Keep Your Phone Number & Use an eSIM for Data (Yes, You Can!)

NIHAR VISPUTE

LAST UPDATED

July 14, 2025

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Can I Use My Regular Phone Number While Using an eSIM for Data? (The Answer is Yes!)

You’re standing on the digital brink of a travel revolution. You’ve heard the whispers of eSIM technology, the glorious promise of no more tiny plastic chips, no more airport kiosk queues, and no more heart-stopping roaming bills. You’re ready to click "buy" on a Journey eSIM for your upcoming trip to Italy, but a single, crucial question stops your finger mid-air, looming like a thundercloud over your sunny vacation plans:

"If I use this new eSIM thing… what happens to my phone number?"

It’s a thought steeped in genuine anxiety. Will your phone number just… disappear? Will your friends and family not be able to reach you? Will you miss that critical two-factor authentication code from your bank? Will your iMessage and WhatsApp suddenly stop working? It’s the fear of being digitally disconnected from the life you know, and it's the number one reason people hesitate to embrace the future of travel.

Let’s clear the air right now with the best news you’ll get all day. The answer to that question is a loud, resounding, and wonderful YES! You absolutely can use your regular phone number for calls and texts while using a Journey eSIM for all your data needs. This isn't a complicated workaround or a tech-wizard-level hack. It's a built-in feature of your modern smartphone, and it’s about to become your favorite travel superpower.

In this guide, we will pull back the curtain on the magic that makes this possible. We'll walk you through, step by step, how to set up your phone to be a dual-identity-wielding master of communication, and we'll show you why this capability is the single greatest game-changer for modern travelers.

The Magic Behind the Curtain: Understanding "Dual SIM, Dual Standby"

To understand how this works, you don’t need a degree in electrical engineering. You just need a simple analogy. Think of your modern smartphone (most iPhones since the XS and high-end Androids for the last several years) as having two brains that can work at the same time.

One brain is your Physical SIM card. This is the one you’ve known for years, the one from your home carrier (like AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone, etc.) that is tied to your phone number. Its main job is making and receiving phone calls and SMS texts.

The second brain is the eSIM. This is the digital, embedded brain that you can program with a new plan, like your data-only plan from Journey. Its main job will be to handle all the heavy lifting of the internet: maps, browsing, streaming, and social media.

The technology that lets these two brains work together is called "Dual SIM, Dual Standby" (DSDS). The "standby" part is the key. It means your phone can have both lines active and "listening" for signals simultaneously. It’s like having a two-lane highway into your phone. Calls and texts can come in on the "Home Number" lane, while all your internet traffic is cruising along in the fast, affordable "eSIM Data" lane. Your phone is smart enough to direct the traffic to the right place automatically. This incredible feature is explained in detail on Apple’s official support page about Using Dual SIM with an eSIM, a great resource for further technical reading.

So, when your mom calls your regular number from back home, the call comes through on the "Home Number" lane. Your phone rings, and you answer it. A moment later, when you open Google Maps to find the nearest gelato shop, your phone uses the "eSIM Data" lane to pull that information from the internet. Both are active, both are ready, and you get the best of both worlds.

Setting Up Your Dynamic Duo: A Step-by-Step Guide

Knowing it's possible is one thing; making it happen is the next step. The setup is incredibly straightforward and gives you complete control. Here’s how you do it.

First, you’ll need to install your Journey eSIM. If you haven’t done this before, we highly recommend following our detailed "How to Install Your Journey eSIM" guide. Once the eSIM is installed on your phone, you’ll be prompted to configure your settings. This is where you assign the roles.

Configuring on an iPhone:

Apple’s interface makes this process very clear.

1. Label Your Plans: After installing your eSIM, your iPhone will ask you to label your cellular plans. This is a critical step for avoiding confusion. Your existing plan will be "Primary." For your new eSIM, choose a Custom Label and name it something obvious like "Journey Data" or "Travel eSIM."

    

2. Choose Your Default Line: Next, your phone will ask you to choose a default line for calls and texts. Select "Primary." This tells your phone, "For all normal voice calls and SMS messages, always use my main home number."

    

3. Set Your iMessage & FaceTime Line: The next screen will ask which number you want to use for iMessage and FaceTime. Again, select "Primary." This ensures your iMessage continues to work seamlessly with your existing phone number, so your contacts see messages coming from you, not a random new number.

    

4. Assign the Cellular Data Role: This is the most important step. The final prompt will ask which plan you want to use for cellular data. Here, you must tap and select your newly labeled "Journey Data" plan.

And that's it. You've just told your iPhone: "Use my home number for all communication, but use my cheap and fast Journey eSIM for all internet activity."

Configuring on an Android (Samsung, Google Pixel):

The process is very similar on Android devices, though the menu might be called "Connections" or "Network & Internet."

1. Go to your SIM Card Manager: In your settings, find the "SIM card manager" (or similar). You will see both your primary physical SIM and your newly installed Journey eSIM. You can tap on each one to rename them for clarity (e.g., "Home Number" and "Journey Data").

