How do I juggle multiple eSIMs on a trip between different countries?

Managing multiple eSIMs on a trip between different countries can be very convenient, allowing you to switch between local carriers without changing physical SIM cards. Here’s how you can effectively juggle multiple eSIMs on your trip:

1. **Install All eSIMs Before Your Trip**
– **Install all the eSIMs** for the countries you plan to visit before leaving. You can install multiple eSIM profiles on your phone but activate only one at a time.
– Each eSIM will be inactive until you manually enable it when needed.

2. **Label Each eSIM**
– After installation, label each eSIM with the country or purpose (e.g., “Italy,” “Japan,” “Work”) so you can easily identify them later.
– On **iPhone**: Go to **Settings > Cellular > Cellular Plans**, tap the eSIM, and choose **Label Cellular Plan**.
– On **Android**: Go to **Settings > Network & Internet > SIMs**, then select the eSIM and label it.

3. **Switch Between eSIMs**
When you arrive in a new country, you can switch between eSIMs by following these steps:

For iPhone:
1. **Open Settings**:
– Go to **Settings > Cellular** (or **Mobile Data**).

2. **Select the Desired eSIM**:
– Under **Cellular Plans**, choose the eSIM you want to activate by tapping it, and set it as the **default line** for **data**, **calls**, and **texts**.

3. **Disable Other eSIMs**:
– For the eSIMs you’re not using, toggle off **Turn On This Line** to deactivate them.

For Android (Samsung/Google Pixel):
1. **Go to Settings**:
– Open **Settings > Connections** (or **Network & Internet**).

2. **Select SIM Card Manager (or SIMs)**:
– Choose **SIM card manager** and select the eSIM you want to activate for data and calling.

3. **Disable Other eSIMs**:
– Toggle off the inactive eSIMs and enable the one you need for the current country.

4. **Enable Data Roaming for International Use**
– If you are using an international eSIM, ensure **Data Roaming** is enabled to allow it to connect to local networks abroad:
– On iPhone: **Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Data Roaming**.
– On Android: **Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks > Data Roaming**.

5. **Monitor Data Usage**
– To avoid unexpected data charges, monitor your data usage for each eSIM:
– On iPhone: Go to **Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Usage**.
– On Android: Go to **Settings > Connections > Data Usage**.

6. **Download eSIM Provider Apps**
– Many eSIM providers, such as **Airalo** or **Holafly**, have apps where you can manage your plans and easily switch between eSIMs, check balances, and top up data.

7. **Use Wi-Fi to Save Data**
– Connect to Wi-Fi networks whenever possible (e.g., at hotels or airports) to conserve your data, especially if one of your eSIMs has limited data.

Example Scenario:
1. **Italy**: Upon arriving in Italy, you activate your “Italy” eSIM by selecting it as the default for data. Disable data on your “Japan” eSIM.
2. **Japan**: When you arrive in Japan, switch to your “Japan” eSIM by enabling it and disabling the “Italy” eSIM.

By following these steps, you can seamlessly juggle multiple eSIMs across different countries, ensuring you stay connected without incurring roaming fees or having to swap physical SIM cards.