On iPhone, open Settings → Mobile Service, tap the eSIM and switch off Turn On This Line. On Android, open Settings → Connections → SIM manager and toggle the eSIM off. It stays on your phone until you turn it back on.
The catch: turning off a Saily eSIM doesn’t pause its plan, so the validity period keeps running.
Turning off an eSIM stops your phone using that line, without removing it. That’s handy when you travel: switch off your home line to avoid roaming fees, or switch off a travel eSIM once you’re back. The steps below come from Saily’s help centre and work for any eSIM.
Turn off an eSIM on iPhone
- Go to Settings.
- Select Mobile Service (it may be called Cellular on some iPhones).
- Tap the eSIM you want to disable.
- Switch Turn On This Line to off.
To turn it back on, follow the same steps and switch Turn On This Line on.
Turn off an eSIM on Android
- Go to Settings.
- Open Connections.
- Open SIM manager.
- Select the eSIM you want to disable and switch it off.
These are Samsung-style names. Saily notes that other Android phones may use different setting names. On a Google Pixel, your SIMs are under Settings → Network & internet → SIMs.
Turn off vs delete an eSIM
Turning off keeps the eSIM on your phone. Switch it back on any time.
Deleting removes the eSIM profile. On iPhone that’s Delete eSIM in Mobile Service. On Android it’s Remove eSIM in SIM manager. Saily says removing an eSIM is safe, for example when the plan has expired or you need a free eSIM slot. If a Saily plan hasn’t run out or expired, you can install it again on the same or another phone through the Saily app.
If you’re not sure, turn it off rather than delete it.
Turning off your home SIM when you travel
The most common reason to turn off a line is roaming. Saily’s advice to avoid charges from your home carrier:
- Turn off your personal SIM once you’re ready to use your travel eSIM.
- If your phone supports dual SIM and you want calls on your own number, turn off data roaming on your personal SIM instead.
- Turn off mobile data switching, so the phone can’t fall back to your home SIM for data.
- Remove a physical SIM before you leave its coverage area, or keep airplane mode on until you’re ready.
On iPhone, mobile data switching is under Settings → Mobile Service → Mobile Data → Allow Mobile Data Switching.
On Android, Saily shows the personal SIM switch in Settings → Connections → SIM manager. Switch it off and tap Turn off to confirm.
Turning off your travel eSIM
Back home, switch the travel eSIM off and your personal SIM on. With Saily, turning the line off doesn’t pause the plan. Saily says an activated plan can’t be paused, and when the validity period ends, the plan and any unused data expire.
For the Saily-specific steps, including how to get it working again, read how to turn Saily eSIM on and off.
FAQ
Does turning off an eSIM delete it?
No. The eSIM stays on your phone, and you can switch the line back on at any time.
How do I keep calls on my own number while abroad?
On a dual SIM phone, Saily suggests turning off only your personal SIM’s data roaming, instead of the whole line. Your carrier may still charge roaming for calls.
Is it safe to delete an eSIM?
Saily says yes, for example once the plan expires. If a Saily plan is still valid, you can reinstall it through the app.
Where are the eSIM settings on a Pixel?
Settings, then Network & internet, then SIMs.
Saily plans from $3.99 for 1 GB (7 days) in Spain or Turkey, checked on saily.com on 24 Oct 2026.