Apple may let you use one phone number on two iPhones with iPhone Handoff, here is how
Follow UsiPhone Handoff has reportedly appeared in iOS 27 Developer Beta 5 but is not yet available for regular users.
The feature could automatically switch the active phone number between two iPhones based on which device is in use.
Carrier support will be essential, with T-Mobile and Deutsche Telekom reportedly among the first to support it.
At WWDC 2026, Apple announced a variety of new features and one of them was the iPhone Handoff. The feature is designed to allow users to use the same phone number across two iPhones. This will eliminate the need for separate SIM cards or eSIM plans. A new report has demonstrated its interface using simulated iPhones. However, iPhone Handoff will require carrier support, and it remains unclear whether Apple will enable it with the first stable release of iOS 27.
SurveyHow iPhone Handoff could work
According to MacRumors, the iPhone Handoff has appeared in the iOS 27 Developer Beta 5, although it is not currently available for regular use. The feature will reportedly be switched off by default. Once supported by a carrier, users may find the option under Settings > Cellular > SIMs > Select active carrier. A developer has also demonstrated the feature using Xcode and two simulated iPhones.
While setting it up, the users will need to select the primary iPhone. The original eSIM will remain on the device and the second iPhone will get a companion eSIM. This will allow both devices to use the same phone number while keeping mobile data and billing associated with the primary account.
The number could switch between iPhones
The feature may automatically move the active number between the two iPhones depending on which device is being used. Unlocking the secondary iPhone might trigger the switch, with a Dynamic Island notification confirming the transfer.
Apple is also reportedly offering developers an API called iPhone Quick Switch to help applications transition between multiple devices.
Carrier support will be necessary for iPhone Handoff. The report suggests that T-Mobile in the US and Deutsche Telekom in Germany may be among the first carriers to support it. Apple has not confirmed when the feature will be rolled out in India and other markets.
