My case was where the iPhone was locked due to business passcode changes. Guess what? Gone. So don't tell me I haven't tried.
Go ahead, try it.
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iPhone 13 Pro Switching from SIM to eSIM: Any negatives?
- Thread starter jk73
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Go ahead, try it.
Yours is not a typical use case and doesn’t apply to majority of iPhone users. So, yes you’re still presuming your case to be the norm when it isn’t.
The OP would be better informed if you’d elaborated on your specific scenario.
Yes it isn't a norm, but it is still an emergency restore which landed me in connectivity issues. However, I do understand AT&T made it difficult, not the eSIM.
"Business passcode changes"? What, exactly, was your situation? Thanks.
Your eSIM profiles aren’t erased when you restore your iPhone unless there are special restrictions as in your case. You’re fine using eSIM as long as you’re a typical user.
My phone was linked to my business account. Business security settings required passcode changes every 60 days. I had just changed passcode like 4 days ago and couldn't remember the new one.
Well on that note, when you use a physical SIM you should use passcode on the SIM as well (so someone can’t just take your SIM and impersonate you). But if you forget the passcode on the SIM you would also lock yourself out.
eSIM at least theoretically lets you get a new eSIM over WiFi. I was able to do this with the AT&T app. My phone line was screwed up (phone rang 2 times then sent to voicemail, some problem with Wi-Fi calling I think). I used the AT&T app to get a new eSIM and it fixed the problem. But if you can’t sign in then that’s a problem.
I have used eSIM with my 13 Pro, no issues with eSIM. But you sacrifice the portability of SIM entirely. If you try using a non iPhone it won’t likely support eSIM and you can only transfer eSIM to eSIM on iPhones.
Word of advice, eSIM or not, use Google Voice and then you can rely on that phone line for SMS or calls over Wi-Fi or data, especially when traveling. Any SIM problem won’t affect Google Voice. 3G data is good enough for phone calls. And you can add a Google Voice number as two factor in addition to your cell number. Oh yeah, it’s free too, well except for international calling, but you can buy credits for international calls if you need it.
eSIM at least theoretically lets you get a new eSIM over WiFi. I was able to do this with the AT&T app. My phone line was screwed up (phone rang 2 times then sent to voicemail, some problem with Wi-Fi calling I think). I used the AT&T app to get a new eSIM and it fixed the problem. But if you can’t sign in then that’s a problem.
I have used eSIM with my 13 Pro, no issues with eSIM. But you sacrifice the portability of SIM entirely. If you try using a non iPhone it won’t likely support eSIM and you can only transfer eSIM to eSIM on iPhones.
Word of advice, eSIM or not, use Google Voice and then you can rely on that phone line for SMS or calls over Wi-Fi or data, especially when traveling. Any SIM problem won’t affect Google Voice. 3G data is good enough for phone calls. And you can add a Google Voice number as two factor in addition to your cell number. Oh yeah, it’s free too, well except for international calling, but you can buy credits for international calls if you need it.
Does your business know that NIST no longer recommends periodic password change requirements?
NIST SP 800-63 Digital Identity Guidelines-FAQ
NIST Special Publication 800-63 Digital Identity Guidelines-FAQ
I have no idea, I currently work for a company that has 50,000+ employees globally.Does your business know that NIST no longer recommends periodic password change requirements?
NIST SP 800-63 Digital Identity Guidelines-FAQ
NIST Special Publication 800-63 Digital Identity Guidelines-FAQpages.nist.gov
If you’re buying the replacement from your existing carrier or Apple, it is just as easy and you don’t really have to do anything except order and pay for the new phone or pick it up at the store. Everything gets transferred over for you and then you can restore from your iCloud backup.
If it’s a random phone, then a customer service chat and give them the new IMEI.
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I have recently switched my UK EE sim to an esim and had no issues - have that along with an Italian SIM card - everything works perfectly! And maybe it is just me but I notice when turning off airplane mode, it seems to find a carrier much quicker than with a physical sim! I noticed the setting that allows mobile data switching could have an impact on battery so would recommend switching that off!
Thanks for all of the additional feedback.
Somehow I missed the announcement, but I just discovered that AT&T Unlimited Elite plans now include unlimited roaming in Central and South America (Mexico was already included).
My main fear when traveling abroad is a stolen or destroyed iPhone. Is eSIM better for such situations, since it should be easily portable to a new iPhone, rather than needing a physical SIM from AT&T?
Somehow I missed the announcement, but I just discovered that AT&T Unlimited Elite plans now include unlimited roaming in Central and South America (Mexico was already included).
