eSIMs 101: How to switch between eSIMS?

eSIM, short for "embedded SIM," has revolutionized the way we connect our devices to cellular networks. Unlike traditional physical SIM cards, eSIMs are built directly into compatible devices, offering benefits of increased convenience, especially in cases where you have multiple lines. One of the biggest benefits of using an eSIM over a physical SIM is the fact that you are able to easily switch between different lines without having to fumble with the physical SIM card and SIM card tray. In this article, we will guide you through the process of switching between eSIMs, whether you're changing carriers or traveling internationally.

Installing multiple eSIM profiles

Depending on your device, you can usually only have a maximum of one (in the case of Android devices) or two (in the case of iOS devices) active eSIMs at any point in time. However, most of these devices allow you to have way more eSIM profiles installed at the same time. On Android, depending on your device model, you can have up to seven eSIM profiles installed; whereas in iOS, you can install up to eight eSIM profiles.

Why would multiple eSIM profiles be of any use if they can't be all active at the same time?

Well, if we were to think of it in the context of physical SIMs, it is also not like there are devices that allow you to have more than two active physical SIM cards at any given time. So, from this perspective, perhaps you wouldn't really need to have that many eSIM profiles.

But, let's now imagine this — if instead of having only one (or two) SIM cards in your device, you can now have three or even eight SIM cards in your device on standby for when you travel (or you just have that many lines). If you have all of those SIM cards in your device, when you want to switch between the different networks, you no longer have to go through the process of finding a SIM tray pin, take out your original SIM, put in the new one, and make sure you don't lose the original one in the meantime. Simply go to your settings and activate the SIM card you need.

Installing an eSIM profile is similar to the act of inserting a physical SIM into your device. Having multiple eSIM profiles essentially gives you the flexibility of easily switching between multiple networks in just a few taps!

Wouldn't I be confused if there were that many profiles?

Probably. You might feel anxious about having multiple eSIM profiles being installed at the same time, because you wouldn't want to mix them up and end up activating the wrong profile. But there are many ways that you can help to manage your eSIMs. Aside from removing eSIMs that you no longer require, naming your eSIMs is a simple yet very useful way to avoid confusion when you multiple eSIMs installed.

How to switch between eSIMs?

Similar to how you would manage multiple physical SIMs, you can also use different eSIMs for different purposes. One of the main use cases of an eSIM would be when you use an eSIM to get data for your travels, while keeping your primary line active.

If you already have multiple eSIMs installed, and are now looking to switch between your eSIMs so that you can activate the correct eSIM for your data needs, here is how you can do so:

On iOS

1. Go to Settings > Mobile Data
2. Under SIMs (or Cellular Plans you can toggle the SIMs on or off
3. Select the eSIM profile that you would like to use for your mobile data

On Android

1. Go to Settings > Connections > SIM Manager (or Mobile Network)
2. Select your eSIM profile and turn it on
3. Under Preferred SIMs, select the correct eSIM profile for the different activities