Why does leaving prev carrier's SIM in phone cause problems?

[snap-crackle]

Hi. Switched from Fido last month. Left SIM in phone, using eSIM for Public. Received porting texts within the timeframe, just paid for the new plan, etc. Data works, can receive calls, can't call out. Reset network settings, still can't. Had to remove physical SIM, reset network settings, restart phone, for everything to work.

Why? CS agents said "Public has to be the primary SIM for it to work". What makes a SIM the "primary"? Is the physical SIM always the primary? If that's the case, then using eSIM with Public means it can't be used as one of two carriers in a dual-SIM phone. Which makes no sense to me.

Any insight? Thanks

[snap-crackle]

Impossible to know now, but yes, makes sense! Thank you

[snap-crackle]

Yes, I understand that CS agents (& most support-givers here!) would want to just try to make it easy for people. But I like to understand things, so I had to ask why!

[will13am · Accepted solution]

@snap-crackle , the primary SIM is what you set as primary.  Generally, the phone software enables a user to specify which is the "primary SIM" for talk, text and data.  I think what you might have done is set the Public Mobile SIM as the primary SIM for data but did not change the settings for talk and text.  Upon removal of the Fido SIM, the system sees only 1 SIM and will auto default all functionality to the single SIM.  Note that your incoming calls were working because the calling app generally allows any SIM to receive calls whereas only the specified primary SIM is enabled for outgoing calls and text.  I hope this explanation helps.  

[softech]

@snap-crackle 

it is not. problem, it is just easier for most.

first, since you already replies the text from Fido and the Fido service was going to stopped , it is easier to manage by just disable or delete the Fido som from the sim manager 

However, for those who need to have 2 SIMs running together, yes, they can keep them one as Primary and one as Secondary (or Business or whatever label they assign).  However, to use dual SIMs,  they also and should spend some time and configure which sim to use for voice, text and data instead of leave the phone to decide.  Many are not aware of how to manage multiple active sim and hence got into different problems.  And in the case of port, the old sim card really no longer needed, hence the best advise is to ask people to remove or disable the other one 

Also, even other sim is needed, if is usually better to set the other sim disable first and make sure the new sim works.  Once the new sim is confirmed working, people can then enable the other sim back and start tweaking on the settings to their liking