My main fear when traveling abroad is a stolen or destroyed iPhone. Is eSIM better for such situations, since it should be easily portable to a new iPhone, rather than needing a physical SIM from AT&T?
Two months ago. I was shocked. It will save me about $75/month, assuming the coverage and speed aren't terrible.
Actually, yes. Thay's a really good example. If you are abroad, as long as it's an eSIM enabled unlocked phone, you can log into your account or call them and and chat w/ a CS rep. They can enter the IMEI into their system and get you the QR to scan.
Again reiterating that AT&T is the worst & most difficult carrier on the planet. But with other carriers, this is how it would work.
They have, but with not much fanfare:
AT&T Official Site | Our Best Wireless & Internet Service
Shop deals on new phones, including iPhone 16 & Galaxy S25, unlimited data plans & AT&T Fiber. Get 24/7 support, pay bills, and manage your account online.
about.att.com
Strange. Can't believe it.
One part of the fine print — "Int’l usage should not exceed Domestic usage" — makes me a little nervous, as I take very long trips, but hopefully they're not too strict about this on a month-to-month basis.
Seems like the rate limiting step for eSIM is signing in on the AT&T app. If you can do it you’d be golden. If they send a code to your dead phone then you can’t.
One thing that could help you, in addition to Google Voice, is to have an iPad or MacBook, or another iPhone or iPod Touch (RIP) for that matter. Thanks to the magic of Wi-Fi calling on iCloud devices you can get phone calls on other devices, if you allow it. There’s also SMS but that requires your iPhone to be on and connected to the internet, phone calls don’t need your iPhone to be operating. Regardless you can get two factor codes over phone calls as well. So it should be possible to sign in on AT&T, you’ll use your phone number but connected over iCloud.
Probably means that if you generally and on average use for example 8GB of data per month in the US, you don't use above that abroad.They have, but with not much fanfare:
AT&T Official Site | Our Best Wireless & Internet Service
Shop deals on new phones, including iPhone 16 & Galaxy S25, unlimited data plans & AT&T Fiber. Get 24/7 support, pay bills, and manage your account online.about.att.com
Strange. Can't believe it.
One part of the fine print — "Int’l usage should not exceed Domestic usage" — makes me a little nervous, as I take very long trips, but hopefully they're not too strict about this on a month-to-month basis.
Right, but if I'm out of the country all winter, I'd have months of zero domestic and all foreign usage. Hopefully the look-back is over a long period and doesn't get triggered by such trips.
Is this actually a known problem aside from the one person's problem with the business passcode?
I would strongly advise doing it the other way around!
A couple years ago I spent hours trying to get T-mobile to roll over my physical SIM to an eSIM so I could buy physical SIMs when I travel, but there are apps like Airalo that let you buy international eSIMs from your phone and load them automatically (for pretty good prices compared to walking into a local cell phone store once you're abroad).
I'd always spend the first few hours of any trip running around trying to locate a cell phone store, and then price-shop when the occasional tourist SIM makes you commit to like 40gb of data for $65 for your one-week trip or whatever, and being able to avoid that has been a goshsend.
So keep your physical SIM! eSIMs for travel abroad are much lower stress and often cost less.
A couple years ago I spent hours trying to get T-mobile to roll over my physical SIM to an eSIM so I could buy physical SIMs when I travel, but there are apps like Airalo that let you buy international eSIMs from your phone and load them automatically (for pretty good prices compared to walking into a local cell phone store once you're abroad).
I'd always spend the first few hours of any trip running around trying to locate a cell phone store, and then price-shop when the occasional tourist SIM makes you commit to like 40gb of data for $65 for your one-week trip or whatever, and being able to avoid that has been a goshsend.
So keep your physical SIM! eSIMs for travel abroad are much lower stress and often cost less.
Thank you for your answer. If that is how it must be, then it's a lot of hassle, comparatively speaking.
Depends on how well your carrier implements it, IMO.
I use a “normal” SIM for my private line and an eSIM for my work number.
Whenever I restore my iPhone, I have to physically pop into the carrier’s shop and get a new printed card with a QR code to reactivate my work line. Doable, but somewhat cumbersome.
So I would definitely keep your main line on a physical SIM and add any eSIMs as required.
I use a “normal” SIM for my private line and an eSIM for my work number.
Whenever I restore my iPhone, I have to physically pop into the carrier’s shop and get a new printed card with a QR code to reactivate my work line. Doable, but somewhat cumbersome.
So I would definitely keep your main line on a physical SIM and add any eSIMs as required.