for the line you are not using for data, especially your home line when you are abroad.

Will my home number still work if I use a travel eSIM?

It can, as long as the home line stays on. Calls and texts to your number still arrive, though your carrier may charge roaming rates. Check your home plan's international terms before you leave, or turn the home line off and use Wi-Fi calling.

Does my iPhone work with eSIMs in every country?

Not always. Apple notes that eSIM availability depends on region, and in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao some models use different SIM setups. Check your model and where it was sold before you buy.

Sources

• Set up eSIM on iPhone, Apple Support
• Use Dual SIM with an eSIM, Apple Support
• Use Dual SIM with an eSIM, Apple Support (China)
• Use eSIM while traveling internationally with your iPhone, Apple Support
• Use Dual SIM on iPhone, Apple Support

Recommended

• Switch Between eSIMs Before You Fly, Not at the Airport
• Travelers: Check eSIM Support — U.S. iPhone 14+ Ship Without SIM Tray
• Travelers: 3 Fast Ways to Activate an eSIM Before You Fly
• eSIM vs Physical SIM for Travel: Check Compatibility Before You Fly