iMessage not working after having eSim as dual sims

I’m using a 13Pro on iOS17.4.1 and just changed my personal number to eSim and have a second number on a physical sim. I, too, cannot get iMessage and Facetime to activate for my personal number (I do not use these functions on the secondary number). I have logged out of the device and back in with my Apple ID with no success. I’ve also switched off the options, restarted phone and then tried switching on functions again - no success. Any other suggestions, please?

I was able to resolve this in iOS 17.0.2 by going to Settings>Messages>Send&Receive and select my phone number. Apparently it became unselected while setting up eSIM.

Having a similar problem except mine occurred 3 months after switching from a physical sim to an eSIM when I bought the iPhone 15 Pro - my phone number isn’t even an option in iMessage and FaceTime send and receive.

In Settings > sign in and security it gives me a pop up that says “You must have a sim associated with an Apple device for (my number) to be used for iMessage and FaceTime” - quite frustrating as I’ve tried everything to fix it

I tried selecting my number and all it did was continue to spin endlessly. Ultimately, after trying to restart my phone several times, I got it to work by logging out and back in with my Apple ID. My phone is a 13 Pro. It didn't take too long because I have another Apple device.

I also have the same problem I have a primary eSIM and physical secondary sim which is not online when I went to settings>messages>send and receive > my number is not appearing as an address only my mail is appearing there are no other numbers

Update: There were two parts to this:

Initially, my network service provider did not correctly perform a sim swap to change my sim from physical sim to esim, but had instead add an esim to my account as they offer for people who want to use additional devices linked to their phones ie watches, etc.

That was step one to getting the issue resolved. Once I got them to properly do a sim swap on Wednesday this week, my smses also started coming through without issue.

Then there was iMessage - After sorting out the sim swap I then tried to activate iMessage and after switching it on I left it at that for 24 hours for the function to activate. It did not activate within the 24 hours. I then tried again and within a couple of hours the function was activated and is now working since yesterday afternoon.

So it does seems like a bit of a patience game provided the sim swap is done properly. iMessage needs sms functionality in order to activate, so if any option made for esim etc does not have the sms functionality active, iMessage will fail to activate.

If you have already sorted out the esim and smses work, then my suggestion is to select activate and leave it for atleast 24 hours. If it fails after 24 hours, try it again and leave it. Do not disable and enable repeatedly as iMessage takes time to activate.

I installed my second number in my primary number as an e aim. How do I access my SMS being received on the e sum?

I have the same issue, has yours been resolved?

I have been trying to answers to solve this for a week and then I finally solved it! As long as both of your Esims in Cellular show that they are on:

Go into your settings>messages>iMessage>ON>Send and Receive> Toggle on all lines wanted

Hope this helps, I did not see this idea anywhere and it worked for me :)

I resolved mine by buying a new physical sim and transferring my number to the new sim! Hope this helps you.

I have the same problem with the imessage after changing to esim. I went to Ncell and found out that we no longer can activate any new sims/esim as it has been blocked by the NTC. It's an issue with the Network provider and they have no idea when this will be resolved. Nothing wrong with our phone tho.

Let me make the question clear again and i will answer it.

FaceTime and iMessage mobile number willbe inactive if new number is added in the iphone (esim or physical) even if you insert a another sim card for any purposes (travel, checking the other sim card networks etc.)

To get back the number active in FaceTime and iMessage the same number sim card should be inserted or esim with line active then wait for 24 hrs, after that restart the iphone the number will be active in FaceTime and iMessage.

After the restart if doesn't work, sign out apple id and sign in again with restart.

If you are using dual sims than both nos. should be on for atleast 24 hrs.

1. Make sure the number you want to activate has SMS active services with balance.
2. Make Sure Time settings in the iphone are Automatic.

Hope it helps.

@aido93 Thank you! It worked! 💜

I have two eSIMs in my iPhone SE 2020

iOS is 17.6.1

Second eSIM (Travel) installed is data only from Nomad

Primary eSIM is no longer an option for iMessage

i have logged out of Apple and back in, rebooted phone multiple times….but nothing allows my primary eSIM to be an option in iMessage.

Primary eSIM is turned off on cellular since we are out of network and would incur roaming charges.

I got a VietTel eSIM in Vietnam when I landed, so one Verizon eSIM and one VietTel eSIM, both active. I had a problem where I could send text messages (green dialog bubble, not blue) but couldn’t send pictures (I.e., MMS wasn’t working). My cellular data was set to VietTel and that was working fine. I then went into Apps/Messages and clicked on “Send and Receive” and there was a spinner next to both numbers. My only guess is that when a 2nd eSIM is installed it unsets this setting and waits for you to specify. I chose my Verizon number, it took a very long while for the check mark to show up next to it, and now I have blue speech bubbles and I can send pictures. I also turned off data roaming on both lines. I saw an Apple FAQ that noted if data roaming is on for the cellular data line then the other line won’t be able to send MMS (I.e., pictures).

Apple support doc here: Using Dual SIM with an eSIM - Apple Support