How Many eSIMs Can an iPhone Have? 8+ Stored, 2 Active, 3 Lines With TripoSIM (2026)

"How many eSIMs can my iPhone have?" really hides two questions: how many your iPhone can keep, and how many it can use at the same time. The answers are very different. This guide gives you both for every model, explains what "active" means, and shows how to get a third line when two aren't enough.

Key facts

• Stored: every iPhone with eSIM (iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and later) can hold 8 or more eSIMs, according to Apple.
• Active: an iPhone uses 2 SIM lines at once (Dual SIM). Both can make and receive calls and texts.
• Two eSIMs together: iPhone 13 and later. iPhone XS to 12 use 1 eSIM + 1 physical SIM.
• Data: only one line handles mobile data at a time. You choose which one.
• No SIM tray: US iPhones since the iPhone 14, the iPhone Air and the iPhone Duo everywhere, and the iPhone 17 and 18 Pro models sold in some countries are eSIM-only.
• 3 lines with TripoSIM: home line + TripoSIM travel eSIM + the TripoSIM US Number in the app.

How many eSIMs each iPhone can have

"8 or more" is Apple's own wording. The exact number depends on the size of each eSIM profile. Phones sold in mainland China are different: Apple says that there only the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, 17e and Air support eSIM, and many models sold in China, Hong Kong and Macao use two nano-SIM cards instead.

Not sure which model you have? Go to Settings → General → About. To check whether your phone supports eSIM at all, use our compatibility checker.

Stored vs active: what's the difference?

• Stored means the eSIM is saved on your iPhone but switched off. It uses no battery and no data, like a SIM card in a drawer.
• Active means the line is switched on and connected. Your iPhone can have 2 active lines. Both can make and receive calls and texts, but only one is used for mobile data at a time.

So you can keep eSIMs for Japan, Europe and the USA stored, and switch on the right one before each trip.

Can an iPhone have 3 eSIMs active at once?

No. No iPhone runs 3 SIM lines at the same time in 2026. You can store a third, fourth or eighth eSIM, but only 2 are switched on.

How to get 3 lines on one iPhone with TripoSIM

The third line doesn't need to be a SIM. The TripoSIM US Number is a real US phone number that rings inside the TripoSIM app over the internet, so it doesn't use one of your 2 SIM lines.

The US Number costs $100 a year or $12.99 a month and includes 300 minutes a month of calls to the US and Canada. It works over your travel eSIM's data or over Wi-Fi. For the full setup, read how to have 3 phone numbers on one iPhone.

How to add a travel eSIM next to your home number

1. Check that your iPhone is unlocked and supports eSIM on our compatibility page.
2. Buy a travel eSIM for your destination on our destinations page.
3. At home, on Wi-Fi, tap the one-tap install link in your delivery email (iOS 17.4 or later), or go to Settings → Mobile Data (Cellular) → Add eSIM and scan the QR code.
4. Give the new line a clear label, such as "Travel data", and keep your home line switched on for calls and texts.
5. When you arrive, turn on the travel eSIM, choose it under Mobile Data, and turn on Data Roaming for it. Your plan starts when the eSIM first connects to a network at your destination.
6. Turn off Data Roaming on your home line, and turn off Allow Mobile Data Switching, so you don't pay roaming fees.

How to switch between stored eSIMs

1. Go to Settings → Mobile Data (Cellular). All your eSIMs are listed.
2. Tap the eSIM you want and turn on Turn On This Line. If 2 lines are already on, turn one of them off first.
3. Go back, tap Mobile Data and choose the line that should give you internet.

Switching between eSIMs you've already installed doesn't need Wi-Fi.

When your eSIM storage is full

If your iPhone won't add a new eSIM, delete one you no longer need: Settings → Mobile Data → tap the eSIM → Delete eSIM. Be careful: a travel eSIM's QR code usually works only once, so delete it only when the plan has ended or its data is used up.

Tips for travellers with several eSIMs

• Label every eSIM with the trip, like "Japan Dec" or "Europe summer", so you switch on the right one.
• Keep unused plans. If a stored eSIM still has data and validity, you can switch it back on for your next trip.
• One trip, many countries? One regional eSIM is easier than several country eSIMs. Browse all destinations.
• New iPhone? eSIM Quick Transfer moves carrier eSIMs when your carrier supports it. Some travel eSIMs can't be moved, so finish your plan first or ask support. Read what happens to your eSIM when you change phones.

Related guides

• Can you have 3 phone numbers on one iPhone?
• Does an eSIM come with a phone number?
• iPhone 17 and iPhone Air: which models are eSIM-only?
• iPhone 18 and eSIM: what travellers need to know
• How to use dual SIM with a travel eSIM

Frequently asked questions

How many eSIMs can an iPhone have?

Every iPhone with eSIM (iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and later) can store 8 or more eSIMs. It can use 2 lines at the same time.

How many eSIMs can be used in an iPhone at the same time?

Two. iPhone 13 and later can run 2 eSIMs at once. iPhone XS to iPhone 12 run 1 eSIM together with 1 physical SIM.

How many eSIMs can an iPhone 15 Pro Max have?

Like every recent iPhone, the iPhone 15 Pro Max stores 8 or more eSIMs and runs 2 lines at once: 2 eSIMs, or 1 eSIM + 1 nano-SIM on models with a SIM tray. US models are eSIM-only.

Can an iPhone 13 use two eSIMs?

Yes. Apple says iPhone 13 models and later support Dual SIM with two eSIMs.

Can I have 3 eSIMs active on my iPhone?

No. An iPhone runs at most 2 SIM lines at the same time. To use a third number, add one that lives in an app, such as the TripoSIM US Number. That gives you 3 lines on one iPhone.

How do I get a third phone number on my iPhone?

Keep your home number on line 1, a TripoSIM travel eSIM on line 2, and add the TripoSIM US Number in the TripoSIM app. It works over the internet, so it doesn't need a SIM slot.

Does keeping several eSIMs stored drain the battery?

No. Stored eSIMs are switched off and use no battery or data. Only the 2 active lines do.

Do I need Wi-Fi to switch between eSIMs?

No. Switching between eSIMs that are already installed works offline. You only need internet to install a new eSIM.

Which line does my iPhone use for data?

Only one line gives you mobile data at a time. Choose it in Settings → Mobile Data. When you travel, pick the travel eSIM.

Sources

Checked on Apple's support website on 14 October 2026:

• Apple Support: About eSIM on iPhone
• Apple Support: Using Dual SIM with an eSIM
• Apple Support: Using Dual SIM with two nano-SIM cards