Changing ESim between iPhones frequently

[maralmjs]

Hi. I have two iPhones, one is my daily driver, and the other one is more of a ’rugged’ one for use with sports and when I go abroad.  Is there a limit to how often I can swap esims between the two phones on a regular basis?

[Katie_B]

Hi @maralmjs. 

I don't believe there is a limit on how many times you can swap but requesting multiple replacement eSIM QR codes may cause a problems. 

Would it be easier using a physical SIM?

Katie

[hisamuran]

Indeed @Katie_B there is no limit, but the process is very cumbersome and can really get frustrating to the point of being left without service, see my post here https://community.ee.co.uk/t5/SIM-cards-Porting/eSIM-frustration-went-back-to-physical-SIM-after-1-d... 

Having 2 iPhones makes it really easy since you have the "Quick Transfer" option from Apple so is super easy and hassle free. But, if you have 1 android and 1 iPhone then each time you need to request a "replacement eSIM" and setup in target phone without removing the eSIM on the original phone since EE send an SMS verification code to the original phone in order for the eSIM to be enabled on the target phone. If you check my post above, you'll see what I mean (I, myself was left with no service at all after EE support requested me to try my eSIM on another device... what a frustrating adventure really).

TLDR: @maralmjs  stick with iPhones for eSIM if having multiple devices and need frequent switching.

[Roke]

What sort of problems could that cause?

[bristolian]

---

@Roke wrote:

What sort of problems could that cause?

---

Responding to a 2year + 2month old thread must be a record for this forum!

[Roke]

I can now answer that, at least with another provider, requesting two eSIMs, but solely configuring the latter requested, doesn't appear to have caused any problems. (I needed to request two after accidentally entering the confirmation code incorrectly three times, so reason to do so exists.)

[Roke]

Glad to have made that record. Ha.

[Peter_W]

Hey there @Roke 😊

I can't speak for other providers, but on our network you can only have one SIM or eSIM active at any given time. 

Once a new SIM is activated, the previous one is deactivated and dead from that point; if you wanted to switch back to that handset, you would need to download and activate a whole new eSIM.

This has to be processed through our system, and can take up to 24 hour to completed, so isn't something we recommend customers switch around on a regular basis.

Peter

[Roke]

Thanks for clarifying: that's what I meant. In retrospect, I had also waited ⪆ 24H, so that appears accurate.