Does an eSIM always use SIM Slot 2?

funnygamer

My cell provider is asking for an IMEI during the eSIM setup process for a Pixel 7. Is the IMEI for SIM Slot 2 the right one to provide? Is it possible for an eSIM to use SIM Slot 1?

spiral

funnygamer
your cell provider should clarify which IMEI to provide. Usually in my experience you'll want to provide IMEI2.

IMEI2 (IMEI Sim slot 2) is your esim's IMEI.

Elizabeth_Loo

funnygamer Hello, It‘s important to understand that the main difference between eSIM and a physical SIM card is that it does not need an additional slot. The SIM card and eSIM can be activated simultaneously on the phone. On newer smartphones it’s possible to activate 2 eSIMs simultaneously and use them (models such as iPhone 13 and newer). To answer your question, since slot 1 on your phone is already occupied, the eSIM will be activated in slot 2. But it could be the other way around, if you only had the eSIM activated, it would be under slot 1. You can read more about how eSIM works in this article, there is an explanation from a technical point of view from professionals. I hope my answer will help you in solving your problem :)

Eagle_Owl

funnygamer

I also wanted to use Dual eSIM and fell for a lousy journalist who claimed in his report that Dual eSIM is already possible (it is not, it only works in a beta version).

The function of being able to use two eSIMs (in parallel) is only available from/with the beta software version with the build number: T3B2.230316.003. To get this, you must sign up/register for the Google beta programme. The version with the build number: TQ2A.230305.008.C1.2023032600, which is on your phone, is the official software version. The Dual eSIM function cannot be used here.

As soon as we receive the so-called feature drop from Google as one of the next official updates for Android 13, SIM slot 1 can also be addressed for the installation of a second eSIM profile.
Until then, every attempt to install an eSIM will end up in SIM slot 2.
Have tried it myself several times (now use physical SIM card temporarily for Dual SIM).

Eagle_Owl

funnygamer
Addendum (experience since buying a Pixel 8 Pro, which works in the same way as the other Pixel models from at least series 6 should theoretically work):
No, an eSIM doesn't use always SIM Slot 2.

If all works fine, the first SIM installation takes “slot” 1 of 2.
If that is an eSIM, then “slot” 1 is virtual or in other words, it find its place on a chip instead on a tray.
If you want to use no plastic, but two eSIMs, then the second eSIM gets “slot” 2 of 2.

spiral

Elizabeth_Loo But it could be the other way around, if you only had the eSIM activated, it would be under slot 1.

I have only used esims on multiple pixel devices and these esims have only ever been in slot 2, never slot 1.

galaxyegg

Well I've just activated an esim on a pixel 4a. I took out my physical sim to activate it, which I thought you had to do to activate an esim. This is probably the wrong thing to do, because I put the physical sim back in and it is out of service.

I suspect that the IMEI of the empty physical sim slot was used for the esim and now I can't use the physical sim for that reason.. It did not ask me about IMEI's

If I delete the esim is it easy to re-add it again using the QR code, assuming that the phone will let you add an esim with a physical sim in there too?

galaxyegg

update:
I dialled ##4636## and it showed me that in SIM 0 I have the physical Sim on 'no network' and the voice 'out of service'. SIM 1 I have the esim which is all working but gives an error when you toggle the esim off. DSDS is on on both. There are different IMEI's for both

If I delete the esim is it possible to re-add it again using the QR code, assuming that the phone will let you add an esim with a physical sim in there too? Will doing that even help me?

galaxyegg

Yet another update. I fixed it by turning the sandboxed sim management back on (it must go off after a reboot). That enabled me to turn off the e-sim. The physical sim still wasn't in service until I rebooted the phone. Then I turned the esim back on and both sims are now in service. Hope that helps anyone with this problem

de0u

galaxyegg Thanks for reporting back! I suspect a lot of people would not have known those steps would be necessary.

[deleted]

galaxyegg I fixed it by turning the sandboxed sim management

Its not sandboxed, but privileged

Eagle_Owl

spiral
Perhaps Google has changed this as of Android 14?

Have you ever used Dual eSIM?
Maybe it's like my Pixel 7 Pro, which doesn't support Dual eSIM, even though Google says it should have been able to for a long time. There, eSIM only ever works in slot 2.

spiral

Eagle_Owl

Duel esim works on pixel 8