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How Many eSIM Can Your iPhone Store?
TL;DR
If you’re wondering how many eSIM cards you can have on your iPhone, here’s the quick answer: you can store eight or more eSIM profiles on many recent iPhones, but only two eSIMs (or one eSIM + one physical SIM) can be active at the same time. We’ll dive into exactly “how many eSIM” you can use for specific models like the iPhone 16, iPhone 15, iPhone 14, and the iPhone SE pretty much the same for all models, why it works that way, and what that means for you in real-life use.
Who Needs to Know “How Many eSIMs”?
If you’ve ever wondered how many eSIM your iPhone can actually handle, you’re not alone. This question pops up constantly among iPhone users—especially those who travel, manage multiple numbers, or want to make the most of Apple’s dual-SIM flexibility. Whether you’re curious about how many eSIM can be used in iPhone, or you’re asking more specifically how many eSIMs can iPhone 15 have, or maybe you’re holding onto an iPhone SE eSIM model and wondering if it keeps up—this is the guide that answers it all. Knowing these details isn’t just about tech specs; it’s about practicality. It helps you plan how to juggle personal and work numbers, use different carrier plans abroad, or simply make your iPhone work harder for you.
What Do We Mean by “How Many eSIM”?
When people search for how many eSIM, they’re often talking about two different things—though they sound the same. The first is how many eSIM profiles your iPhone can store at once, and the second is how many eSIM lines you can have active simultaneously. Think of stored profiles as saved numbers or plans sitting ready in your phone, and active lines as the ones you can actually use to call, text, or browse at that moment. Many iPhones today can store several eSIMs but only run two at a time. This difference is key because while Apple gives you flexibility to switch between carriers easily, it still limits how many can be live together for performance and hardware reasons.
Why Does This Even Matter?
Understanding how many eSIM your iPhone supports is becoming increasingly important as Apple and other manufacturers move away from physical SIM cards. In fact, in some countries—like the U.S.—new iPhones no longer even come with a SIM slot. That means if you rely on multiple carriers or travel often, your eSIM capacity directly affects how easily you can connect. Imagine flying abroad and instantly activating a local data plan without swapping cards—that’s what multiple eSIM support allows. It also helps business users keep their professional and personal numbers separate without carrying two phones, and lets frequent travelers switch carriers on the go to avoid roaming fees. But it’s not just about convenience; knowing these limits saves you from frustration when you hit the cap and your iPhone tells you “Maximum number of eSIMs reached.” So, whether you’re a jet-setter, freelancer, or just someone exploring Apple’s eSIM world, getting a clear answer to how many eSIM your iPhone supports helps you unlock the full power of your device.
How many eSIM can different iPhone models have?
Here’s an updated and clearer breakdown of how many eSIM different Apple iPhone models support especially focusing on active eSIM lines vs. stored eSIM profiles so you know exactly what your device can handle.
1. iPhone 17 Series — “How many eSIMs can iPhone 17 have?”
For the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max, Apple specifies: “Dual eSIM (two active eSIMs; stores eight or more eSIMs).”
In practice: you can have two eSIMs active simultaneously (for calls, texts, data) and you can store eight or more eSIM profiles ready to switch between.
So if you ask “how many eSIMs can iPhone 17 have?” the answer is: many stored, two active.
2. iPhone 16 Series — “How many eSIMs can iPhone 16 have?”
According to multiple sources, the iPhone 16 series supports up to eight or more stored eSIM profiles and allows two active eSIMs at the same time.
One source claims up to ten stored profiles for iPhone 16.
Therefore: “how many eSIMs can iPhone 16 have?” — stored eight or more, active two.
3. iPhone 15 Series — “How many eSIMs can iPhone 15 have?”
For the iPhone 15 series, the rule is consistent with newer models: you can store a large number (eight or more) of eSIM profiles and use two active eSIMs simultaneously.
So the short: “how many eSIMs can iPhone 15 have?” → many stored, two active.
4. iPhone 14 Series — “How many eSIMs can iPhone 14 have?”
For iPhone 14 models: you can store up to eight or more eSIM profiles (depending on region) and use two active eSIMs simultaneously (on compatible models).
Hence: “how many eSIMs can iPhone 14 have?” → stored eight+, active two.
5. iPhone SE (2020) & iPhone SE (2022) — “iPhone SE eSIM”
The iPhone SE (2020) typically supports one eSIM active at a time (plus a physical SIM) and fewer stored profiles.
The iPhone SE (2022) (3rd generation) reportedly supports two active eSIMs or one eSIM + one physical SIM, though fewer details on how many stored profiles.
So for “iPhone SE eSIM”: expect fewer active lines compared to flagship models and more limited flexibility.
6. Older Models (iPhone 12 Series, iPhone 11 Series, iPhone XS / iPhone XR) — “How many eSIM can be used in iPhone (older models)?”
For these earlier iPhones: While you may be able to store multiple eSIM profiles (some sources say up to 20) you are typically limited to one active eSIM (plus physical SIM) at a time.
So for these: “how many eSIM can be used in iPhone?” → one active eSIM line at a time, numerous stored.
Quick Summary Table
| iPhone Model | Stored eSIM Profiles | Active eSIMs Simultaneously |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 17 | Eight or more | Two |
| iPhone 16 | Eight or more (some sources say 10) | Two |
| iPhone 15 | Eight or more | Two |
| iPhone 14 | Up to eight or more | Two |
| iPhone SE (2020) | Several (less documented) | One |
| iPhone SE (2022) | Several | One or Two (depending) |
| Older models (iPhone 12, 11, XS/XR) | Many (up to 20) | One |
How Much Flexibility Does “How Many eSIM” Really Give You?
When people ask how many eSIM their iPhone supports, they’re usually trying to understand how much flexibility they actually have. The truth is, there are two separate ideas at play: stored eSIM profiles and active eSIM lines.
Stored eSIM profiles are like having multiple SIM cards saved inside your phone each one representing a different mobile plan, carrier, or country. You can think of them as digital “cards” sitting quietly in your device, waiting to be activated whenever you need them. Modern iPhones can usually store eight or more of these eSIM profiles, so you can keep plans from different countries or carriers ready to go without deleting or reinstalling anything.
Active lines, on the other hand, are the ones your phone is using right now. These are the lines you can call, text, or use data on at the same time. While you can save many profiles, Apple limits the number of eSIMs that can be active simultaneously typically two. That means you could have, for example, one eSIM for your personal number and another for your business or travel plan, both working at the same time.
So why store so many if only two can be active? Because having multiple eSIMs saved makes switching between plans effortless. Travelers can hop between countries and instantly activate a local data plan without hunting for a physical SIM. Business users can toggle between work and personal lines with a tap. Even if you’re someone who likes testing different carriers or keeping an emergency plan ready, multiple stored eSIMs make your phone far more versatile.
As for why Apple caps active lines at two, it’s mostly a matter of hardware and carrier compatibility. Each line needs its own cellular connection, and the device can only manage so many at once. Apple’s dual-eSIM or physical + eSIM setup is designed to strike a balance between flexibility and performance.
In short: you can store many eSIM profiles — usually eight or more but you can only use two at a time. That’s still more than enough for most people, giving you the freedom to switch networks, travel easily, and keep your connections neatly organized without ever touching a SIM card again.
