iPhone 14 Pro Max Travel with eSIM

[joeblow7777]

Hi all. Forgive my dumb question, but this is new to me.

I have an 14 Pro Max with a physical SIM (Canadian). I’m going to be travelling overseas soon. If I install a local eSIM for data, will I still be able to send and receive messages through iMessage and WhatsApp unaffected?

 

[BigMcGuire]

So I ran Mint Mobile (eSim) and Verizon Wireless (SIM) for awhile, before going to dual e-sim with the 14 Pro/Pro Max.

Your phone will let you use both at the same time - you just designate which is primary and "active" - one can back up the other as well (which you probably don't want when traveling) - but if you register the new # with your iCloud, it should let you iMessage without a problem (to / from both numbers) - or at the very least, iMessage will utilize the data of the physical sim - and WhatsApp should use the data of the physical SIM too.

That's how it worked for me. Now, WhatsApp might be a bit different - I haven't used that for a few years so, might want to get someone else's comments on that.

Hope this helps.

 

[saber32au]

If I install a local eSIM for data, will I still be able to send and receive messages through iMessage and WhatsApp unaffected?

Yes! It should work fine.

Most Esim plans you purchase for overseas travel (ie from airalo, MobiMatter etc) are data only (ie you won’t get a phone number), so you’ll be able to get WhatsApp and iMessage just fine.

Think of it like connecting to a Wi-Fi access point…even if you have your phone in airplane mode, you still get iMessages/WhatsApp messages via the data connection to your phone.

 

[joeblow7777]

Yes! It should work fine.

Most Esim plans you purchase for overseas travel (ie from airalo, MobiMatter etc) are data only (ie you won’t get a phone number), so you’ll be able to get WhatsApp and iMessage just fine.

Think of it like connecting to a Wi-Fi access point…even if you have your phone in airplane mode, you still get iMessages/WhatsApp messages via the data connection to your phone.

Are there any settings I will have to change to ensure that the correct SIM is used?

 

[BigMcGuire]

Are there any settings I will have to change to ensure that the correct SIM is used?

Apple does a good job of making it pretty apparent - which one is primary and being used and which one is secondary - just follow the prompts - it'll ask you which one to make active (you'll want to use the travel e-sim). At least I thought so .

The moment you activate that e-sim, it'll take you to set it up and use it in your phone - and then it'll ask you how to use it with your current sim (which one to use primarily, etc).

May be easiest to disable the primary and enable the secondary.

 

[saber32au]

Are there any settings I will have to change to ensure that the correct SIM is used?

Yes, go to:

Settings -> Mobile.

You’ll see your normal number and your Esim plan (when you have an active Esim plan).

From there, you can assign which network to use for your data connection.

You can do as what BigMcMaguire suggest and disabled your “primary” phone number…or you can have both your primary and Esim plans active. Both situations should work fine (it’s really up to you which situation you prefer).

Once setup correctly the Esim connection will be used as your data connection.

 

[joeblow7777]

Thanks for all the advice, everyone! I look forward to trying it out. It really is great to live in the age of unlocked phones and eSIMS. Sounds like it will be easy and not too expensive to stay connected when I'm travelling.

 

[saber32au]

Sounds like it will be easy and not too expensive to stay connected when I'm travelling.

The only knock on Esim plans (IMO) is that compared to a local sim card (in the country you're traveling in) Esim plans are worse "value for money" (ie a local sim will generally give you more data, calls, a phone number...all for a cheaper price).

That being said, I personally am happy to pay a bit extra to reduce the "faff factor" in trying to source a local sim (which can be a mini adventure in itself), or paying through the nose to enable your home sim in the country you're travelling to (if possible at all).

You can't beat Esim's convenience: enable your Esim plan on the plane before you depart, and by the time you land and re-enable your phone you'll have a working data connection. Super convenient!

In time, Esim plans will get better. Just need wider spread adoption...

