eSIM Profile Limits: How Many You Can Store and Use

A single iPhone can store 8 or more eSIM profiles, but under the baseline GSMA SGP.22 v2.x standard, only one can be active at a time. iPhone 13 and later support dual eSIM — two profiles active simultaneously — and Android 13 and later support MEP (Multiple Enabled Profiles), which also enables multiple simultaneous active profiles on a single eUICC chip. When storage is full, you must delete a profile before adding a new one; whether you can recover a deleted profile depends on your provider’s reinstallation policy. For a direct comparison of how eSIM handles profiles relative to physical SIM cards, see Physical SIM vs eSIM.

Storage Limit vs. Activation Limit: Two Different Things

When people ask “how many eSIMs can I have,” there are two separate questions with two different answers:

1. How many profiles can I store? — This is the storage limit, determined by the eUICC chip’s memory.
2. How many profiles can be active (in use) at the same time? — This is the activation limit, determined by the GSMA specification version and device model.

Understanding both is essential before you install profiles, because running out of storage forces a deletion decision that may be irreversible.

How Many eSIM Profiles Can You Store?

The Specification Has No Fixed Number

The GSMA SGP.22 specification — which governs eSIM on consumer devices — does not set a fixed upper limit on the number of profiles an eUICC can store. The practical limit is the available memory on the eUICC chip, which varies by device model.

iPhone: 8 or More

Apple states on its official support page that iPhone can store 8 or more eSIM profiles. The exact number depends on the specific model’s eUICC chip. Apple does not publish a per-model breakdown beyond this figure.

This means you can install profiles from your home carrier, a work carrier, and several travel eSIM providers — all stored simultaneously — and switch between them from Settings without reinstalling.

Android: Varies by Device

Android devices do not share a single manufacturer-published storage figure. Storage capacity depends on the eUICC chip inside each device. Android manufacturers — including Google, Samsung, Motorola, and others — do not universally publish a per-model storage limit. The storage capacity for specific models such as Pixel 4a and Pixel 5 is not officially published per model. Check the specification sheet or support page for your specific model.

The Practical Takeaway

For most users, 8 or more stored profiles is enough to maintain a home plan, a work plan, and several travel eSIMs across different regions, all pre-installed and ready to activate without reinstalling.

To check whether your device supports eSIM and how to confirm it has eUICC hardware, see eSIM-Compatible Devices and How to Check Yours.

How Many eSIMs Can Be Active at Once?

SGP.22 v2.x: One Active Profile at a Time

Under GSMA SGP.22 v2.x — the version that covers the vast majority of eSIM-capable devices sold through 2023 — a single eUICC can have only one profile in the Enabled (active) state at any moment. All other stored profiles are in a Disabled state: they remain on the chip and can be switched to, but they are not transmitting or receiving data until activated.

Switching the active profile is done through the device’s Settings app. On iPhone: Settings → Cellular → [select a stored plan] → Turn On This Line. The switch takes effect within seconds.

This one-at-a-time restriction is why dual-SIM configurations on earlier eSIM phones used one physical SIM plus one eSIM — a physical SIM for one line and a single active eSIM for the other.

SGP.22 v3.0: MEP Allows Multiple Active Profiles

GSMA SGP.22 v3.0 introduced MEP (Multiple Enabled Profiles) as an optional feature. MEP allows more than one eSIM profile to be in the Enabled state simultaneously on a single eUICC — meaning a device with no physical SIM slot can function as a dual-SIM or multi-SIM phone using only eSIM profiles.

MEP is optional: a device manufacturer must choose to implement it. Not every device released after v3.0 supports MEP.

For a broader overview of how the SGP.22 specification versions relate to consumer device features, see What Is an eSIM?.

MEP on Android

Android 13 and MEP

Android 13 introduced OS-level MEP (Multiple Enabled Profiles) support that is variant-independent — meaning the OS can handle multiple simultaneously active profiles on a single eUICC regardless of which specific MEP variant the hardware implements.

Android 14 introduced named support for MEP-A1 and MEP-B as defined in GSMA SGP.22 v3.0. MEP-A1 enables two eSIM profiles to be active simultaneously on a single eUICC; MEP-B is the second variant. The AOSP (Android Open Source Project) documentation covering MEP support is available at the Android Open Source Project site.

What MEP Means in Practice

On Android phones with MEP support:

• Two eSIM profiles can be active simultaneously — each on its own data and voice session
• No physical SIM slot is required for dual-SIM operation
• eSIM-only flagship Android devices (such as US-market Pixel 10 models) can operate as full dual-SIM devices

On Android phones without MEP support — including most devices running Android 12 or earlier, and some Android 13/14 devices whose hardware does not include MEP — only one eSIM profile can be active at a time, even if the OS supports MEP.

Dual eSIM on iPhone

iPhone 13 and Later: Two Simultaneous eSIMs

Starting with iPhone 13 (2021) and iPhone SE 3rd generation, Apple implemented dual eSIM support — two eSIM profiles active at the same time, with no physical SIM required.

Source: Apple Support — Learn which type SIM your iPhone or iPad uses

Stored Profiles vs. Active Profiles on Dual eSIM iPhone

Even on dual eSIM iPhones, the 8-or-more storage limit still applies to the total number of stored profiles. The change is in the activation limit: you can now have two profiles in the Enabled state simultaneously rather than one.

The remaining stored profiles (profiles 3 through 8+) stay Disabled and can be switched to at any time.

