Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Other eSIM + Dual SIM Q&A

Status
The first post of this thread is a WikiPost and can be edited by anyone with the appropiate permissions. Your edits will be public.
lenuxfrance said:
Hello
Here is my operator's reply:
To change SIM to eSIM:
To change SIM to eSIM from abroad, you'll need to be connected to a French VPN at the time of the change.
No problem, I'm already on eSIM.
----------------------------
For the iPhone XS transfer to the new one: fast transfer activated with my operator: Yes of course, the transfer is a local stream. No worries about localization for that

Did I forget anything? In fact I have no problem doing everything on the spot and even a trade in to get $100 back from my old one.
Click to expand...

Interesting reply. I'm not sure the iPhone actually channels eSIM activation packets through VPN (just like it doesn't send iMessage or Facetime through VPN). I've never tried to trace those packets so I can't say for sure, but it's worth a try I'd say. Just make sure you have a backup plan if it ends up not working.

Also, these things apply no matter if you're switching from physical SIM to eSIM, or swapping an eSIM to a new device: it's still a new eSIM activation as far as the operator is concerned (but customer care agents don't know that).

Source: I work for a mobile operator myself.
 
  • Like
Reactions: P_Watt and lenuxfrance
ManuCH said:
Interesting reply. I'm not sure the iPhone actually channels eSIM activation packets through VPN (just like it doesn't send iMessage or Facetime through VPN). I've never tried to trace those packets so I can't say for sure, but it's worth a try I'd say. Just make sure you have a backup plan if it ends up not working.

Also, these things apply no matter if you're switching from physical SIM to eSIM, or swapping an eSIM to a new device: it's still a new eSIM activation as far as the operator is concerned (but customer care agents don't know that).

Source: I work for a mobile operator myself.
Click to expand...
I'll be 10 days away from returning to France when I make the purchase. In the worst case, my girlfriend has a package with 35 GB for the USA which could be used for the GPS in the car.
Thanks anyway for your reply
 
  • Like
Reactions: ManuCH
lenuxfrance said:
I'll be 10 days away from returning to France when I make the purchase. In the worst case, my girlfriend has a package with 35 GB for the USA which could be used for the GPS in the car.
Thanks anyway for your reply
Click to expand...

Sure! Also you could just buy a generic travel eSIM by Airalo, Saily, BNESIM or other provider of your choice. They're very cheap nowadays and at least you'd have some data.
 
  • Like
Reactions: someoneoutthere
ManuCH said:
Sure! Also you could just buy a generic travel eSIM by Airalo, Saily, BNESIM or other provider of your choice. They're very cheap nowadays and at least you'd have some data.
Click to expand...
Hello
I'm keeping the name for security in case the transfer and activation don't work out.
Do you have one to recommend just for the data? Not too expensive for 10 days
 
lenuxfrance said:
Hello
I'm keeping the name for security in case the transfer and activation don't work out.
Do you have one to recommend just for the data? Not too expensive for 10 days
Click to expand...

Sure, these 3 I mentioned in my previous post all work well. You can compare prices a bit and see what's best for the amount of data you need.

For example:

  • Airalo, USA, 5 GB, 30 days: $16
  • BNESIM, USA, 5 GB, 30 days: $8.80 (or $23.60 to not have the data expire after 30 days, ie. indefinite duration)
  • Saily, USA, 5 GB, 30 days: $13.99
If you also go to Canada there are other packages that include both countries. Check their websites for detailed pricing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: lenuxfrance
lenuxfrance said:
Hello
I'm keeping the name for security in case the transfer and activation don't work out.
Do you have one to recommend just for the data? Not too expensive for 10 days
Click to expand...

I’ve heard good things about Roamless Flex (pay-as-you-go).

roamless.com

eSIM United States of America - Travel Internet & Calls | Roamless

United States of America eSIM data for travel internet and calls. Best eSIM for your travel to United States of America. Pay-as-you-go, secure, affordable eSIM for United States of America with Roamless.
roamless.com roamless.com

You can add no expiry credits and then your balance gets deducted based on usage. The credit can be used in various countries.

Roamless also has an exit node in the US unlike some of the other eSIM providers which route traffic through Asia or Europe.
 
  • Like
Reactions: lenuxfrance
lenuxfrance said:
Hello
I'm keeping the name for security in case the transfer and activation don't work out.
Do you have one to recommend just for the data? Not too expensive for 10 days
Click to expand...
Cricket and metro, tmobile, totalwireless i guess have 14 day trials - just install their esim and use full fledge on 14 day trial and that is it. Free.
 
ctjack said:
Cricket and metro, tmobile, totalwireless i guess have 14 day trials - just install their esim and use full fledge on 14 day trial and that is it. Free.
Click to expand...

Can you do that as a non-resident, or do you need an SSN? (Asking for myself for the next time I visit)
 
ManuCH said:
Can you do that as a non-resident, or do you need an SSN? (Asking for myself for the next time I visit)
Click to expand...
The only hiccup i could foresee is you just need an app sometimes to install request esim. So apps are on US app store - having apple id for travels based in US couldn’t hurt.

As @rui no onna said, prepaids never have asked ssn - or at least even if they try then it is not mandatory and can be skipped.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rui no onna and ManuCH
Anyone using "silence any one SIM using Focus" in iOS 26 Beta?

