iPhone 15 eSIM: Easy starter guide (2024)

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If you’re lucky enough to be getting your hands on a brand-new iPhone 15 and you have plans for international travel, get ready to experience the iPhone 15 eSIM hack that’s going to allow you to save big bucks on roaming charges.

Depending on which iPhone you’re upgrading from, your new iPhone 15 might be your first experience using an embedded SIM card (eSIM). eSIMs are easier and more flexible than traditional plastic SIM cards, and they make it easy to hop onto different networks.

Ready or not, we’re going to run through a quick iPhone 15 eSIM primer with everything you need to know.

What is an eSIM?

An eSIM is a digital, downloadable SIM card that can be added to any eSIM compatible device, like the iPhone 15. Most iPhones are already eSIM compatible (iPhone XR and newer), so you may have been using eSIMs for a while now, or they might be brand-new to you. When you install an iPhone eSIM, it’s like inserting a new SIM card because it allows your iPhone to connect to new networks.

What are the benefits of eSIM?

The biggest eSIM benefit is that you can travel the world, bring your iPhone 15, and easily add local eSIMs (digital SIM cards) and connect to those networks as if you were a local citizen. eSIM makes it affordable to have prepaid mobile data in another country, without relying on sporadic Wi-Fi or racking up roaming charges with your carrier back home.

What if I won’t be travelling?

No problem at all! Your iPhone 15 will still come with eSIM capabilities, and you can think of any eSIMs as “SIM cards that never come out.” They work exactly the same way as physical SIM cards, except you can delete them (versus physically removing them) and you can store a bunch of them at once.

Is iPhone 15 eSIM only?

If you purchase an iPhone 15 within the United States, it will be eSIM only. This means there won’t be a slot for a physical SIM card, and you will be able to install and activate eSIMs (digital SIM cards) instead. iPhone 15 models purchased outside of the United States will still have a traditional SIM card slot, but they will be eSIM compatible depending on their location. (iPhone 15 models purchased in Mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macao may not support eSIM.)

Can I call and text with an eSIM?

If your regular phone plan is connected to an eSIM (versus a traditional SIM card), then you’ll be using your eSIM to make/receive phone calls and send/receive text messages, as well as use mobile data.

If you’re using a travel eSIM, these are typically data-only eSIMs that do not come with a phone number, so they can’t be used for calling and texting. However, there are other ways to call and text while you’re using an eSIM for vacation data, like iMessage, FaceTime, using a temporary internet phone number from an app like Hushed, or using social media.

Where do I buy an iPhone 15 eSIM?

FOR HOME:

If you have an iPhone 15 and need a primary SIM for home use (a regular phone number, data plan, etc.), you can speak with a local carrier and ask about their options.

FOR TRAVEL:

If you’ll be travelling internationally with your iPhone 15, you can shop online for an eSIM data package, or use a free eSIM app like aloSIM. Just choose a country or region, decide how much prepaid data you’d like to start with, and complete your purchase.

How do I install an iPhone 15 eSIM?

It only takes about two minutes to install an iPhone 15 eSIM. Make sure you’re on a strong Wi-Fi or data connection so you can download the eSIM and complete the installation, and then follow the instructions from your eSIM provider.

Here are aloSIM, we know everyone learns differently, so we provide different eSIM installation instructions:

TEXT + SCREENSHOTS

Follow an installation walkthrough with screenshots

VIDEO

Watch an eSIM installation video

How do I activate a data package?

If you purchase a prepaid data package from an eSIM provider like aloSIM, it will include detailed instructions on how to activate your iPhone 15 eSIM data package so you can begin using it. Each data package has a certain length of time it can be used (i.e. 7 days, 15 days, 30 days) so you don’t want to activate it until you’re ready to use it.

If you’ve purchased a data package from aloSIM, you can choose your preferred type of instructions:

TEXT + SCREENSHOTS

Follow a data package activation walkthrough with screenshots

VIDEO

Watch a video on how to activate your data package

If you have any other questions, please reach out anytime via email (support@alosim.com) or live chat. We’d love to help!

iPhone 15 eSIM: Easy starter guide (2024)

FAQs

How to use eSIM for iPhone 15? ›

Convert a physical SIM to an eSIM on the same iPhone

On your iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular.
Tap Convert to eSIM. If you don't see Convert to eSIM, your carrier doesn't support this option. ...
Tap Convert Cellular Plan.
Tap Convert to eSIM.
Wait for your eSIM to activate. ...
Remove the physical SIM from your iPhone.

