Device identity and setup
eSIM
Most people call this a SIM built into the phone instead of a plastic card.
An eSIM is a cellular plan stored in the phone itself, added by scanning a code or through a carrier app, with no tray to open.
Whether you see this depends on your country and carrier.
- Carrier support varies by country
- We have this path on file but have not yet confirmed it against an official source.
Where to find it - iOS 16 and later
- Settings
- Cellular
- Add eSIM
What it does
Several eSIM plans can be stored and switched between, which makes travel plans straightforward. Some iPhones have no SIM tray at all and can only use eSIM. Transferring an eSIM to a new phone is done during setup or from Cellular settings.
What changes
When it is on
The plan becomes available and can be set as your data or voice line.
When it is off
The plan is removed and may need the carrier to reissue it.
Should you turn it on?
Good reasons to turn it on
- Multiple plans on one phone.
- Travel plans without a physical card.
- Cannot be removed by a thief the way a SIM card can.
Good reasons to turn it off
- Moving a plan to a non eSIM phone needs carrier help.
- Deleting an eSIM can require the carrier to issue a new one.
Battery
No real change
Privacy
No real change
Performance
No real change
Cellular data
No real change
Storage
No real change
Out of the box: Set up during activation or added later.
Worth reading first
What your iPhone needs
- Needs an iPhone that supports eSIM
- Carrier support varies by country
Where this setting used to live
Apple moves settings between releases. This is every location we have on file.
-
iOS 16 and later
Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM
-
iOS 12 to iOS 15
Settings > Cellular > Add Cellular Plan
Questions people actually ask
- Does my iPhone have a SIM tray?
- Some recent models are eSIM only, and United States models of several generations have no tray. Choose your model above and this page will tell you.
- Can I have two numbers on one iPhone?
- Yes, using two eSIMs, or an eSIM plus a physical SIM on models with a tray.
If it is not working
- Do not delete an eSIM unless you are certain you can get it back.
- eSIM Quick Transfer moves a plan between iPhones without contacting the carrier, where supported.
- Models with no SIM tray cannot use a physical card at all.