How does it work?

Does it work in a way that it is essentially

  • just silence any one (e)SIM using this new Focus feature w/o affecting any other (e)SIM or anything else on the phone or any other setting whatsoever
i.e is this feature really this "no strings attached" or if I use it something else will be changed as well?

(A la "content restriction" → if I want to use it for feature A, feature B and C.. and D.. and T.. and what not… gets enabled or disabled on its own; this is not the case with this feature, is it?).
 
New in the iOS 26 beta 2: now when you disable an eSIM, it systematically remains enabled for iMessage and FaceTime!
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4019.jpeg
    IMG_4019.jpeg
    123.6 KB · Views: 141
  • Like
Reactions: rui no onna and jtkboston
DeanL said:
New in the iOS 26 beta 2: now when you disable an eSIM, it systematically remains enabled for iMessage and FaceTime!
Click to expand...
Isn’t that just because you didn’t reset iMessage yet? It will hang onto any old disused numbers (always has done) til you turn facetime and iMessage off, restart phone, then both on again.
 
I just turned on a rarely-used eSIM and turned off my main one. FaceTime and iMessage only use the number from my main sim.

Checking settings, it now says that the number will be de-activated (from FT and iMessage) in 29 days. It seems that iOS26 is smart enough to know the eSIM is still installed and valid, and hence doesn't time out after 29 days. Either that, or there's a bug in that they forgot to mention the time limit 🙂

iOS 18.5

IMG_0913.jpeg
 
adrianlondon said:
I just turned on a rarely-used eSIM and turned off my main one. FaceTime and iMessage only use the number from my main sim.

Checking settings, it now says that the number will be de-activated (from FT and iMessage) in 29 days. It seems that iOS26 is smart enough to know the eSIM is still installed and valid, and hence doesn't time out after 29 days. Either that, or there's a bug in that they forgot to mention the time limit 🙂

iOS 18.5

View attachment 2525922
Click to expand...
It did that before iOS 18.5, but not consistently. For example if I activated the line again then deactivated it, I would not get this.

There is a time limit too on iOS 26.

So either it’s new from 18.5 (and thus part of 26) or in your case it’s the inconsistent functioning of this feature
 
  • Like
Reactions: adrianlondon
Funnily enough, beta 3 just removed the time limit from the notification so I think there’s no longer a time limit when the eSIM is still onboard but just deactivated.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4255.jpeg
    IMG_4255.jpeg
    105.8 KB · Views: 112
  • IMG_4256.png
    IMG_4256.png
    762.6 KB · Views: 127
  • Like
Reactions: adrianlondon
lenuxfrance said:
Hello
Here is my operator's reply:
To change SIM to eSIM:
To change SIM to eSIM from abroad, you'll need to be connected to a French VPN at the time of the change.
No problem, I'm already on eSIM.
----------------------------
For the iPhone XS transfer to the new one: fast transfer activated with my operator: Yes of course, the transfer is a local stream. No worries about localization for that

Did I forget anything? In fact I have no problem doing everything on the spot and even a trade in to get $100 back from my old one.
Click to expand...
I’m curious if you ever went through with the eSIM activation while in the USA?
I have a friend who just purchased service with Orange while in France but had to leave to go back to the USA while they were still verifying his documents. So he will probably get an eSIM QR code in a few days but is back in the USA already.
Should they wait until they are back in France to activate the eSIM (in maybe a month or two), or just try the method of connecting to a French VPN that you mentioned?
 
Fred Zed said:
I’m sure it was in iOS 18.5 also. This is from my device on 18.5
Click to expand...
Yes, but there's the 29 days time limit which there isn't in 26.
I also think that if you turn back on the eSIM of that number and turn it off again, it might not work (it was not working systematically, at least before 18.5)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Fred Zed
Does anyone know if a number can be ported from a physical sim to an e-sim whilst you are abroad? (Im on Vodafone Uk and in Dubai for a while). TIA.
 
Hi all.
I’m certain this is discussed somewhere in this thread but I’m having trouble and in a bit of a rush…
Long story short: travelling internationally, have a local eSIM installed for data. Can’t for the life of me get iMessage to work. I can’t figure out what combination of settings I need. I already sent some SMS messages by accident and that’s gonna cost me. 😬
Help!
 
joeblow7777 said:
Hi all.
I’m certain this is discussed somewhere in this thread but I’m having trouble and in a bit of a rush…
Long story short: travelling internationally, have a local eSIM installed for data. Can’t for the life of me get iMessage to work. I can’t figure out what combination of settings I need. I already sent some SMS messages by accident and that’s gonna cost me. 😬
Help!
Click to expand...

What are you trying to do? Continue using your main number with iMessage or are you trying to use the local eSIM number for iMessage?

To continue using the main number for iMessage, just leaving your main SIM turned on and activated for iMessage should work.
 
rui no onna said:
What are you trying to do? Continue using your main number with iMessage or are you trying to use the local eSIM number for iMessage?

To continue using the main number for iMessage, just leaving your main SIM turned on and activated for iMessage should work.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I think I’ve sorted it out. Just want to keep using iMessage like normal. There’s no phone number associated with the local SIM, it’s data only. Keeping my primary sim/number active while switching data to the local SIM, and turning off send as text, seems to have done the trick.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back