How to turn off an eSIM on iPhone is a reversible settings change: disable the line while keeping its eSIM profile on the device. That is useful after a trip, between destinations or when you want to stop a travel line from registering on a network. It is different from deleting the eSIM. If you are searching how to turn on eSIM on iPhone later, you can return to the same screen and enable the line again.
Open Settings → Cellular or Mobile Service, tap the eSIM line and switch off Turn On This Line. Do not choose Delete eSIM. To resume it, open the same line and switch Turn On This Line back on. If you want the eSIM to carry data, also select it under Cellular Data and confirm the provider's roaming instruction.
Turning a line off versus deleting it
| Action | Profile on iPhone? | Can you reverse it on the phone? |
|---|---|---|
| Turn off the line | Yes | Usually, by switching Turn On This Line back on. |
| Switch mobile data | Yes | Yes, by choosing another line under Cellular Data. |
| Delete eSIM | No | Not by a simple toggle; reinstallation depends on the provider. |
Use the temporary off switch when you are deciding what to do, when a plan may be useful again or when you want to keep recovery simple. Deleting a profile can make a one-time QR code unusable or require provider support. Our guide to removing an eSIM from iPhone covers that irreversible decision separately.
Before you turn off the eSIM
Identify the line first. Open Settings → Cellular or Mobile Service and read the labels. If you have a home SIM and one or more travel profiles, tap the line to confirm its number, carrier or label. Rename it to something clear if necessary, such as “Travel data” or the destination.
- Check the current data line: open Cellular Data and note which plan is carrying internet traffic before you change it.
- Save provider details: keep the activation email and support route, especially if the profile might be needed again.
- Consider calls and SMS: turning a line off can stop that line from receiving service. Choose whether your home number needs to remain active.
- Review roaming: turning a travel line off is not a replacement for checking data roaming on the home line. Keep settings deliberate on both lines.
If the eSIM is already installed but has no connection, first check the data selector, coverage and the provider's network instruction. Use our eSIM troubleshooting guide before you remove a profile that may still be recoverable.
How to turn off an eSIM on iPhone
Apple can change labels slightly across iOS versions, regions and languages. The following route describes the setting you are looking for, not a guarantee that every word will match your screen.
Open Cellular settings
Go to Settings → Cellular or Mobile Service. Wait for the line list to appear and avoid tapping the first line automatically.
Tap the eSIM line
Select the travel or secondary line you want to pause. Confirm its label and details before changing the switch.
Switch off Turn On This Line
Use the line toggle. If iOS asks you to confirm, accept only when the selected line is the one you intend to pause. Leave Delete eSIM untouched.
The line may disappear from the status area or show as inactive. That is expected. Your iPhone can still use another enabled line or Wi-Fi. If the eSIM was the only enabled mobile-data line, select another one before leaving Wi-Fi.
How to turn on an eSIM on iPhone again
When you need the line again, open Settings → Cellular or Mobile Service, tap the saved eSIM and switch on Turn On This Line. Give it a moment to register. If you want the eSIM to supply internet, go to Cellular Data and select it there as well. Turning on the line does not necessarily make it the data line.
After switching it on, follow the plan's own roaming instruction. Some travel eSIMs need a roaming setting on the travel line; your home line may have a different rule. Do not copy a roaming instruction from one line to another without checking. Once the line is enabled and selected, test with a small web page or map search.
How to switch eSIM data lines on iPhone
To switch eSIM data on iPhone, go to Settings → Cellular or Mobile Service → Cellular Data and select the line you want to carry internet traffic. If you see Allow Cellular Data Switching, turn it off while testing. Automatic switching can be convenient, but it makes a travel setup harder to audit when both lines are available.
Changing the data line does not delete or necessarily disable the other line. It only changes which enabled line is preferred for mobile data. If you want to pause the other line completely, return to that line's page and switch off Turn On This Line. Make one change at a time and test after each change.
For a full setup from the beginning, read how to use an eSIM for travel or how to install an eSIM on iPhone.
Three travel examples
After landing home: turn off the travel line if you may use it again, then select your home line for Cellular Data. Check the home carrier's roaming setting before using data.
Between countries: keep the travel profile installed, turn off the line you are leaving and enable the next line only after confirming its label and coverage. This is clearer than deleting profiles at the airport.
Keeping your usual number: leave the home line on for calls or messages if your carrier and phone support it, but choose the intended line under Cellular Data. Watch automatic switching and data-roaming settings on both lines.
There is no single correct arrangement. The important habit is to know which line is enabled, which line is carrying data and what each provider requires.
If the turn-off option is missing
Check that you opened the line's own page rather than the general Cellular Data screen. Search the Settings app for Cellular, Mobile Service or the line label. The switch may use a different translation or appear as a line-status control. Restart once if the profile was just installed or a software update has completed.
If the profile is not listed, it may not be installed on this iPhone. Do not scan an old QR code repeatedly. If the line is managed by a company or school, an administrator policy may control what you can change. For an activation or connection error, identify the line and contact the carrier or provider while connected to Wi-Fi.
Turning an iPhone eSIM off FAQ
How do I turn off an eSIM on iPhone temporarily?
Open Settings → Cellular or Mobile Service, tap the eSIM line and switch off Turn On This Line. The wording can vary by iOS version or language, but choose the line toggle rather than Delete eSIM.
How do I turn an eSIM back on on iPhone?
Go to Settings → Cellular or Mobile Service, tap the saved eSIM line and switch on Turn On This Line. If you also want it to carry data, select it under Cellular Data and check the provider's roaming instruction.
Is turning off an eSIM the same as deleting it?
No. Turning off the line is reversible and leaves the profile on the iPhone. Deleting the eSIM removes the profile and may require a new activation or QR code.
How do I switch eSIM data lines on iPhone?
Open Settings → Cellular or Mobile Service → Cellular Data and select the line you want to use. Turn off Allow Cellular Data Switching while you verify which line is carrying data.
Should I turn off my travel eSIM after a trip?
Turning off a finished travel line can keep it available without allowing it to connect, but check the plan's activation policy first. If you may need the profile again, turning it off is safer than deleting it.
Why can’t I see the option to turn off my eSIM?
The line may be labelled differently, the phone may be managed by an organization or the profile may not be installed as expected. Search Cellular settings, restart once and contact the carrier or provider if the line remains unavailable.
Guide note: A temporary line switch is reversible, but data-line and roaming choices still matter. Confirm the active line before using mobile data after every change.