Mar 6, 2024

Read On ›

Why is eSIM so difficult? ›

With eSIMs, it's harder to switch one plan between devices—you can't just swap the physical card—and they can make it harder for you to temporarily remove your SIM if you don't want to be tracked by a carrier.

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What is the disadvantage of eSIM? ›

Changing devices might not be straightforward

If you are using an eSIM and you need to change phones, chances are that you will need to contact your local provider to enquire how to transfer your eSIM. While Android and iOS have eSIM transfer tools, not all carriers allow an eSIM transfer.

Does eSIM work properly in iPhone? ›

eSIM is more secure than a physical SIM because it can't be removed if your iPhone is lost or stolen. With eSIM, you don't need to obtain, carry, and swap physical SIM cards (which can also be lost), or wait for them to arrive by mail. You can have two eSIMs active on supported iPhone models at the same time.

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How long does it take to activate eSIM on iPhone 15? ›

Depending on your device and your physical location, your eSIM might take up to 15 minutes to connect to a local supported network. After completing the above steps, please make sure Airplane Mode is off and that you're not on Wi-Fi. Wait a few minutes to see if your eSIM will connect.

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Does the iPhone 15 require eSIM? ›

iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus use eSIM technology and are not compatible with physical SIM cards.

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Why is eSIM not popular? ›

eSIMs aren't available for older phones: Since they're relatively new, eSIMs aren't compatible with older phone models. It's harder to transfer data: Instead of popping the card out of a damaged phone, you have to download your data from the cloud to get your contacts, messages, and other media back.

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Does eSIM give you a phone number? ›

So while your eSIM does not come with its own phone number, you're still able to call and text while traveling internationally, either using a free app or using your regular phone number.

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What is the disadvantage of eSIM in iPhone? ›

Disadvantages of using an eSIM

You will need to retrieve and download your eSIM profile from the cloud, which is considerably more time consuming to do. It also takes longer than it would take to transfer into a new handset when you upgrade.

Does eSIM drain battery? ›

The big question is: does using an eSIM drain your phone's battery faster? The short answer is no, not really. An eSIM itself doesn't use more battery than a physical SIM. However, if you're using your phone with two lines (one eSIM and one physical SIM), your phone must maintain a connection to two networks.

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Does eSIM work without internet? ›

However, it's important to note that once both eSIMs and traditional SIM cards are activated, they can function without an internet connection. This means that you can make calls, send text messages, and use other non-internet-dependent features on your device using either type of SIM card.

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Can I go back from eSIM to physical SIM? ›

To convert your eSIM to physical sim, you need to first deactivate your eSIM permanently. This will delete all your network details from the existing eSIM. You can't complete the process online or by yourself. Therefore, find the nearest store of your network provider.

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How many eSIMs does an iPhone 15 have? ›

An eSIM, which is a digital version of the small plastic SIM card, can be programmed and reprogrammed as many times as required. Apple says iPhone eSIM users can store up to eight different eSIMs, which is handy if you frequently travel or have multiple business lines.

Get More Info Here ›

Does eSIM slow down iPhone? ›

If physical SIM is disabled, the eSIM works absolutely fine without any lag.

Why is my iPhone 15 unable to transfer phone number? ›

It has been discussed that the problem of "unable to transfer phone number iPhone 15" occurs due to different Apple ID connections on old and new iPhones. In this case, you need to check the Apple ID connection on your new iPhone 15 and ensure it is the same as in the old iPhone.

How to activate T-Mobile eSIM on iPhone? ›

Apple iPhone

There's a few ways to setup your eSIM: During the initial setup, you'll be prompted to activate an eSIM or transfer one from an existing iPhone. If you've already set up your iPhone and are connected to Wi-Fi, your iPhone will prompt you when the T-Mobile Cellular Plan is ready to be installed.

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