 

[outlawarth]

but if you register the new # with your iCloud, it should let you iMessage without a problem (to / from both numbers) - or at the very least, iMessage will utilize the data of the physical sim - and WhatsApp should use the data of the physical SIM too.

Sorry for sounding dumb but I have a hard time understanding this.

I am travelling to Europe in August and plan on purchasing an eSIM to use locally. However, once the eSIM is activated doesn't that become my primary provider away from home? How will I be getting iMessages from back home if I am now using a different provider/sim in my iPhone while away travelling?

I am probably overthinking this. Thanks.

 

[BigMcGuire]

Sorry for sounding dumb but I have a hard time understanding this.

I am travelling to Europe in August and plan on purchasing an eSIM to use locally. However, once the eSIM is activated doesn't that become my primary provider away from home? How will I be getting iMessages from back home if I am now using a different provider/sim in my iPhone while away travelling?

I am probably overthinking this. Thanks.

No worries, there are no dumb questions. Let me see if I can help.

You have to choose which sim to use as your primary voice and data line. Both lines will ring your cell if a call goes through, however, only one is primarily the "data line" - see below:

Settings --> Cellular

Note I have 2 eSims. I call one Primary and I call one Secondary. You can call it whatever you want in the settings for each line (see below). Note that you assign one to default voice and data.

Note that when I go to Settings --> Cellular --> Cellular Data:

I have the ability to allow cellular data switching - meaning if one of my eSims has no reception, it can treat the other one as the "data" line. Some times my T-Mobile line is on WiFi calling to my Verizon Line (using its data), and some times my Verizon line is on WiFi calling using my T-Mobile line (if it has very strong reception).

Both can be treated like a data line - note that when you're connected to a hotel wifi, you still get iMessages and data. Think of your second sim/e-sim as a data line - you can get iMessages and voice calls through the data abilities of your second line (wifi calling needs to be enabled).

Now.... Both of my lines are USA carriers. So I have both of mine activated and using data.

However, if I was to go to, let's just say Peru - and I wanted to buy an e-sim with Movistar or Claro - I would disable the data on both my USA e-sims and make my Movistar / Claro e-sim as primary cellular and primary data. I would also turn off Allow Cellular Data Switching while I was in Peru.

Hope this helps. . Please ask more questions if you have any.

 

[outlawarth]

No worries, there are no dumb questions. Let me see if I can help.

You have to choose which sim to use as your primary voice and data line. Both lines will ring your cell if a call goes through, however, only one is primarily the "data line" - see below:

Settings --> Cellular

View attachment 2232371

Note I have 2 eSims. I call one Primary and I call one Secondary. You can call it whatever you want in the settings for each line (see below). Note that you assign one to default voice and data.

View attachment 2232372

Note that when I go to Settings --> Cellular --> Cellular Data:

View attachment 2232374

I have the ability to allow cellular data switching - meaning if one of my eSims has no reception, it can treat the other one as the "data" line. Some times my T-Mobile line is on WiFi calling to my Verizon Line (using its data), and some times my Verizon line is on WiFi calling using my T-Mobile line (if it has very strong reception).

Both can be treated like a data line - note that when you're connected to a hotel wifi, you still get iMessages and data. Think of your second sim/e-sim as a data line - you can get iMessages and voice calls through the data abilities of your second line (wifi calling needs to be enabled).

Now.... Both of my lines are USA carriers. So I have both of mine activated and using data.

However, if I was to go to, let's just say Peru - and I wanted to buy an e-sim with Movistar or Claro - I would disable the data on both my USA e-sims and make my Movistar / Claro e-sim as primary cellular and primary data. I would also turn off Allow Cellular Data Switching while I was in Peru.

Hope this helps. . Please ask more questions if you have any.

This is absolutely awesome! Thank you so much for the detailed steps. Quick follow up question: in one of your previous posts you mentioned registering the new number with iCloud. Why would this step be necessary? Again, this is all very helpful.

