Feature Suggestion for Dual-SIM use: Allow for Switching SIMs while in Airplane Mode

[Big_n_Tasty]

I am using a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (love the cellphone!) and are using dual SIMs (love this functionality).  My two SIMs are from 2 different countries with 2 different carriers, one from Singapore and the other from Malaysia.  I can easily switch between the 2 countries for data when I travel between the two.  However, upon landing (in Singapore for example) I noticed as soon as I turn off Airplane Mode my origin country (Malaysia for example) momentarily switches on into roaming mode.  I have to quickly switch to my Singapore SIM.  The same thing happens when going to Malaysia of course.  In addition, I cannot switch to Singapore prior to my departure in Malaysia as that will also trigger data roaming mode.  It will be helpful if we can switch SIMs while in Airplane Mode so that when we come out of it it'll go straight into the correct SIM card service without triggering roaming.

[Piper123 · Accepted solution]

Hey there and welcome to the Samsung UK Community Forum

Interesting question with a potentially simple answer.

When getting on the plane, turn both SIMs off (settings, connections, sim manager).

Then, when you arrive in your chosen country, go back to settings, connections, sim manager and turn on the one you want.....

[Big_n_Tasty]

Thanks for the welcome, and THANK YOU for the potentially simple solution.  I will try to idea out to see how it works.  Not as intuitive, but definitely sounds workable.  I think that this is a good way to force the right "first connection", then switch the Preferred SIMs (calls, data, and messages) to the new country, and then after that I turn on the 2nd SIM.  I need to turn on the 2nd SIM because I still get calls & messages from the other SIM.

[Big_n_Tasty · Accepted solution]

Thank you, Piper123.  I had the chance to test your suggestion out and am happy to report that it works.  The procedure is this:

1. While at the airport (e.g., boarding gate), turn off both SIMs; use airport WiFi if desired.  Must do this before entering Airplane Mode, because once in Airplane Mode you cannot access the SIMs.

2. Upon boarding the aircraft or departure, turn on Airplane mode.

3. Upon arrival at the destination, turn off Airplane mode.

4. Turn on the destination SIM first, then turn on home SIM if desired.  The good news is that the destination SIM will become the preferred SIM for calls, messages, and data since it was turned on first.

The above procedure does prevent the triggering of data roaming from the SIM that is visiting.

[dave393]

hi, I suggest this feature, Samsung should learn from Iphone. Because all smart phone has Wifi calling feature, it allow people to use original sim to call back original country when he travel to another country. The method you mention can generate Roaming charge from origin country when we cannot switch sim or Esim under airplane mode. Iphone has great feature which allow us to switch sim under airplane mode, so people can switch sims in any time and anywhere without worry about roaming charge, therefore the Wifi calling function can be utilized, otherwise there is no point to use wifi calling.  Wifi calling feature for Samsung mobile is useless, no way to use it when travel to other country. 

[dave393]

hi, I suggest this feature, Samsung should learn from Iphone. Because all smart phone has Wifi calling feature, it allow people to use original sim to call back original country when he travel to another country. The method you mention can generate Roaming charge from origin country because Android or Samsung phone cannot switch sim or Esim under airplane mode. Iphone has great feature which allow us to switch sim under airplane mode, so people can switch sims in any time and anywhere without worry about roaming charge, therefore the Wifi calling function can be utilized, otherwise there is no point to use wifi calling.  Wifi calling feature for Samsung mobile is useless, no way to use it when travel to other country. This is a big bug of Android or Samsung phone, it cannot use Wifi calling to call the origin country with origin sim, because you cannot switch it back to origin sim when you are in another country, it will generate Roaming charge! fix it Samsung.