Can I still receive calls on my normal number?
Yes, if your phone supports two active lines and you leave the home line on. Switch off just that line's roaming data and set mobile data to the travel profile. Calls and SMS still arrive, but what your operator charges for receiving them while roaming is their rate, so check it with them first.
A common worry when switching data over to an eSIM while travelling is missing an important call on the home number, or a verification text that still needs that number to work. The good news is this does not require choosing one over the other. If the phone supports two active lines at once, both can stay on simultaneously — the trick is dividing up which line does which job clearly.
This page explains how to set things up so the home line keeps receiving calls and texts normally while all data runs through the eSIM. Anyone whose phone does not support two active lines at once will find the alternatives that are realistically available, and the page closes with the matter of what your own home operator charges for receiving calls while roaming — something set by them, not by us or by the eSIM plan.
Check first whether the phone supports two active lines at once
Not every phone supports keeping two lines switched on at the same time, all the time. Some models support one physical SIM alongside one eSIM profile; others support several eSIM profiles installed at once but only two truly active simultaneously; and some can only have one line switched on at a time even with multiple profiles installed. This depends on the phone model and operating-system version — there is no single answer that applies to every device.
Before planning around this, it is worth confirming your own phone's specifications first. Our device compatibility checker gives an initial read on whether a phone supports an eSIM alongside a physical SIM, but the specifics of exactly how many lines can be active at once are worth confirming directly against that model's own specifications as well.
Dividing the job between the two lines
The core idea is to let the home line keep doing what it always does — receiving calls and texts — with minimal interference, while the eSIM line's only job is carrying data. This means there is no need to change the number anyone has been given, while data still runs through the travel plan instead of the home line's often costly roaming data, at the same time.
In practice there are only two things to do: turn off data roaming specifically for the home line, and point mobile data at the eSIM line instead. There is no need to switch the home line off entirely, since making and receiving calls and texts do not rely on data roaming at all — they run on an entirely separate system.
Steps to set this up
- 1Install the eSIM profile while leaving the home line onFollow the normal installation steps without turning the home line off during the process.
- 2Open mobile data settingsChoose the eSIM line as the primary line for mobile data.
- 3Turn off data roaming for the home line onlyGo to the home line's own roaming switch specifically, confirm the line's name before turning it off, and do not accidentally turn off the eSIM line's instead.
- 4Turn on data roaming for the eSIM line as usualComplete the standard four basic checks for getting the eSIM working normally.
- 5Test by calling the home number from a second phoneAsk someone else to call the home number to confirm it still rings through normally.
What still works normally, and what now runs through the eSIM instead
| Function | Which line handles it after setup |
|---|---|
| Receiving calls | The home line, working as usual |
| Receiving texts | The home line, working as usual |
| Browsing, maps, chat apps, and anything using the internet | The eSIM line, through the travel plan |
| Making calls from the home number | The home line, but check the cost of calling out while roaming with your home operator first |
What it costs to receive calls while roaming is your home operator's rate
Even with data roaming turned off on the home line, receiving calls and texts through it is still, technically, voice roaming, and the rate charged for it follows your own home operator's own terms — not something the eSIM plan or we can set. Some operators may not charge for receiving calls at all; others may charge according to a separate voice-roaming plan you have signed up for.
How this differs between iOS and Android
The idea of dividing the job between two lines is the same on both operating systems, but the menu wording and location can differ. Some versions label them a primary and a secondary line; others let you pick a data line separately from a default calling line explicitly. It is worth checking the actual phone in hand for which wording it uses, rather than relying on generic menu names written in a guide.
Common mistakes worth avoiding
The most common mistake is turning off data roaming on the wrong line, for instance switching off the eSIM line's roaming instead of the home line's, leaving data unusable when only the home line was meant to be affected. Another is forgetting to check which line mobile data points to after installing a new profile — some phones reset this back to the home line automatically every time a new profile is installed.
