What Is IMEI2, and Does eSIM Use It?

IMEI2 is the second International Mobile Equipment Identity that many dual-SIM phones broadcast once two lines are active at the same time, whether that second line is a physical SIM or an eSIM. An eSIM can run through the IMEI2 radio path when it is your phone's second simultaneously active line, but this depends on the device, its operating system, and which lines are switched on — it is never the same as an eSIM's own EID or ICCID.

#What Exactly Is IMEI2, and How Is It Different From IMEI?

Every phone with a cellular modem carries an IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity), a 15-digit number identifying that specific radio hardware to mobile networks. A phone becomes dual-SIM capable — able to keep two lines registered at once, a mode carriers call Dual SIM Dual Standby (DSDS) — by exposing a second identity for that second active line. That second identity is IMEI2, and confusing it for the eSIM itself is a common support mistake; co:sim's own plan pages spell out which network a plan runs on precisely because this kind of identifier confusion trips up so many travelers.

IMEI2 is not a separate modem bolted onto the phone; it is the identity assigned to the second logical SIM slot so the network can tell two active lines apart. Google's Pixel support documentation confirms that a phone running both a physical SIM and an eSIM shows two IMEI numbers, the second labeled "IMEI (SIM slot 2)." A single-SIM phone may never display an IMEI2 at all.

#Does an eSIM Actually Use IMEI2?

Sometimes, but only in one situation: when the eSIM runs as the second simultaneously active line next to a physical SIM or another eSIM, on a phone that supports Dual SIM Dual Standby. In that setup the network sees the eSIM's traffic through the IMEI2 radio identity, and Google explains that a carrier may specifically request IMEI2 to provision an eSIM for that dual-active mode.

That is very different from saying every eSIM uses IMEI2. A phone with only one active line — even if that line is entirely an eSIM and the SIM tray sits empty — reports through the primary IMEI, not IMEI2. iPhone models sold in the United States since the iPhone 14 have no physical SIM tray at all, yet still support two simultaneously active eSIM lines through the same slot-2 mechanism, while a phone carrying just one installed eSIM never needs a second identity. A co:sim eSIM is no exception: it connects through whichever radio identity a phone's own dual-SIM settings assign to its slot, on the primary identity or on IMEI2.

#How Do IMEI2, EID, and ICCID Differ From Each Other?

These three identifiers sound similar but answer different questions, and mixing them up is the most common support mistake here. IMEI2 identifies a piece of radio hardware — the phone's second cellular equipment slot. Apple's device identifier guide and Samsung's support article both walk through where IMEI appears on iPhone and Galaxy devices, though neither manufacturer separately labels IMEI2 — both group it under the same "IMEI" field once a second line is active.

EID (eUICC Identifier) identifies a completely different piece of hardware: the embedded chip inside the phone that stores eSIM profiles, fixed for the device's entire lifetime. ICCID identifies one specific SIM or eSIM profile stored on that chip; a phone keeps the same EID even as it downloads, deletes, or swaps between several ICCIDs over time. The activation email for a co:sim eSIM identifies your profile by its own ICCID, never by the phone's IMEI2, because that ICCID is what stays tied to your specific plan.

#FAQ

#Does Every eSIM Use IMEI2?

No. An eSIM only appears under the IMEI2 radio identity when it is running as the second simultaneously active line on a phone that supports Dual SIM Dual Standby, alongside a physical SIM or another eSIM. A phone with just one active line, even if that line is entirely an eSIM with no physical SIM inserted, connects through the primary IMEI instead. The exact behavior depends on the phone model, its operating system version, and how many lines are currently switched on in the dual-SIM settings, so it can change over time on the very same device.

Do not assume a support agent asking for an IMEI is really asking for IMEI2, or the reverse — the labels are not interchangeable, and guessing wastes time on both sides. A co:sim eSIM behaves the same way as any other eSIM profile here: which identity carries its traffic depends entirely on the phone's own dual-SIM configuration, not on anything set during installation.