 

[BigMcGuire]

This is absolutely awesome! Thank you so much for the detailed steps. Quick follow up question: in one of your previous posts you mentioned registering the new number with iCloud. Why would this step be necessary? Again, this is all very helpful.

I did because I have 2 USA e-sims so if I need to authenticate my Apple account and I don't have wifi and my primary cellular line has no reception, I can use the second line to authenticate my iCloud account. It doesn't have to be done, I just did it for convenience - definitely not necessary.

Also, one nice thing about iCloud is that iMessages can be utilized with it. So if I want to use my secondary line and do blue text messages to other Apple users, I can. (I use it as a work line and text a lot of people with iPhone devices so that's why I do it too).

I definitely would not do this to a travel sim.

 

[clueless88]

We purchased esims from Airalo before we traveled to the EU last winter. I chose the EU sim card for my iphone, my traveling companion just had a country specific one. It was great not having to purchase an international plan from our VMNO. Didn't miss the inability of doing local calls. Was able to do iMessage and Whatsapp without any difficulty. Was nice to be able to activate the esim before we landed in country.

On the other hand, have had offspring purchase an esim with data and phone number in the same country and they had no problems as well. It may have been a smidge cheaper for them. Our cost for 3gb/30d country specific was $8.50; 3gb/30d EU was $13.00. Came with straightforward instructions regarding installation, activation, and other info like avoiding international roaming fees.

When we left EU airspace, we just deleted the non-US esim, made a couple settings adjustments and we were back to our regular service. Very nice not having to remove a physical SIM card (and not lose track of it while traveling) and having to reinstall it on return.

 

[outlawarth]

We purchased esims from Airalo before we traveled to the EU last winter. I chose the EU sim card for my iphone, my traveling companion just had a country specific one. It was great not having to purchase an international plan from our VMNO. Didn't miss the inability of doing local calls. Was able to do iMessage and Whatsapp without any difficulty. Was nice to be able to activate the esim before we landed in country.

On the other hand, have had offspring purchase an esim with data and phone number in the same country and they had no problems as well. It may have been a smidge cheaper for them. Our cost for 3gb/30d country specific was $8.50; 3gb/30d EU was $13.00. Came with straightforward instructions regarding installation, activation, and other info like avoiding international roaming fees.

When we left EU airspace, we just deleted the non-US esim, made a couple settings adjustments and we were back to our regular service. Very nice not having to remove a physical SIM card (and not lose track of it while traveling) and having to reinstall it on return.

Were you able to specify ahead of the time on which day you’d like to activate the eSIM card? How did this process work?

I want to purchase the eSIM but don’t want it active until the day I land in EU. Thanks.

 

[kitKAC]

Activate the eSIM when you're at the airport, it'll kick in when you get to your destination.

 

[clueless88]

Were you able to specify ahead of the time on which day you’d like to activate the eSIM card? How did this process work?

I want to purchase the eSIM but don’t want it active until the day I land in EU. Thanks.

I probably could have worded my post better, my bad. We installed the eSIMs while still at home, but we didn't toggle them on until we left US airspace. Once the phone detects and connects with the esims network, the esim gets activated and the clock starts ticking. Airalo has pretty good instructions on how to install the eSIM and the changes ones makes in the iPhone settings to avoid international roaming charges, the activation process, and how to undo all of that when you return.

It was nice to have cell data service even before we left the plane and not have to try to find a place to purchase eSIMS in a non English speaking country while being sleep deprived.

 

[joeblow7777]

Thanks again for all the assistance, everyone. I seem to be having one little hiccup though. I've turned my primary SIM off, which I'm under the impression is the right thing to do. However, my iMessages are now coming through like they're from a different contact. For example, if I send a message it looks fine on my end, but it starts a whole new conversation that's associated with my email address for the recipient. If someone tries to send me a message using their usual contact/message thread for me, it doesn't work.