Another mistake is leaving automatic data-switching between lines turned on, which can silently switch data back to the home line when the eSIM line's signal briefly weakens, triggering unintended data-roaming charges on the home line. It is worth turning that option off for the whole trip to be safe.
The effect on battery when two lines stay active at once
Keeping two lines active at once means the phone constantly searches for and maintains a connection to two networks simultaneously, which draws more power than running a single line. How much this affects battery life varies by phone model and by how strong the network coverage is in the area — there is no fixed percentage that applies to every phone, but it is reasonable to expect the battery to run down somewhat faster than usual while both lines are active.
How to confirm the setup genuinely worked
Asking someone to call in for a real test is the most direct check, but if there is a wish to verify further without troubling anyone, open the phone lines settings page and confirm both lines show as ready at the same time, rather than one showing off or unattached to any network. If the home line's own signal-bar icon still appears normally, that is a good sign it remains attached to a network.
Another way to confirm is sending a test text from a second number to the home line and checking whether it arrives within a normal amount of time. If it arrives unusually late, or not at all, that can be a sign the home line has trouble attaching to a network in that area — a separate issue from the two-line division of labour described on this page.
If the phone does not support two active lines at once
Some phone models can only have one line switched on at a time, even with both the home line and the eSIM installed. In that case, receiving calls and texts on the home line simply will not work while the eSIM line is active. The realistic alternatives are using an internet-based messaging app in place of texts, such as a chat app people already use, or asking your home operator about temporarily forwarding calls to another number while travelling.
Pros
- Data still runs fully through the travel plan without touching the home line
- No need to change the number given out to anyone
Cons
- Cannot receive calls or texts on the home line while the eSIM line is active
- Has to rely on chat apps or temporary call forwarding instead
Comparing approaches by what the phone can do
| What the phone supports | Recommended approach |
|---|---|
| Supports two active lines at once | Keep both lines on, dividing the job as described on this page |
| Can only have one line on at a time | Use a chat app in place of texts, or ask your home operator about temporary call forwarding |
| Unsure which category the phone falls into | Check with the device compatibility tool and the model's own specifications before travelling |
A checklist before departure
- Confirmed whether the phone supports two active lines at once
- Mobile data is set to point at the eSIM line
- Data roaming is off for the home line, not the eSIM line
- Automatic data-switching between lines is turned off
- Asked the home operator about their rate for receiving calls while roaming
- Tested by having someone call the home number before actually departing
If everything is set up but calls still are not coming through
If everything on this page has been set up but the home line still is not receiving calls, it may have nothing to do with the two-line setup at all, and instead be a signal problem with the home line itself failing to attach to a network abroad. Try troubleshooting the home line's own signal separately, since it is a different cause from the eSIM line's data setup.
When it is worth contacting support
If everything on this page has been checked and a problem still remains, or the exact way your own phone supports two active lines is unclear, reach out to support through LINE chat or email, mentioning the phone model and operating system so the check can be more precise.
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Do I need a separate eSIM for each line if I want two active at once+
No. Your existing line can be a physical SIM or an existing eSIM either way; the new eSIM bought from us simply acts as the second line, dedicated to travel data.
If data roaming is off on the home line, can I still use WiFi with it normally+
Yes. WiFi is entirely separate from a cellular network's data roaming, so turning off data roaming has no effect on a WiFi connection at all.
Why do SMS verification codes to the home line sometimes arrive slower than usual while roaming+
Some delay in SMS while roaming is a known, ordinary occurrence, since the text has to route through a partner network abroad before reaching the phone. If the wait is unusually long, check whether the home line is still attached to a network at all.
Can I switch back to the home line for data mid-trip+
Yes, simply switch mobile data back to point at the home line. Do check your home operator's own data-roaming rate before turning that line's roaming on, though, since it is often considerably more expensive than a travel plan.
Do I need to turn the eSIM off once I am back home+
There is no need to delete the profile. It is worth switching that line's status off once home, though, so the phone stops trying to attach to a foreign network unnecessarily and draining battery on the attempt.
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