#What's the Difference Between IMEI2, EID, and ICCID?

IMEI2 identifies a piece of hardware: a phone's second cellular radio slot, active only in Dual SIM Dual Standby mode. EID identifies a different piece of hardware entirely — the embedded chip inside the phone that stores eSIM profiles — and it stays the same for the device's whole life regardless of how many lines get activated or deactivated. ICCID identifies neither the phone nor the chip but one specific SIM or eSIM profile; a single EID can hold several ICCIDs over time as profiles are added, removed, or replaced.

Support teams ask for whichever one answers their specific question: IMEI2 for network-registration issues, EID for eSIM compatibility or profile-download problems, ICCID to look up one particular line. co:sim support can normally help using just that ICCID, without ever needing a phone's IMEI or IMEI2, because the ICCID alone identifies which plan and which profile the question is actually about.

#Where Can I Find IMEI2 on My Phone?

On an iPhone, open Settings, tap General, then About, and scroll down — Apple's support page shows the IMEI, EID, and ICCID fields together, and a phone with a second active line lists a second IMEI entry beneath the first. On a Pixel, Google's instructions have you turn on dual-SIM mode first, then check Settings, About Phone, where the second number is labeled "IMEI (SIM slot 2)." On a Galaxy phone, Samsung's guide points to Settings, About Phone, or the dial code *#06#, though Samsung does not separately label a second slot the way Google does. A phone showing only one IMEI usually has only one line currently active on it — enabling a second SIM or eSIM line often makes that second entry appear for the first time.

#Can IMEI2 Tell Me Whether My Phone Supports eSIM?

Not reliably on its own. Some phones show two IMEI numbers purely because they support two physical SIM slots with no eSIM involved at all, so a second IMEI alone does not prove eSIM support either way. The better checks are the manufacturer's own spec sheet for the exact model and region, an EID entry inside the device's cellular or SIM information screen, and an "Add eSIM" or "Download a SIM instead" option when adding a new line.

Regional variants of the same phone model sometimes differ: a Galaxy or iPhone sold in one country may support eSIM while the identical-looking model sold elsewhere does not, because of local carrier and regulatory rules. Before buying any eSIM plan, confirm that the specific model and region support eSIM and that the phone is carrier-unlocked, since a genuinely compatible, unlocked handset is what actually determines whether a QR code will install at all.

#Should I Share My IMEI2 With an eSIM Provider?

Only when a legitimate, authenticated support conversation genuinely needs it — for example, to investigate why a second line will not register on a network. Never post an IMEI or IMEI2 publicly in a forum, marketplace listing, or unsolicited message, and be specific about which number is actually being requested, since IMEI, IMEI2, EID, and ICCID solve different problems and sending the wrong one just slows the investigation down.

co:sim's support team typically resolves installation questions using the device model, the country involved, and the exact error message on screen, without needing an IMEI number at all. If a phone is lost or stolen, report it to the carrier and to the device platform's account-recovery service promptly, since blocking a stolen device involves more safeguards than any single identifier can provide.

#Does Installing an eSIM Change My Phone's IMEI2?

No. Installing an eSIM profile never changes, creates, or removes a phone's IMEI or IMEI2 — those numbers are fixed to the radio hardware and set at manufacture, not by any app, carrier, or eSIM installation. What does change is which lines are active and, once Dual SIM Dual Standby is on, which of those lines the network routes through IMEI2 rather than the primary identity.

None of that setup touches the hardware identifiers the phone was manufactured with; it only adds or removes a data profile identified by its own ICCID, layered on top of identifiers that already existed before any plan was purchased. A plan page normally states the underlying network, when billing starts, and whether top-ups are supported, so travelers can check this before install rather than after.

Check a phone's own identifiers before comparing eSIM providers, then choose a data-only plan once the device is confirmed genuinely eSIM-ready for the trip.

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