What exactly is Dual SIM? Apple explains it all to you

Dual SIM apparently still raises many questions for many iPhone users. Apple has therefore put a new video on YouTube. It explains how you can use the Dual sim on your iPhone to have two phone numbers on one device. For example, you can have one number for your business and another number for your personal calls. Before you can set this up, you must first transfer an existing number or take out a second subscription with a mobile provider that offers eSim.

From the iPhone XS from 2018 it is already possible to use one eSIM (embedded SIM) and one physical SIM card. On the iPhone 13, you can also use one eSIM and one physical SIM. In addition, the iPhone 13 also offers you the option of using two eSIMs. You no longer use a physical SIM card.

The eSIM has its own place on the motherboard of the iPhone, so that its use does not come at the expense of other functions or storage. After you set up your additional phone number with your mobile operator, you’ll receive a QR code or email with steps to guide you through the setup process.

Dual SIM is very convenient

You often don’t think about it, but Dual sim can be very useful. For example, you need even more one iPhone to be able to conduct both your business and private calls. But it can also come in handy when you go abroad. You can then use a local eSIM in addition to your own Dutch number to save costs if you make a lot of local calls or internet in that country. But how do you do that?

Most providers take care of the installation of your new eSIM number via a QR code.

1. Open the Camera app and scan the QR code
2. If you see a “Mobile plan found” notification, tap it
3. Then tap ‘Continue’ at the bottom of the screen
4. Tap ‘Add mobile plan’
5. Some providers still ask you to enter a confirmation code to activate the eSIM. You can now enter that number

Set up

You can now name your two lines. Tap “primary” to label the original song used on your iPhone. Apple offers you a number of preset names, including Business, Mobile Data, Personal, Primary, Secondary, or Travel. However, you can also give the line its own name. To do this, tap on ‘Custom label’. When you’re done, tap Done at the top.

You can now do the same for your second (eSIM) number. When you’re done with this, tap ‘Done’ again at the top and then ‘Continue’.

The next step is to select your default phone number. This is the number your iPhone will dial by default to make calls and send text messages. After your choice, tap ‘continue’. Then you can also choose which number you want to use for FaceTime and iMessage. You can choose one number or both lines. Once you have made your choice, tap ‘Continue’. Finally, you can now choose which number you want to use for mobile data.

Pay attention to Mobile data

Mobile data usage is limited to one line at a time. If you select a connection for mobile data, the other line is automatically used for voice calls. If you want to use the internet during a call on a certain number that you have set up for voice only, you must enable ‘Allow mobile data switching’. Tap ‘Done’ and you are ready to get started with Dual sim. We explain how it works below.

Dual sim in practice

In the top right corner of your iPhone you can now see both lines and how strong your signal is per line. The top part of each bar represents the signal for your first line. The bottom half shows the signal strength for your second line.

If you call a contact to whom you have not yet assigned a line, the call will be placed on the same line as the number you used to call or text this person the last time. You can select a preferred line for each contact. You do that by tapping the option next to the word “Default” under that contact’s name. You then choose the preferred line that you always want to use for that contact from now on. Then tap Done.

But what do you do when you call someone you’ve never interacted with through your iPhone? That is a good question. In that case, your iPhone will use your primary default line for calling. You can change the line you use by tapping the gray bar with your default line at the top of the screen. You can then select the line you want to use.

To work!

There is nothing more. You can see that Dual sim on your iPhone is very easy to use. Of course we could dive even deeper into the matter and go into, for example, Dual sim Dual Standby (DSDS) or Dual sim Active. However, you do not need that knowledge for daily use, so you can look it up yourself on Google at your leisure.

The only thing else worth knowing is that only iPhone models from the iPhone XS support Dual SIM capabilities. And as said before, the iPhone 13 is the only device that uses one physical SIM and one eSIM, but can also handle two eSIMs.

eSIM providers

In the Netherlands and Belgium, the following providers offer eSIM:

Most carriers also offer the option to use only an eSIM. You will then no longer receive a physical SIM card.

Do you want to know more about the Dual Sim capabilities of your iPhone? In addition to the video below, Apple Support also has a number of web pages dedicated to eSIM, where you can read all about setting up and using two phone lines on your iPhone.