eSIM in India: how to switch, and which phones have no SIM tray
Switching to eSIM in India means an app request, a call and a wait of up to two hours. Here is how Jio and Vi do it and which iPhones have no tray.
An eSIM is a SIM built into your phone, and in India you switch to one by requesting it in your carrier’s app, confirming on a phone call, then waiting. Jio makes you wait 2 hours before it calls. Vi bars SMS for 24 hours after activation. Plan the switch for a quiet day, not the morning you need a banking OTP.
What is an eSIM, and why would you want one?
Apple calls it an “industry-standard digital SIM” that lets you start a mobile plan without a physical nano-SIM. Its pitch is that an eSIM can’t be pulled out if your iPhone is lost or stolen, and you never wait for a card to arrive.
The trade is that you give up the quick swap. With a card you move the SIM to another phone in ten seconds. With an eSIM you ask your carrier to move it.
How do you switch to an eSIM on Jio or Vi?
Both start in the carrier’s own app and both ask for your phone’s EID, a 32-digit ID found in the phone’s settings or by dialling *#06#. Jio’s page describes a switch for existing Jio SIM users, so this converts the number you already have.
| Jio | Vi | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you start | MyJio app, “Switch to eSIM” | Vi app, Help, then Activate eSIM |
| What you need | Your phone’s EID, OTPs to your email and number | Your phone’s 32-digit EID, an OTP, a valid email on your account |
| The wait | 2-hour cooling period, then an automated call | Reply “eSIMY” to 199 within 15 minutes, then about 15 minutes before the profile can be added |
| If you miss a step | SMS “RECALL” to 199 for the call | The reply must go within 15 minutes |
| Catch | Call comes from +91 2235072222; press the number it asks for | SMS, including OTPs, is barred for 24 hours after activation. Not available in HP, JK, OR, NE and Assam |
The detail that catches people is Vi’s 15-minute window. Miss the “eSIMY” reply window and the request will likely need restarting. On Jio, if you miss the automated call after the cooling period, SMS “RECALL” to 199.
Jio says the 2-hour cooling period is required by DoT guidelines. Do the request on Wi-Fi, because Vi’s page asks for stable Wi-Fi while the profile downloads.
Which phones have no SIM tray at all?
The iPhone Air has no tray in India. Apple’s India page says it uses only eSIM and is “not compatible with physical SIM cards”. It supports two active eSIMs and can store eight or more profiles.
Our own pages show how the rest of Apple’s line-up splits. The iPhone Air page lists dual eSIM and no physical SIM, while the iPhone 17e and iPhone 18 Pro pages list a nano-SIM plus eSIM.
| Phone | SIM line on its page | Physical SIM tray? |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone Air | Dual eSIM (no physical SIM) | No |
| iPhone 17e | Nano-SIM + eSIM (supports dual eSIM) | Yes |
| iPhone 18 Pro | Nano-SIM + eSIM (supports dual eSIM) | Yes |
Weighing the two? Our iPhone 17e vs iPhone Air page puts them side by side. If you want a phone with a tray, the phone finder narrows the list. Check the SIM line on any phone’s page before you pay.
Is eSIM worth it for you?
Yes if you carry two numbers, or if you want a plan that survives a stolen phone. On an iPhone 17e you can keep your nano-SIM and add an eSIM, so both numbers can take calls and texts. Apple’s support page notes that the phone uses one mobile data network at a time.
No if you swap phones often, or if you rely on OTPs for banking. Vi’s 24-hour SMS bar after activation is a real problem for anyone who needs one that day.
One more caution from Apple’s India page: eSIM can be disabled on phones bought from some carriers, and not every carrier supports it. Ask yours before you buy.
Quick answers
Can I use a physical SIM and an eSIM together?
On phones with both, yes. Apple says two numbers can be active on supported iPhones and both can make and receive calls and texts. Only one mobile data network is used at a time.
What if I miss the confirmation call?
On Jio, SMS “RECALL” to 199 and the call is sent again, according to Jio’s eSIM page. Vi’s page gives no recall step, only a 15-minute limit on the “eSIMY” reply, so start the request again if it lapses.
Will an iPhone bought abroad work with an Indian eSIM?
Yes if it is unlocked, and a UAE or US iPhone 18 Pro is eSIM only, so you will need your carrier’s eSIM. We covered the price side in iPhone 18 Pro in Dubai or India.
