How to set up iPhone dual SIM cards
If you want to divide your personal and professional calls, you can use two or more numbers on a single phone. You may add extra cellular or Internet plans using eSIM, a digital SIM platform, without using a second physical SIM card. Because Apple has only provided the iPhone dual SIM cards sport since its inception, it is physically impossible to add multiple SIM cards to the device.
You may use two or more numbers on a single phone to separate your personal and work calls. eSIM, a digital SIM platform, allows you to add additional cellular or Internet services without requiring a second physical SIM card. It is technically impossible to install more than one SIM card to the iPhone since Apple has only ever given the gadget a single SIM card slot when it was first released.
IPhones that support eSIM (except models purchased in China)
- IPhone SE (2nd generation and later)
- iPhone XR
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
Dual SIM, which enables the use of two active eSIMs or a Nano-SIM and an eSIM, is a feature that is shared by the iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13, and iPhone 13 small. Previous iPhone models that allow two SIM cards utilising an eSIM and a Nano-SIM include the iPhone 12, iPhone 11, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR.
Once set up, utilizing dual or dual SIM with your iPhone enables you to add a local data plan when travelling outside of your home country, enabling you to save money by avoiding roaming charges. To take advantage of lower data allowances when setting up mobile hotspots, you can also use different SIMs for phone and data plans. Enabling direct data use savings by allowing you to connect your laptop, tablet, or family devices to your iPhone.
If you wish to use 5G data connections with Dual SIM cards on older iPhone 12 models, you must have iOS 14.5 or later installed on your device. If you are using dual SIMs, your phone can only use one cellular data network at a time with iOS 13. If they are running iOS 13 or higher, iPhone users may make and receive audio and FaceTime calls as well as send and receive messages using iMessage, SMS, and MMS from both.
To enable Dual Sim capabilities on your iPhone, you must have an iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, or later, iOS 12.1 or later, and be a customer of a cellular network carrier that supports eSIM technology.
IPhone Dual SIM
Additionally, if your iPhone is not unlocked, you must remember that both of your cellular network plans must be from the same provider. If you go to different countries, this becomes an issue since cellular service providers may differ. If the iPhone is unlocked, you can use two different carriers on the same device. Furthermore, if your first SIM is provided by a CDMA provider, your second SIM won’t support CDMA, claims Apple. It is advised to get more information by talking to your network provider or, if you are using a corporate iPhone, the administration team.
Setup eSIM
Apple permits the storage of many eSIMs, but only one of them may be utilised simultaneously. you are being forced to switch from one to the other. To accomplish this, launch the Settings app, select Cellular or Mobile Data, and then select the desired plan. To make switching between multi SIM iPhone plans quick and easy, we advocate labelling your plans. To rename a plan, go to Settings > Click Cellular or Mobile Data, dial the plan’s phone number, and then choose Cellular Plan Label to enter your preferred reference. You will be able to change the name of each individual plan using this.
Default SIM card
If you call or message someone who isn’t in your Contacts app’s contact list, you should make sure that one SIM is used before the other. Apple provides you the choice of which mobile plans you wish to use for FaceTime and iMessage. By turning on Allow Cellular Data Switching, you may alternate between utilizing the cellular data from each of your SIM cards.
When using two SIM cards, your iPhone will automatically dial the same number you used to call a specific contact the last time. If you haven’t already called anyone in your contacts list, your iPhone will dial the default number that has been established. On your iPhone, you can select which SIM you want to use if you prefer to choose which plan to use when contacting particular contacts:
- Choose the individual from your iPhone’s Contacts app.
- Pick “Preferred Cellular Plan” as your choice.
- Decide which SIM card you want to use for this contact.
Digital SIMs
For a specific call, you can manually choose the SIM you want to use by:
- Either choose or type in the phone number of the person you wish to call.
- Press the phone number shown in the top-left portion of the screen.
- Select the SIM or label you set up to work with that cellular network.
If the contact is already saved in the iPhone’s Favorites address book
- Click the Info option after selecting the person you wish to contact.
- After selecting the current phone number, choose your other SIM number.
When using an iPhone Dual SIM to send and receive iMessages, SMS, and MMS messages, you can also choose which SIM to use before or after you begin a conversation. Just launch the messaging software, and:
- Click the new button in the top right corner of your screen.
- Type the name of the contact you wish to contact.
- Select the SIM number you want to use after selecting the current phone number. Tap the number that is currently displayed toward the top of the screen if you want to switch SIM numbers in the middle of a conversation.
