How to use iMessage with a travel eSIM? ⋆

How to use iMessage with a travel eSIM?

Using a travel eSIM when traveling does not mean that your contact number has to change. You can retain your primary phone number on your messaging and social apps while using your travel eSIM for data and connectivity. iMessage travel eSIM

But if you have installed an eSIM, and noticed that the phone number of your iMessage has changed, fret not—it is likely to just be an issue with the settings that can be quickly fixed!

What is iMessage? Are they the same as SMS/MMS?

For iPhone users, iMessage is almost synonymous to SMS or MMS, but are they the same?

Fundamentally, iMessages are texts, photos, or videos you can send to another Apple device (iPhone / iPad / Mac), and the messages are sent over the internet using either WiFi or mobile data. Messages sent via iMessage will consume your mobile data (if WiFi is not available). These messages are not encrypted and appear in blue text bubbles in your Message app.

Key features of iMessage include:

End-to-end encryption: iMessage messages are encrypted end-to-end, meaning that only the sender and recipient can read them. This ensures that your messages are secure and private.
Blue bubbles: iMessage messages appear in blue bubbles on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. SMS messages appear in green bubbles. This helps you quickly see which type of message you are receiving.
Rich features: iMessage supports a variety of rich features, such as sending and receiving photos, videos, and documents. You can also use iMessage to send voice messages, stickers, and animated GIFs.
Handoff: iMessage supports Handoff, which allows you to start a conversation on your iPhone and then continue it on your iPad or Mac. This makes it easy to keep in touch with people, even when you are using different devices.
Tapbacks: iMessage supports tapbacks, which allow you to quickly respond to a message with a thumbs up, thumbs down, heart, or other emoji.
Multiple device support: iMessage works seamlessly across all of your Apple devices, including your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. This means that you can always access your conversations and keep in touch with the people you care about.

On the other hand, SMS and MMS are messages that you can send to other devices (including non-Apple devices). SMS/MMS will be sent via cell and will draw from the SMS/MMS quota of your phone plan. These messages are not encrypted and appear in green text bubbles in your Message app.

Checking your iMessage settings

Installing a travel eSIM in a secondary eSIM slot on your device does not change nor deactivate your primary line and phone number.

However, some people might have faced a problem where, after the installation of an eSIM, you can no longer send or receive messages on your iMessage or your phone number has changed. This is often a result of an incorrect setting.

Run through a couple of checks on your iPhone to confirm that the settings are correct:

On your iPhone, go to Settings > Messages.
Check that iMessage is turned on.
Check that the correct line has been selected for ‘Send & Receive’ under iMessage & FaceTime.
Ensure that the line selected is your primary line (i.e., the one that you usually use). Sometimes, upon installation of a new eSIM, your device might automatically update this setting to the newly installed eSIM.
If the eSIM that has been configured for iMessage and FaceTime is incorrect, select the option ‘Send & Receive’, and choose the correct line.
You should now be able to use your iMessage and FaceTime as normal.
If you are still unable to do so, restart your device.

Tips for eSIM management and iMessage configuration

To avoid confusion when configuring your iMessage when using a travel eSIM, here are some tips and best practices:

Name your SIM cards and eSIMs: while naming your eSIMs may seem trivial, it is a simple trick for eSIM management and will help to avoid confusion about which eSIM has been configured for your messaging apps.
Add your Apple ID and email address to your iMessage: If you have set up your Apple ID and email address, you will have the option of sending and receiving messages using your email address. This way, you will not need to worry about your messages being lost, even if you change numbers.
Disable ‘Send as SMS’ option while overseas: Again, this might seem like a trivial step. However, disabling this option will help you avoid accidentally incurring overseas SMS charges in case your iMessage wasn’t configured correctly or if you are sending a message to another device that doesn’t have iMessage available.