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iphone xs max dual sim problem: second sim card gets disconnected

Hey guys,


I have been using my iphone xs max (eSim) for a month now. My private number is being used via esim for mobile data, calls, facetime & imessage, while my work number as a secondary physical sim for business calls and texts.


Problem is, people often can't reach me on the business number, it says I'm not available, and I don't even get a notification or text, that I had a missed call. At the same time I'm not able to start calls from the business number - it seems as if the card gets randomly deactivated.


The sim card works fine in other phones, settings are as they should be, and I can't seem to find any pattern which might help narrow it down (the problem happens when phone is not being used, it happens when it is connected to carplay, it happens while charging, etc.)


Do you have any ideas for possible solutions, or shall I just call apple support? Currently I had to switch back to 2 phones, since the most awaited feature in the new phone (at least for me) is useless...

iPhone XS Max, iOS 12.1

Posted on Dec 3, 2018 5:02 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Apr 1, 2019 4:20 PM

***UPDATE*** The latest update to 12.2 seems to have fixed my issue. I show signal now on both lines with my E-Sim as my personal line and physical sim as my business. Working fine since the update over the weekend

14 replies

Feb 4, 2019 9:06 AM in response to markfromszékesfehérvár

I have precisely the same issue. Upgraded my X to XS specifically for the dual sim support, but I have missed so many calls and messages since on my physically sim card number. A ‘restart’ help temporarily until I suddenly get a too quiet phone once again.


Wonder if it’s a hardware or software issue, since this is an issue even after the 12.1.2 upgrade.


Anyone figured out a solution or cause?

Feb 4, 2019 9:28 AM in response to RolfDK

After some trial and error I got both sims to work at the same time. With a catch though. Having my main line Verizon (esim) set as my primary Straight talk as my physical sim. The only way both would work at the same time was if I set the straight talk as my data. How ever if I use both Verizon sims all functionality works fine.

Feb 11, 2019 10:42 AM in response to markfromszékesfehérvár

We definitely need Apple to provide an answer, this is definitely an issue for many people in the US and abroad.


I too bought the iPhone XS Max so that I can use a single phone when traveling abroad. I am using AT&T with an eSIM and Movistar on the physical SIM, and the problem is consistent, it doesn't matter which one I have as primary for voice or data, Movistar's physical SIM will stop working when switching from Wireless or if the signal is poor. The only way to get it to work is when I turn off the line and turn it back on after about 30 seconds. The problem is that sometimes the phone will give me a SIM card error, forcing me to restart the phone.


By the way, every time that the issue happens, Face ID will stop working and I have to reenter my PIN.


Current iOS at the time of this post: 12.1.4 (16D57)

Feb 13, 2019 10:54 AM in response to Alejo®

I believe I found a solution to this issue:


First let me clarify, the iPhone XS and R models only accept one physical SIM card and as many eSIM cards as you can add, however, only two of the SIMs can be active at the time.


On my end, I believe the issue started when I added the eSIM, for some reason the iPhone had problems between the primary and secondary accounts.

After much troubleshooting, I decided to replace the SIM on the phone, and after the SIM replacement I have had no further issues. I would suggest each person having issues, that while the phone is On, remove the SIM and try inserting it again, if you continue experiencing issues, I would suggest a SIM replacement.

Feb 13, 2019 2:14 PM in response to Alejo®

We definitely need Apple to provide an answer, this is definitely an issue for many people in the US and abroad.

In that case, you will need to contact Apple. This is a user-to-user support forum. Apple's participation here is mostly limited to making sure the rules get followed and no fights break out.


Use the Contact Support link in the upper right corner of every page of these forums to get in touch with Apple directly.

Mar 11, 2019 2:25 AM in response to markfromszékesfehérvár

I have this same issue in india. Specifically upgraded to Xs for the dual sim. I use Jio as my physical sim and airtel as my esim. The problem is both the sim drops network anytime and frequently, so frequent that i am not able to make any calls and cannot use data. Even after having all network bars I am not able to receice calls. I have to manually restart my phone everytime. What temporary solution I had is to use only one sim that is airtel(esim) meaning my updgrading to Xs is just a waste of money.

Mar 23, 2019 11:33 PM in response to markfromszékesfehérvár

I had the same problem with an eSim installed for my (EU) country of residence and a "hard" sim for another EU country that I visit for extended periods of time. I had installed both data plans in my first country. Everything worked fine for both sims, until the day I traveled to my "second" country, then that sim stopped receiving calls.


The solution for me was to go to Settings>Mobile Data>[Data plan for second country] and toggle "Turn On This Line" to off and back to on again. That was all. Maybe this can help someone in a similar situation.

iphone xs max dual sim problem: second sim card gets disconnected

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