    

2. Assign Preferred SIMs: Below the list of your SIMs, you will see a section called "Preferred SIM cards" or similar. This is your control center.

    

   • For Calls, tap it and select your "Home Number" SIM.

      

   • For Messages, tap it and select your "Home Number" SIM.

      

   • For Mobile data, tap it and select your "Journey Data" eSIM.

      

You have just achieved the exact same result: your phone is now perfectly configured to use the right tool for the right job, saving you money while keeping you fully connected.

The Best of Both Worlds in Action: Real-Life Traveler Scenarios

This dual-SIM setup isn't just a cool tech trick; it solves some of the most common and frustrating problems that travelers face.

Scenario 1: The Crucial 2-Factor Authentication (2FA) Code
You’re in Paris, trying to log into your online banking to check your balance. Your bank, for security, sends a verification code via SMS text message. If you had taken your home SIM card out, you would be completely stuck, locked out of your account. But because your home SIM is still active and "listening" for texts, that crucial code appears on your screen instantly. You can manage your finances securely without any interruption.

Scenario 2: Keeping in Touch with Family
Your parents aren't the most tech-savvy. They know how to call your regular phone number, and that's it. With this setup, they can call or text you just like they always do. Your phone will ring, and you can answer it (check your home carrier's rates for answering international calls, but receiving texts is almost always free). They don't need a new app or a new number for you. It provides peace of mind for them and convenience for you.

Scenario 3: The Business Traveler
You're on a business trip in Singapore, but you can't afford to miss calls from clients back in New York. Your primary line is your work number. With the Journey eSIM handling all your data for maps, email, and presentations, your work number remains active and open for business. You can see who is calling and decide whether to answer or call them back via a data-based app.

Scenario 4: WhatsApp, iMessage, and Telegram
These apps are tied to your phone number. When you set your "Primary" line as the default for iMessage and your home SIM is active, iMessage continues to work perfectly. For WhatsApp, the first time you open it on a new data network, it might ask if you want to update your number. Just tap "Keep My Number," and you can continue using WhatsApp with your original number, powered by the cheap data from your Journey eSIM.

Why Journey is the Perfect Partner for Your Phone's Dual Identity

Now that you understand this incredible capability built into your phone, you need the right partner to power the data side of the equation. This is where Journey fits in perfectly.

Your home carrier is great at being your primary number, but they are notoriously terrible at providing affordable international data. Their roaming packages are often confusing, restrictive, and shockingly expensive. Using even a small amount of data can lead to a bill that costs more than your flight.

Journey is a data specialist. Our eSIMs are designed from the ground up to do one thing exceptionally well: provide you with fast, reliable, and affordable mobile data, wherever your travels take you. We are the perfect complement to your primary SIM.

• Massive Cost Savings: Instead of paying dollars per megabyte to roam with your home carrier, you pay a small, fixed price for a generous bundle of data from Journey. We’re talking about saving up to 90% on your data costs.

   

• No Interference: Our data-only eSIMs don't try to take over your phone number. They are built to work in harmony with your primary SIM, providing a dedicated, high-speed lane for data while leaving your communication lines untouched.

   

• Global Reach, Local Feel: With service in over 190 countries, you can get a Journey eSIM for Japan, a regional eSIM for Europe, or anywhere else your heart desires. We connect you to top-tier local networks, so you get premium service without paying a premium price.

   

• Total Transparency and Control: You know exactly what you’re paying for and how much data you have. You can monitor your usage in real-time. There are no hidden fees, no surprise charges, and no bill shock when you get home. Just simple, honest, affordable data.

   

Think of it this way: Your home SIM is your passport, your identity. Your Journey eSIM is your local guide, your transport, your key to exploring the city. You need both to have a truly successful and stress-free trip.

Key Takeaways:

• Yes, you can absolutely use your regular phone number and a travel eSIM at the same time on any modern Dual SIM phone.

   

• This is made possible by "Dual SIM, Dual Standby" technology, which keeps both your physical SIM and eSIM active.

   

• The setup is simple: assign your "Primary" home SIM for Calls & Texts, and assign your "Journey" eSIM for Mobile Data.

   

• This setup allows you to receive crucial SMS texts (like 2FA codes), lets family reach you on your normal number, and keeps apps like iMessage and WhatsApp working with your original number.

   

• Journey’s affordable, data-only eSIMs are the perfect partner for this setup, saving you enormous amounts of money compared to your home carrier's roaming fees.

Conclusion:

The fear of losing your phone number is no longer a barrier to smarter travel. Your phone is more powerful than you think, designed with the flexibility to give you the best of both worlds. By pairing your trusted home number with a data-packed Journey eSIM, you unlock the ultimate travel combination: global connectivity at local prices, without ever losing touch with your life back home. It's the end of compromise. It’s the beginning of truly seamless, confident, and connected exploration.