*edit to add*
Even when I turn my primary SIM on (with data disabled) it still doesn't work.

 

[BigMcGuire]

IF you reboot your phone does that have any effect?

Definitely doesn't do this for me.

Check out: Settings --> Messages --> Send & Receive
Does it still show your primary number and Send From set to your primary #?

 

[joeblow7777]

IF you reboot your phone does that have any effect?

Definitely doesn't do this for me.

Check out: Settings --> Messages --> Send & Receive
Does it still show your primary number and Send From set to your primary #?

If I turn on my primary SIM the number does show under the messages setting for send and receive, and I have it selected. If I turn off the primary SIM it no longer appears there. But either way the effect is as described above. iMessage seems to now be associated with my email address, which others receive as a different contact, and sending messages to my usual contact or replying to previous message threads doesn’t work. Rebooting my phone had no effect. 🤷🏾‍♂️

In my settings I have cellular data set to my Travel SIM, as well as default voice line, even though it has no phone number. Data roaming is turned off on both SIMs.

 

[outlawarth]

If I turn on my primary SIM the number does show under the messages setting for send and receive, and I have it selected. If I turn off the primary SIM it no longer appears there. But either way the effect is as described above. iMessage seems to now be associated with my email address, which others receive as a different contact, and sending messages to my usual contact or replying to previous message threads doesn’t work. Rebooting my phone had no effect. 🤷🏾‍♂️

In my settings I have cellular data set to my Travel SIM, as well as default voice line, even though it has no phone number. Data roaming is turned off on both SIMs.

Interesting. But isn't it kinda how it's supposed to be? For example: if you were to disconnect your cellular connection and connect to a hotel wifi the iMessage will then send from your email address. Or does it still send from your phone number even with cellular turned off?

What I'm trying to say is that the iPhone treats the Travel Sim like a hotspot, does it not?

 

[joeblow7777]

Interesting. But isn't it kinda how it's supposed to be? For example: if you were to disconnect your cellular connection and connect to a hotel wifi the iMessage will then send from your email address. Or does it still send from your phone number even with cellular turned off?

What I'm trying to say is that the iPhone treats the Travel Sim like a hotspot, does it not?

At home I put my phone in airplane mode all the time and it doesn’t affect my iMessages at all. My messages don’t start coming from my email address as a different contact. My brother, whom I’m traveling with, has done the same as I have with a travel eSIM and his iMessages haven’t been affected.

 

[BigMcGuire]

At home I put my phone in airplane mode all the time and it doesn’t affect my iMessages at all. My messages don’t start coming from my email address as a different contact. My brother, whom I’m traveling with, has done the same as I have with a travel eSIM and his iMessages haven’t been affected.

Yeah it looks like the sim has to stay active for Messages to treat it as an incoming/outgoing option.

How interesting see below:

I get this when I turn off my primary eSim and use my secondary only. I guess that supports the idea of registering the number with your Apple ID. Interesting.

 

[BigMcGuire]

Interesting so it looks like you'll have to turn data roaming off, make the travel sim primary, and then leave both sims on.

 

[outlawarth]

At home I put my phone in airplane mode all the time and it doesn’t affect my iMessages at all. My messages don’t start coming from my email address as a different contact. My brother, whom I’m traveling with, has done the same as I have with a travel eSIM and his iMessages haven’t been affected.

Got ya - good to know. I'm sure you may have already done this but have you tried signing out and back into iMessage? In the iMessage settings, not iCloud.

 

[BigMcGuire]

It's not consistent for me. I've done this several times and got different results. Turning off my primary SIM - sometimes I'm able to use it in iMessage, other times it isn't even an option! I wonder if that's a bug in current iOS... Cuz I didn't have this problem before.

I highly recommend going to settings --> iCloud (top) --> Name, Phone Numbers, Email - and registering the number with Apple so it can be used with iMessage.

Agreed, make sure iMessage is turned on.