Table of Contents:
- Why might you need to disable your eSIM?
- How to turn off an eSIM on iPhones
- How to turn off an eSIM on Android devices
- Specific steps for Samsung devices
- Specific steps for Google Pixel devices
- What happens when you disable an eSIM?
- Does disabling an eSIM delete the profile?
- How can you reactivate a disabled eSIM?
- Troubleshooting eSIM deactivation issues
Turning off an eSIM, sometimes called disabling it, is really just a temporary pause. It tells your phone to stop using the mobile plan linked to that particular eSIM profile. You usually do this right in your phone's settings with a quick toggle switch. The important thing is that turning it off doesn't erase the eSIM profile itself. It stays safely stored on your device, ready for you to flip back on whenever you need it, no carrier call required.
Please note that all the plans of eSIM providers have an expiration date. And unless you have an automatic renewal process enabled, your eSIM won’t provide you any connectivity if your turn it back on after its expiration date.
Why might you need to disable your eSIM?
So, why would you want to switch off your eSIM temporarily? There are a few good reasons:
- Avoid roaming fees abroad - Switch off your home eSIM when traveling overseas to avoid surprise charges. You can pop in a local physical SIM or use a different travel eSIM instead
- Save a bit of battery - While eSIMs are pretty efficient, running multiple mobile connections can drain your battery faster. Turning off one you're not using might give you a little extra juice
- Force a network switch - Got multiple eSIMs or a physical SIM alongside an eSIM? Disabling one makes your phone rely on the other active connection for calls, texts, or data
- Fix connection hiccups - Sometimes, temporarily disabling an eSIM helps figure out network problems or conflicts if you have more than one SIM profile running
How to turn off an eSIM on iPhones
Switching off an eSIM on your iPhone is pretty simple. Just follow these taps:
- Head into the Settings app
- Tap on Cellular (or it might say Mobile Data depending on where you are)
- Look under the 'SIMs' or 'Data Plans' area and tap the specific eSIM plan you want to pause.
- Find the switch labeled "Turn On This Line"
- Flip that switch to the Off position. The line cuts off right away
You'll know it's off because it will usually look greyed out or say 'Off' next to it in your SIM list.
How to turn off an eSIM on Android devices
Turning off an eSIM on an Android phone can look a bit different depending on who made the phone (like Samsung or Google) and which Android version it's running.
Still, you'll generally find the option somewhere in the network or connection settings. For most standard Android setups, here’s the typical way:
- Open your main Settings app
- Go into Network & Internet or maybe Connections
- Find an option named something like SIMs, SIM card manager, or Mobile Network
- Choose the eSIM profile you're looking to disable from the list shown
- Look for a toggle, often called "Use SIM" or just labeled with the eSIM's name, and switch it to Off
Specific steps for Samsung devices
If you're using a Samsung phone, they usually have a dedicated spot for this:
- Open up Settings
- Tap on Connections
- Choose SIM card manager
- Spot the eSIM you want to switch off in the list
- Flip the toggle next to that eSIM profile to the Off setting
Specific steps for Google Pixel devices
On a Google Pixel, you'll likely find it under Network & Internet:
- Dive into Settings
- Tap Network & Internet
- Select Mobile Network (or sometimes it's directly called 'SIMs')
- Pick the eSIM profile you need to manage
- Toggle the "Use eSIM" (or similar) switch to Off
What happens when you disable an eSIM?
When you switch off an eSIM, the immediate change is that your device loses its connection to that specific mobile network. This means no calls, texts (SMS/MMS), or mobile data using that plan. Anything tied directly to that line goes inactive. If you have other SIMs active (like a physical card or another eSIM), your phone will usually just switch over to one of those working connections for service, based on how you've set your preferences for calls, texts, and data. Turning one eSIM off doesn't mess with your other active SIMs.
Does disabling an eSIM delete the profile?
Nope, turning off or disabling an eSIM does not delete the profile from your phone. That's a key difference to remember. Disabling is just a temporary pause for that line. The actual eSIM profile, which holds all your carrier and plan info, stays put on your phone's embedded SIM chip. That’s why you can easily turn it back on later.
Deleting an eSIM profile, on the other hand, completely removes it. Getting a deleted eSIM back usually means you have to contact your carrier and likely go through the setup again, often needing a new QR code or using their app.
How can you reactivate a disabled eSIM?
Turning a disabled eSIM back on is just as easy as turning it off – you just reverse the steps. Head back into the same settings menu:
- Go to your phone's Settings (Cellular/Mobile Data on iPhone, Network & Internet/Connections on Android)
- Find the SIM management area (like 'SIMs' or 'SIM card manager')
- Locate the specific eSIM profile that's currently off
- Tap the toggle switch ('Turn On This Line', 'Use eSIM', etc.) back to the On position
Your phone should reconnect to that mobile network pretty quickly, bringing back calls, texts, and data for that line.
Troubleshooting eSIM deactivation issues
Usually, turning an eSIM off is smooth sailing, handled by your phone's software. But sometimes, small hiccups can happen, though it's not common. Maybe the toggle switch lags a bit, or in rare moments, the phone might take a second to recognize your other active SIMs after you disable one. If you run into trouble turning off your eSIM or notice weird behavior afterward, here are a few basic things to try:
- Make sure your software is up to date - Check for any operating system updates for your phone; these often fix bugs related to mobile connections
- Give your device a restart - Simply turning your phone off and back on can clear up many temporary software glitches, including network setting issues
- Try toggling airplane mode - Flipping Airplane Mode on for about 10-15 seconds and then off again can sometimes reset the phone's connection to the mobile networks
- Get in touch with your carrier - If problems stick around, especially if you think the eSIM profile itself might be the issue or you just can't get it to toggle off, it's best to contact your mobile provider. They can check the profile status and walk you through any specific troubleshooting steps for your device or account.
