2 lines on iPhone 12 Pro Max -

[ImDrRichard]

Apparently, Verizon forgot how to do this because I have had two lines (personal & business numbers) on my iPhones for several years. One is via SIM and the other is by eSim.

After 2 days of trying to deal with tech support at Verizon, they have no clue as to how to add a 2nd line to my new iPhone 12 Pro Max (512gb). I just don't get it.

Is a call with Apple warranted, to find out something that Verizon doesn't know?

Thanks and regards,

Rich

 

[ferrarr]

Without knowing what you have tried, did you see this?

Using Dual SIM with an eSIM - Apple Support

Set up and use Dual SIM.

support.apple.com

 

[ImDrRichard]

Yes. Apparently the eSim1 is where the difficulty is and it has been renamed the "Digital Sim."

Thanks for your reply.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Maybe point the Verizon folks to their FAQ page for help?

Using 2 numbers on 1 phone FAQs (Dual SIM) | Verizon Customer Support

iPhone's dual SIM with an eSIM provides the option for two different phone numbers on a single device. Use one SIM when travelling internationally. Learn more.

www.verizon.com

 

[ImDrRichard]

Sorry, you can switch between lines by touching the label of the line you're currently using. Nothing about national/international, etc.

 

[MacInWin]

What I have setup is a SIM from EE, in the UK, and Verizon in the eSIM. To get this to work, I got on a chat line with a Verizon tech rep through www.verizonwireless.com. She was able to move my Verizon from the SIM to the eSIM with her access. Took about 10 minutes to accomplish. Then I removed the Verizon SIM and put in the EE SIM and activated it myself. Now the EE is turned off until I travel again, at which time I'll turn off Verizon and turn on EE through Settings/Cellular Plans. You should be able to do the same, just have two Verizon numbers instead of one Verizon and one EE. In fact, there is a way to do it yourself, I think, with the "Add Cellular Plan" button in Settings/Cellular on the iPhone. But I've not used that, so I don't know if it works all that well.

 

[ImDrRichard]

Once you hit Add Cellular Plan it is supposed to produce the number of an eSim - it won't. It was explained to me that "this is Verizon's first go at the iPhone 12 AND 5G" so they produced a ticket and kicked it upstairs to the Verizon/iPhone department so they could figure out exactly how to make it create an eSim.

Waaaayyyy beyond my pay grade.

 

[MacInWin]

Once you hit Add Cellular Plan it is supposed to produce the number of an eSim - it won't. It was explained to me that "this is Verizon's first go at the iPhone 12 AND 5G" so they produced a ticket and kicked it upstairs to the Verizon/iPhone department so they could figure out exactly how to make it create an eSim.

Waaaayyyy beyond my pay grade.

Sorry, but that's a BS answer from Verizon. Try it again and push for someone who knows what they are doing. I had two lines in my 11 and now in my 12, so this is definitely NOT Verizons first go.

 

[ImDrRichard]

Can you tell me how they second line was added please?

Rich

 

[MacInWin]

The tech asked for the phone number, then, as I recall, the IMEI of the phone or the EID or the MEID or the physical SIM number (Can't remember, all three are available on Settings/General/About). Then a few taps on the keyboard (hers) and it was done. Pretty straightforward. When I went to the chat line, I asked for someone who could activate my phone and got her that way.

 

[ImDrRichard]

Yep. That's what's going on here, but according to them they get no response. I guess you got a better-trained tech than the 6 or so I've talked to in the last 3 days. I'm also going to try to chat with apple later, but I don't think that will get me anywhere either.

Boy do I wish I could talk to the tech you talked to.

Rich

 

[ImDrRichard]

Jake -

Just got off the phone with Apple Support. They told me you can't have two lines on the same phone with 5G! The tech said, if you want two lines, please put in your sim card from the 11 Pro Max and you will have 4G and two lines. Then she said that I might want to get 2 nano sim cards. This is crazy-making.

I think I'll leave this to Verizon to someday have an answer.

Rich

 

[MacInWin]

Jake -

Just got off the phone with Apple Support. They told me you can't have two lines on the same phone with 5G! The tech said, if you want two lines, please put in your sim card from the 11 Pro Max and you will have 4G and two lines. Then she said that I might want to get 2 nano sim cards. This is crazy-making.

I think I'll leave this to Verizon to someday have an answer.

Rich

Well, I don’t know what to say. I have two accounts, albeit my home area has no 5G yet. But I don’t see how that is an issue. Very strange. Still sounds like BS to me, but if it were me, I’d keep pushing. Maybe change one number away from Verizon?.

 

[ImDrRichard]

Jake - Can you please tell me how you got in touch with Verizon? I think you said you were on an Apple chat board?

 

[MacInWin]

Nothing strange. I went to Verizon wireless.com, logged in, started a chat and asked for a tech rep.

 

[ImDrRichard]

I'll try that next. Thank you.

 

[ferrarr]

Jake - Can you please tell me how you got in touch with Verizon? I think you said you were on an Apple chat board?

See reply #6.

 

[davefor]

To use EE Business SIM Only as an example the process is fairly simple. First the primary number and plan is activated on the physical SIM as normal. Then, the provider of the secondary number provides an eSIM and you scan the QR code using the handset to complete activation as per here from the Apple site:

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT209044

 

[MacInWin]

@davefor, that is the process I described in Post #6 earlier. I started with Verizon, moved it to eSIM through Verizon, then put the EE PAYG SIM in the SIM tray and activated that. Now, as I said, the EE is dormant but ready for me to travel again. The EE PAYG SIM cannot be moved to eSIM, which is why Verizon is the eSIM. You do have to be careful about what can and cannot go in eSIM.

 

[davefor]

@davefor, that is the process I described in Post #6 earlier. I started with Verizon, moved it to eSIM through Verizon, then put the EE PAYG SIM in the SIM tray and activated that. Now, as I said, the EE is dormant but ready for me to travel again. The EE PAYG SIM cannot be moved to eSIM, which is why Verizon is the eSIM. You do have to be careful about what can and cannot go in eSIM.

That makes sense to me. It's a shame that EE don't allow you to use an eSIM on pay as you go as it sounds like that would have been much easier for you. I'm glad you go it sorted out in the end.