(Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)
Using two SIM cards, or enabling a dual-SIM setup, can be helpful when you need two separate phone plans on a single device. It easily lets you consolidate personal and work numbers on one phone, for example, which can be more convenient than lugging around two phones.
It also allows you mix and match different wireless networks when traveling internationally, which can save money. You can add a local number and data plan to your phone alongside your primary number so can use a cheaper local network but still be accessible to family and friends back home. Additionally, making use of two SIMs can be a good choice for those who want a separate business line but don’t want to get a second phone.
Here at PCMag, we review scores of phones every year and are intimately familiar with the ins and outs of moving physical SIM cards and eSIMs between phones, so we can easily walk you through what you need to know. It takes a little bit of work to get two SIM cards up and running, but the effort can be well worth it.
What Is a SIM Card?
If you have a cellphone, then you also have a Subscriber Identity Module, or SIM card. Traditionally, these are small chips that are physically inserted into your phone for the purpose of authenticating your mobile subscription and allowing your phone to access your provider’s network. SIM cards carry customer data, as well as the individual carrier identifier, phone number, country code, and the network authorization code that allows the phone to connect to the mobile network. Though the first dual-SIM phone reached the market in 2000, they didn't begin arriving in any real numbers until about 2007, and even then, they were mostly limited to China. The rise of eSIM has changed the landscape dramatically.
Whether your phone supports two physical SIM cards or one physical card and one eSIM, the option to activate both is now more widely available.
An eSIM—an embedded SIM—is a smaller version of a SIM card that is soldered directly into the device. eSIMs can be programmed remotely via software whenever needed, replacing the requirement for a physical card. Many of today's devices now support physical SIM cards and eSIMs.
Physical SIM cards are easy to pop out and switch between phones. The digital nature of eSIMs makes them easy to set up from where you happen to be—meaning you don't have to trudge to a wireless store. They are, however, more difficult to transfer between devices because doing so generally means contacting your carrier online or via phone. Also, while most countries have wireless networks that support eSIM, some don't. Always be sure you check in advance if you're planning to use a local eSIM while traveling.
Crucially, if you want two active lines from different providers on your phone, the device will need to be carrier-unlocked. To find out if your phone is unlocked, check your network settings. Look for Carrier Lock on an iPhone or Mobile or Network Connections on an Android phone. You can also find out by swapping physical SIM cards or calling your carrier.
So, how do you add multiple SIM cards to your phone? We break down the process for iPhones and Android phones below.
iPhone: eSIM Only
If you have a newer iPhone, chances are that you’re already using an eSIM. Apple removed physical SIM cards from the iPhone 14 (in the US only) and switched entirely to eSIM. This means the iPhone 14, 15, and 16 families sold in the US don't have SIM trays and cannot accept physical SIM cards. International models still support physical SIM cards. These iPhones can store up to eight eSIMs and support up to two active eSIMs at a time. Older iPhones—including the iPhone 11, 12, and 13 families, as well as the SE (second generation), XR, and XS—all support one physical SIM card and one eSIM.
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Step 1: Head to Cellular Settings
To set up a second SIM card on an iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular. There you'll see your primary number and a button labeled Add eSIM. Hitting that launches the Set Up Cellular screen, where you can perform the initial setup for your new line with a QR code that you scan with your phone's camera. Most of the time, you'll need an active internet connection (cellular or Wi-Fi) to perform this step.
(Credit: Apple/PCMag)Step 2: Turn on Your Line
Once the new line is established as an available eSIM on your iPhone, you can turn it on by tapping it and selecting Turn On This Line. You can then choose which of the two lines you want to be the default for voice and messaging and/or data. You can use either line for data based on local coverage and network availability by turning on Allow Cellular Data Switching.
Step 3: Turn on Wi-Fi Calling
You’re going to want to make sure that Wi-Fi calling is enabled on both lines. This way, if you get a call on your second line while you’re on a call with your first, you can still receive the incoming call. Without Wi-Fi calling turned on, your phone wouldn’t be able to receive both calls and the incoming call will go directly to voicemail. Once this is enabled on both lines, you’re done setting up your dual SIM cards.
One last thing to note: Text messages on iPhones with two active SIM cards are line-dependent and can’t be merged. If you start a text on one line, it stays anchored to that line, and the conversation can't be switched to your other line. Always be sure you’re texting from the right number, lest you get yourself in trouble.
Android: Physical or eSIM
Almost all Android phones come with a physical SIM card slot located along the edges. The slot looks like a small cutout with a tiny hole at one end. Most phones include a SIM card tool, which resembles a paperclip with a narrow tip that can fit in the slot's hole. An earring post or small paperclip also works in a pinch. Just be careful you're not sticking anything into one of the microphone holes, which are often a similar size and located in similar spots.
(Credit: Sarah Lord)Step 1: Open the SIM Card Slot
It's best to turn off your phone before swapping physical SIM cards. To open up the SIM card slot, push the tip of the SIM card tool into the small hole in the SIM card slot. The SIM card slot should then push out a few millimeters, or enough for you to pull it the rest of the way out with your fingers. If your phone supports two physical SIM cards, the SIM card tray will label them as SIM 1 and SIM 2 (typically one on each side). Sometimes, the tray will support a SIM card and a microSD memory card or a second SIM. Place your SIM (or SIMs) in the tray and push it back into the phone.
(Credit: Google/PCMag)Step 2: Go to the SIM Card Manager
Next, go to the Settings menu and open Connections or, depending on your device, Network and Internet. You’ll then want to look for the SIM Card Manager or a menu for SIMs or Mobile Network. The nomenclature varies by phone maker and region. Clicking on the SIM Card Manager will show you the SIM or SIMs you currently have on your phone. If you have two physical SIM cards, they'll both show up here.
Step 3: Download an eSIM
Once in the SIM Card Manager, find the prompt to Download a New SIM. Clicking this launches the Mobile Network Setup tool and prompts you to set up an eSIM. This involves downloading the SIM or scanning a QR code with your camera, like on an iPhone.
Once your physical and/or eSIM cards are installed, you can toggle your networks on and off and set your preferred SIM card for voice and messaging, and mobile data. After doing so, you're all set.
As with using dual SIMs on an iPhone, text messages on Android phones are dependent on your individual phone line, so be careful to text from the correct number.