Switching Regularly Between 2 iPhones - What to Know?

[puma1552]

I just got an 8 with a Verizon SIM preinstalled (Verizon Device Payment plan) but I plan to keep my SE that I own outright for traveling, general backup, etc.

I assume what I want to do here is just destroy the SE SIM and move the SIM in the 8 back and forth as needed.

What should I be doing with the phone that isn't in use? Airplane mode? Off completely? And and powere on with wifi? I guess what I'm trying to do is avoid getting texts, reminders, gmail, etc. on both phones at all times - I think. Or maybe it is better to have both phones receive all the same notifications so that I can just grab one and go, the only difference being which one has cell service based on the SIM?

Not really sure what the best way to approach two iPhones with one SIM is, so any feedback is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[sdwaltz]

I would have both phones receive notifications full-time so that they’re synced up and you won’t be missing stuff.

The best way is to swimply switch the sim, it’s plug and play! But make sure to be careful with the sim though, as they’re not the most durable in the world.

Also note that (hypothetically) if one of your phones were android and the other was still and iPhone, this method would be far, far more cumbersome because iMessage and SMS don’t gel very well. In the past, people have switched SIM cards into an android only for their iPhone to continue to receive texts.

 

[0970373]

I do this also w/ my SE and my main iPhone (was a 7 now an 8+). For me, the most important thing to keep in sync are the messages. So make sure you have iMessage turned on for both and logged into the same account. I also have text forwarding on from the phone I'm using to the other one. Again, just to keep things in sync as I move back and forth. I keep basic apps on my SE and keep notifications at a minimum on that one. It's a backup/travel phone so I don't need *everything* on it. But you may switch more frequently. When not in use, I keep it on Airplane mode w/ WiFi.

When it's time to switch, I turn iMessage off on both phones, power down (or at least put both in airplane mode), switch SIMS, power back up and turn iMessage on again and reinitiate text forwarding. Also check to make sure your "start new conversations from" number is correct.

You can definitely just switch SIMS and go but sometimes iMessage gets confused so if you have the 3 minutes to do the above, it helps.

 

[puma1552]

Thanks, is swapping the SIM between two phones going to cause any confusion or errant additional charges on Verizon's end? I did swap the 8 SIM to my SE and will use that for a week until my screen protector comes, and logging onto Verizon's site did correctly show just my SE since the SIM was in that phone. It did show the 8 the other day after I bought it and had the SIM in there as well.

Just want to make sure Verizon doesn't get confused here and start charging for mutiple line access or god knows what else.

 

[puma1552]

I do this also w/ my SE and my main iPhone (was a 7 now an 8+). For me, the most important thing to keep in sync are the messages. So make sure you have iMessage turned on for both and logged into the same account. I also have text forwarding on from the phone I'm using to the other one. Again, just to keep things in sync as I move back and forth. I keep basic apps on my SE and keep notifications at a minimum on that one. It's a backup/travel phone so I don't need *everything* on it. But you may switch more frequently. When not in use, I keep it on Airplane mode w/ WiFi.

When it's time to switch, I turn iMessage off on both phones, power down (or at least put both in airplane mode), switch SIMS, power back up and turn iMessage on again and reinitiate text forwarding. Also check to make sure your "start new conversations from" number is correct.

You can definitely just switch SIMS and go but sometimes iMessage gets confused so if you have the 3 minutes to do the above, it helps.

I might be confused. I left iMessage on on both phones and moved the SIM to my SE, didn't do anything else. Received SMS messages from a friend on android today, got home and found out I never received an iMessage from my wife today. Came to find out iMessage was off on my SE for some reason? Reactivated it and seems fine now.

I should be able to just leave iMessage on on both phones at all times and messages should automatically go to the phone with the SIM, right? On both phones in the iMessage settings I have my phone number selected as the place to receive iMessages (and have my email/Apple ID unselected, like always).

Also, does it waste battery having iMessage toggled on on the phone without the SIM, since it constantly says it's awaiting activation? Should I just toggle it off on the unused phone?