Using Dual SIM with an eSIM
iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, and later feature Dual SIM with a nano-SIM and an eSIM. An eSIM is a digital SIM that allows you to activate a cellular plan from your carrier without having to use a physical nano-SIM.
Here are a few of the many ways you can use Dual SIM:
Use one SIM for business and another for personal calls.
Add a local data plan when you travel outside of the country or region.
Have separate voice and data plans.
Your iPhone can use one cellular data network at a time.
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 be from the same carrier. If a CDMA carrier provides your first SIM, your second SIM won't support CDMA. Contact us for more information.
If you have an enterprise or corporate cellular service plan, check with your company administrator to see if they support this feature.
On iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, and later, you can use a physical nano-SIM for a cellular plan and an eSIM for one or more other cellular plans. If you don't have a nano-SIM and your carrier supports it, an eSIM can serve as your only cellular plan. The eSIM provided by your carrier is stored digitally in your iPhone.
To activate your second cellular plan, you can scan the QR code your carrier gave you, use your carrier's iPhone app, install an assigned plan, or you can enter the information manually:
Open the Camera app and scan your QR code.
When the Cellular Plan Detected notification appears, tap it.
Tap Continue, at the bottom of the screen.
Tap Add Cellular Plan.
If you're asked to enter a confirmation code to activate the eSIM, enter the number that your carrier provided.
Go to the App Store and download MTX Connect app.
Use the app to purchase a cellular plan.
With iOS 13, some carriers can assign a cellular plan for you to install. Contact us for more information.
If a plan was assigned to you, follow these steps:
When a notification appears that says Carrier Cellular Plan Ready to Be Installed, tap it.
In the Settings app, tap Carrier Cellular Plan Ready to Be Installed.
Tap Continue, at the bottom of the screen.
If necessary, you can manually enter your plan information. Tap Enter Details Manually, at the bottom of your iPhone screen.
You can store more than one eSIM in your iPhone, but you can use only one at a time. To switch eSIMs, tap Settings, tap either Cellular or Mobile Data, and then tap the plan you want to use. Then tap Turn On This Line.
The next sections give you more information about the remaining setup screens on your iPhone.
After your second plan is activated, label your plans. For example, you can label one plan Business and the other plan Personal.
If you change your mind later, you can change your labels by going to Settings, tapping either Cellular or Mobile Data, and then tapping the number whose label you want to change. Then tap Cellular Plan Label and select a new label or enter a custom label.
One number at a time can use cellular data. To change which number uses cellular data, follow these steps:
Go to Settings.
Tap either Cellular or Mobile Data.
Tap Cellular Data.
Tap the number you want to use cellular data.
If you turn on Allow Cellular Data Switching, then while you're on a voice call on your voice-only number, that number automatically switches to use voice and data.* This lets you use both voice and data while on the call.
If you turn off Allow Cellular Data Switching and you'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 call.
To turn on Allow Cellular Data Switching, follow these steps:
Go to Settings.
Tap either Cellular or Mobile Data.
Tap Cellular Data.
Turn on Allow Cellular Data Switching.
To change your cellular settings for each of your plans, follow these steps:
Go to Settings.
Tap either Cellular or Mobile Data.
Tap the number you want to change.
Tap each option and set it as you normally would.
If you need to erase your eSIM, follow these steps:
Go to Settings.
Tap either Cellular or Mobile Data.
Tap the plan you want to erase.
Tap Remove Cellular Plan.
List of iPhone models that currently support DSDS/eSIM: iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR.
Please check, that you have the latest iPhone iOS and carrier settings. To do so, on your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update and update to iOS 13.3 or later. Thereafter, go to Settings > General > About and follow the prompt to update to the latest carrier settings.
Here are a few of the many ways you can use Dual SIM:
Use one SIM for business and another for personal calls.
Add a local data plan when you travel outside of the country or region.
Have separate voice and data plans.
Your iPhone can use one cellular data network at a time.
What you need
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 be from the same carrier. If a CDMA carrier provides your first SIM, your second SIM won't support CDMA. Contact us for more information.
If you have an enterprise or corporate cellular service plan, check with your company administrator to see if they support this feature.
Set up your cellular plan with eSIM
On iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, and later, you can use a physical nano-SIM for a cellular plan and an eSIM for one or more other cellular plans. If you don't have a nano-SIM and your carrier supports it, an eSIM can serve as your only cellular plan. The eSIM provided by your carrier is stored digitally in your iPhone.
To activate your second cellular plan, you can scan the QR code your carrier gave you, use your carrier's iPhone app, install an assigned plan, or you can enter the information manually:
Scan a QR code
Open the Camera app and scan your QR code.
When the Cellular Plan Detected notification appears, tap it.
Tap Continue, at the bottom of the screen.
Tap Add Cellular Plan.
If you're asked to enter a confirmation code to activate the eSIM, enter the number that your carrier provided.
Use a carrier app
Go to the App Store and download MTX Connect app.
Use the app to purchase a cellular plan.
Install an assigned cellular plan
With iOS 13, some carriers can assign a cellular plan for you to install. Contact us for more information.
If a plan was assigned to you, follow these steps:
When a notification appears that says Carrier Cellular Plan Ready to Be Installed, tap it.
In the Settings app, tap Carrier Cellular Plan Ready to Be Installed.
Tap Continue, at the bottom of the screen.
Enter the information manually
If necessary, you can manually enter your plan information. Tap Enter Details Manually, at the bottom of your iPhone screen.
You can store more than one eSIM in your iPhone, but you can use only one at a time. To switch eSIMs, tap Settings, tap either Cellular or Mobile Data, and then tap the plan you want to use. Then tap Turn On This Line.
The next sections give you more information about the remaining setup screens on your iPhone.
Label your plans
After your second plan is activated, label your plans. For example, you can label one plan Business and the other plan Personal.
If you change your mind later, you can change your labels by going to Settings, tapping either Cellular or Mobile Data, and then tapping the number whose label you want to change. Then tap Cellular Plan Label and select a new label or enter a custom label.
Change your cellular data number
One number at a time can use cellular data. To change which number uses cellular data, follow these steps:
Go to Settings.
Tap either Cellular or Mobile Data.
Tap Cellular Data.
Tap the number you want to use cellular data.
If you turn on Allow Cellular Data Switching, then while you're on a voice call on your voice-only number, that number automatically switches to use voice and data.* This lets you use both voice and data while on the call.
If you turn off Allow Cellular Data Switching and you'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 call.
To turn on Allow Cellular Data Switching, follow these steps:
Go to Settings.
Tap either Cellular or Mobile Data.
Tap Cellular Data.
Turn on Allow Cellular Data Switching.
Manage cellular settings
To change your cellular settings for each of your plans, follow these steps:
Go to Settings.
Tap either Cellular or Mobile Data.
Tap the number you want to change.
Tap each option and set it as you normally would.
Erase your eSIM
If you need to erase your eSIM, follow these steps:
Go to Settings.
Tap either Cellular or Mobile Data.
Tap the plan you want to erase.
Tap Remove Cellular Plan.
List of iPhone models that currently support DSDS/eSIM: iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR.
Please check, that you have the latest iPhone iOS and carrier settings. To do so, on your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update and update to iOS 13.3 or later. Thereafter, go to Settings > General > About and follow the prompt to update to the latest carrier settings.
Updated on: 12/13/2019
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