Using Dual SIM with an eSIM

If you want to use 5G with Dual SIM on iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, or iPhone 12 Pro Max, make sure that you have iOS 14.5 or later.

1. Open the Camera app and scan your QR code.
2. When the Cellular Plan Detected notification appears, tap it.
3. Tap Continue, at the bottom of the screen.
4. Tap Add Cellular Plan.

If you're asked to enter a confirmation code to activate the eSIM, enter the number that your carrier provided.

1. Go to the App Store and download your carrier's app.
2. Use the app to purchase a cellular plan.

With iOS 13 and later, some carriers can assign a cellular plan for you to install. Contact your carrier for more information.

If a plan was assigned to you, follow these steps: 

1. When a notification appears that says Carrier Cellular Plan Ready to Be Installed, tap it.
2. In the Settings app, tap Carrier Cellular Plan Ready to Be Installed.
3. Tap Continue, at the bottom of the screen.

If necessary, you can manually enter your plan information. To enter your plan information manually, follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap either Cellular or Mobile Data.
3. Tap Add Cellular Plan.
4. Tap Enter Details Manually, at the bottom of your iPhone screen.

After your second plan is activated, label your plans. For example, you can label one plan Business and the other plan Personal.

You'll use these labels when you choose which phone number to use for making or receiving calls and messages, to designate a number for cellular data, and to assign a number to your contacts so you know which number you will use.

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.

Choose a number to use when you call or send a message to someone who isn't in your Contacts app. With iOS 13 and later, choose which cellular plans you want to use for iMessage and FaceTime. With iOS 13 and later, you can choose either or both numbers.

On this screen, choose a number to be your default, or you can choose which number is to be used only for cellular data. Your other number will be your default. If you want your iPhone to use cellular data from both plans, depending on coverage and availability, turn on Allow Cellular Data Switching.

When you call one of your contacts, you don't need to choose which number to use every time. By default, your iPhone uses the same number that you used the last time you called that contact. If you haven't called that contact, your iPhone uses your default number. If you want to, you can specify which number to use for your calls with a contact. Follow these steps:

1. Tap the contact.
2. Tap Preferred Cellular Plan.
3. Tap the number you want to use with that contact.

You can make and receive phone calls with either phone number.

With iOS 13 and later, when you're on a call, if the carrier for your other phone number supports Wi-Fi calling, you can answer incoming calls on your other number. When you're on a call using a line that isn't your designated line for cellular data, you need to turn on Allow Cellular Data Switching to receive calls from your other line. If you ignore the call and you have voicemail set up with your carrier, you’ll get a missed-call notification and the call will go to voicemail. Check with your carrier for Wi-Fi calling availability, and find out if additional fees or data usage applies from your data provider.

If you're on a call and your other line shows No Service, either your carrier doesn't support Wi-Fi calling or you don't have Wi-Fi calling turned on.¹ It could also mean Allow Cellular Data Switching is not turned on. When you're on a call, an incoming call on your other phone number will go to voicemail if you set up voicemail with your carrier.² However, you won't get a missed-call notification from your secondary number. Call Waiting works for incoming calls on the same phone number. To avoid missing an important call, you can turn on call forwarding and forward all calls from one number to the other. Check with your carrier for availability and to find out if additional fees apply.

1. Or if you're using iOS 12. Update to iOS 13 or later to receive calls when you're using your other number.
2. If data roaming is on for the number that uses cellular data, then Visual Voicemail and MMS will be disabled on your voice-only number.

You can switch phone numbers before you make a call. If you're calling someone in your Favorites list, follow these steps:

1. Tap the Info button .
2. Tap the current phone number. 
3. Tap your other number. 

If you're using the keypad, follow these steps:

1. Enter the phone number.
2. Tap the phone number, near the top of the screen. 
3. Tap the number you want to use.

You can use iMessage or SMS/MMS to send messages with either phone number.* You can switch phone numbers before you send an iMessage or SMS/MMS message. Here's how:

1. Open Messages.
2. Tap the New button, in the upper right corner of the screen.
3. Enter your contact's name.
4. Tap the current phone number.
5. Tap the number you want to use.

* Additional fees may apply. Check with your carrier.