For configuration details — line labels, default data line, Allow Cellular Data Switching, and per-contact line assignment — see Dual SIM Setup on iPhone.

What Happens When Storage Is Full

You Must Delete Before Adding

If you attempt to add a new eSIM profile when the storage limit is reached, your device will prompt you to delete an existing profile to make room. There is no way to exceed the eUICC’s storage capacity.

Deletion May Be Permanent

This is the most consequential aspect of storage limits. Deleting an eSIM profile removes it from the eUICC. Whether you can reinstall the same profile depends entirely on your carrier or eSIM provider:

• Home carrier plans: Most carriers allow re-provisioning via their app or website. Some charge a re-issue fee. Check your carrier’s policy.
• Travel eSIM providers: Many third-party travel eSIM providers do not allow reinstallation after deletion. Once deleted, the profile cannot be re-downloaded from the same QR code or activation link — a new purchase is required.

Before deleting any eSIM profile, confirm the provider’s reinstallation policy. If the provider does not allow reinstallation, consider whether you still need that profile before removing it.

If you need to add a profile again after deleting it, you will have to re-enter the activation details provided by your carrier. For a step-by-step walkthrough of that process, see Set Up eSIM with a Manual Code (SM-DP+ Address).

Managing Multiple Profiles Efficiently

Naming and Labeling

Both iPhone and most Android devices let you rename stored eSIM profiles. Giving each profile a recognizable label — such as “Home”, “Work”, “Japan Data”, or “EU Travel” — makes switching faster and reduces errors, especially when several profiles are stored.

On iPhone: Settings → Cellular → [tap a plan] → Cellular Plan Label.

Turning Off Lines Without Deleting

On iPhone, you can turn a line off without deleting the eSIM profile. Go to Settings → Cellular → [tap a plan] → Turn On This Line (toggle off). The profile stays stored on the device and can be re-enabled at any time without reinstalling. This is useful for plans you do not use regularly but want to keep available.

Disabling vs. Deleting

For plans you are finished with permanently — such as a used travel eSIM — deletion frees storage space. For plans you might use again, disabling is safer than deleting.

Profile Lifecycle: When to Add, When to Disable, When to Delete

Before You Install a New Profile

Confirm two things before downloading a new eSIM profile:

1. Is there storage space? On iPhone, you can check the number of stored profiles at Settings → Cellular — each installed plan is listed. If you are close to 8, assess which profiles you no longer need before adding another.
2. What is the provider’s reinstallation policy? If you may need to delete a profile in the future, know in advance whether you can re-download it or whether deletion is permanent.

Profiles You Are Actively Using

Keep these enabled. If you are using dual eSIM (iPhone 13+ or an Android device with MEP), two profiles can be enabled simultaneously. Switching the default data line is done at Settings → Cellular → Cellular Data on iPhone.

Profiles You Use Occasionally (e.g., Travel Plans with Remaining Data)

Disable rather than delete. Disabling a line removes it from active use without touching the stored profile. The data balance on prepaid travel eSIMs is tied to the carrier’s backend, not to the profile state on your device — disabling the line does not forfeit unused data, but verify the provider’s data expiry terms, as prepaid data has a validity period set by the carrier.

Profiles You Are Finished With

Delete to free storage. Before deleting:

• Confirm you have used all remaining data if it is a prepaid plan.
• Confirm the provider’s reinstallation policy (can you re-download if needed?).
• If using iPhone: consider using eSIM Quick Transfer to move the profile to a new device before deleting from the old one.

Comparison: Storage and Activation Limits by Platform

Sources: Apple Support (support.apple.com/en-us/118569), Android Open Source Project (source.android.com/docs/core/connect/esim-mep), GSMA SGP.22 specification.

Key Facts Summary

• Storage limit: Hardware-determined; the GSMA specification sets no fixed upper limit. Apple states 8 or more on iPhone; per-model figures for Android devices are generally not officially published.
• One active at a time (SGP.22 v2.x): The baseline standard allows only one Enabled profile on a single eUICC. All others are Disabled until you switch.
• Dual eSIM (iPhone 13+): Two profiles active simultaneously. No physical SIM required on eSIM-only models.
• MEP (Android 13+): Multiple Enabled Profiles from SGP.22 v3.0. Android 13 introduced OS-level MEP support (variant-independent); Android 14 introduced named MEP-A1 and MEP-B support as defined in GSMA SGP.22 v3.0. Device must implement MEP in hardware.
• Deleting to make room: Required when storage is full. Deletion may be irreversible — check provider policy before proceeding.
• Disabling without deleting: Available on iPhone; keeps the profile on-device without consuming an active slot.

To find carriers and travel eSIM providers that support eSIM in your destination, use the eSIM filter on SimFinder.

Related Guides

• What Is an eSIM? — How eUICC works, the SGP.22 standard, and profile downloading
• eSIM-Compatible Devices and How to Check Yours — Which iPhones and Android phones support eSIM, and how to verify your device
• Physical SIM vs eSIM: Differences and How to Choose — Side-by-side comparison of both technologies across all key dimensions
• Set Up eSIM with a Manual Code (SM-DP+ Address) — How to enter eSIM activation details manually when a QR code is unavailable or after re-adding a deleted profile
• Dual SIM Setup on iPhone: Complete Configuration Guide — Line labels, default data line, and per-contact assignment for dual eSIM