Does iOS 26 fully differentiate dual SIM in UI/UX and settings yet?

[rumourmonger]

• I mean can I change, for example, notification/alert settings for calls/messages to SIM_1, let's say, make all silenced and keep it completely different from say for SIM_0 and keep these non-silenced for this SIM?

Will be really useful for a case where one number is for personal usage (main number) and has little to no spam/marketing calls/messages and other number is given to businesses/services and hence attract a lot of spam/unwanted communication.

• Can the messages/calls to two SIMs be very easily distinguished? Or when trying to call/message someone from it?

I have been hoping for these for quite some time and the lack of these are the only reason I keep another secondary phone around

 

[rumourmonger]

Bumping it again - hoping someone might tell how this feature really works. I am considering a new phone; might move to some Android flagship kinda phone if I am forced to keep two SIMs separate due to some "unique" implementation of this feature.

 

[ianrip]

I have Dual SIM, and you can set two different ringtones, text tone one only, so same for both SIMS

I dont see an option for silence.

My alerts are all silenced, as i use Apple Watch

Let me know what you would like to see or share

 

[rumourmonger]

Let me know what you would like to see or share

> I dont see an option for silence.

So even on iOS 26 So no way to keep one SIM's notifications always silenced?

I want the calls and SMS to be active on both SIMs (so not disabling one SIM) and decide when to let them rin/chime when they are arrive - but I don’t want this decision to be “combined” for both SIMs but independently for each SIM.

In iOS 26 apparently they have given a way to control this via focus mode but I can't seem to find out how flexible that is or any details on Apple.com.

Like it says here https://lifehacker.com/tech/all-the-ios-26-features-apple-barely-mentioned-at-wwdc-2025

> 4. Use Focus to silence SIM: It looks like iOS 26 will let you use Focuses to silence one SIM, which is great for those who use two numbers on their iPhone.

 

[ianrip]

For the ringtones settings
You can select None for vibration individually per Sim.
For the Tone, (there used to be an option for None) but thats gone now, it looks like it’s ALL silence or ALL on.

For the focus setting, you mentioned, I can’t see how or where to silence individual Sim yet, i have one focus for work so that would be handy.

You should keep looking and Soi will I

There might be some sort of shortcut for SIM management

 

[rumourmonger]

There might be some sort of shortcut for SIM management

Yes I will keep looking. That LLM response seems to be for generic iPhone - not iOS 26 specific. Current iOS doesn’t allow this — that I know.

Anyway thanks.

 

[ianrip]

This Focus setting Doesn’t show separate Sims

 

[ianrip]

Just found Filter, for separate Sim, os its doable

 

[ianrip]

It’s in the Focus/filter section
I’ll add messages and see what happens at work later
The messages doesn’t let you choose a Sim option

 

[MDTyKe]

Currently. the Dual SIM implementation is shockingly poor. I have more than 2 lines, and I toggle them on/off regularly when I need a foreign one for 2FA purposes. It's a PITA:
- You cannot toggle or filter between lines in Messages
- When you enable/disable lines, you only have numbers, not the Display Name of the line
- You cannot choose which iMessage line to send a new message from on the desktop app
- You cannot easily see which line a person has messaged you on

 

[rumourmonger]

Currently. the Dual SIM implementation is shockingly poor. I have more than 2 lines, and I toggle them on/off regularly when I need a foreign one for 2FA purposes. It's a PITA:
- You cannot toggle or filter between lines in Messages
- When you enable/disable lines, you only have numbers, not the Display Name of the line
- You cannot choose which iMessage line to send a new message from on the desktop app
- You cannot easily see which line a person has messaged you on

MD, it seems you are not using iOS 26 beta. As @ianrip has kindly shared above (not sure how good or bad it still is - but it seems there has been at least some improvement from existing behaviour). And I agree, Apple's multi SIM management is piss poor as of now. The reason I have never used dual SIM on iPhone though I'd want to. I am hoping it changes in iOS 26.

 

[rumourmonger]

Just found Filter, for separate Sim, os its doable

I’ll add messages and see what happens at work later

So, it's doable for calls. i.e,
I can independently make either of dual SIM to "silent" or "ring" for incoming calls depending on my Focus settings.
But not for SMS/messages.
Right?

 

[ianrip]

So, it's doable for calls. i.e,
I can independently make either of dual SIM to "silent" or "ring" for incoming calls depending on my Focus settings.
But not for SMS/messages.
Right?

Yeah
You can filter calls, but not messages.

You can set default Sim (preferred Line) for separate contacts number.
For example, Wife Home Sim, Girlfriend Work Sim.

You can set messages number also.

I’m not using a Mac so can’t comment on the earlier post from @MDTyKe