Picture this: you’re relaxing at a café in Tokyo, about to book a high-speed train ticket online. You enter your card details, click ‘pay’, and the final step appears: a request for a one-time password (OTP) sent to your home phone number. But your primary SIM is either off or has no service, and you’re connected via your new data-only travel eSIM. Panic sets in. How will you get that crucial verification code?
This is a common fear for modern travelers. Staying connected with a data-only eSIM from Yoho Mobile is incredibly convenient and affordable, but it raises a critical question: how do you receive essential SMS messages like bank alerts and Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) codes? The answer is simpler than you think: Wi-Fi Calling.
This guide will walk you through exactly how to set up and use this feature, ensuring you never miss a vital text again. Before you get started, why not test out connectivity with a risk-free eSIM from Yoho Mobile?
Understanding Data-Only eSIMs and the SMS Challenge
A data-only eSIM, like the flexible plans offered by Yoho Mobile, provides you with internet access without giving you a new, local phone number. It’s the perfect international roaming alternative, allowing you to use apps like Google Maps, WhatsApp, and Instagram without paying exorbitant fees to your home carrier.
Here’s the catch: a data-only eSIM doesn’t handle traditional SMS or voice calls. Those services are tied to your primary SIM card and its phone number. When you’re abroad, your primary SIM may not have service, or you may have it turned off to avoid roaming charges. This is why you can’t receive bank verification texts overseas through the cellular network on your primary SIM.
So, how do we bridge this gap? By using the data from your Yoho Mobile eSIM to enable a powerful feature on your phone.
The Solution: How Wi-Fi Calling Saves the Day
Wi-Fi Calling is a standard feature on most modern smartphones that allows your phone to make and receive calls and text messages over a Wi-Fi network instead of a traditional cellular network. But here’s the secret: it also works perfectly over the cellular data connection from your other SIM card!
When you have an active Yoho Mobile data eSIM and Wi-Fi Calling enabled for your primary SIM, your phone does something brilliant. It uses the internet connection from your Yoho Mobile eSIM as if it were a Wi-Fi network. This creates a secure tunnel back to your home carrier, allowing them to send SMS and calls to your phone no matter where you are in the world—all without any roaming charges for that text.
Essentially, your Yoho Mobile eSIM provides the internet, and Wi-Fi Calling uses that internet to keep your primary number fully functional for receiving those all-important texts.
Step-by-Step: Activating Wi-Fi Calling on Your Phone
To ensure this works, you must enable Wi-Fi Calling before you leave your home country. It often requires an initial activation text from your carrier, which you can only receive while connected to their network.
For iOS (iPhone) Users:
- Go to Settings > Phone.
- Tap on Wi-Fi Calling.
- Toggle Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone to the ON position.
- Follow any on-screen instructions to confirm your address for emergency services.
- Once you’ve installed your Yoho Mobile eSIM, ensure your primary line remains ON in Settings > Cellular, but turn its Data Roaming OFF.
Remember, installing your Yoho Mobile eSIM is a breeze on iOS. After purchase, simply tap the ‘Install’ button in our app or email—no QR codes needed—and you’ll be set up in under a minute.
For Android (Samsung, Google Pixel, etc.) Users:
The steps can vary slightly between manufacturers, but the process is generally similar.
- Open the Phone app.
- Tap the three-dot menu icon and go to Settings.
- Look for an option named Wi-Fi Calling or Calls.
- Toggle it to the ON position.
- As with iPhone, keep your primary SIM active but disable its data roaming once your travel eSIM is installed.
Before traveling, you should always check your device’s compatibility on our official eSIM compatible list.
Your Pre-Travel Checklist for Uninterrupted 2FA
Follow these steps before you board your flight to guarantee you can receive SMS abroad.
- Enable Wi-Fi Calling at Home: This is the most critical step. Activate it while you’re still connected to your home carrier’s network.
- Test It: Put your phone in Airplane Mode, then turn on Wi-Fi. Try sending and receiving a text message. If it works, you’re all set.
- Install Your Yoho Mobile eSIM: Get your data plan sorted before you travel. With Yoho’s flexible plans, you can build the perfect package for your trip to Europe, Asia, or anywhere in between.
- Configure Settings Upon Arrival: Once you land, ensure your primary line is ON for calls/texts but has Data Roaming OFF. Set your Yoho Mobile eSIM as the line for Cellular Data.
- Stay Protected with Yoho Care: For ultimate peace of mind, remember that Yoho Care has your back. Even if you run out of high-speed data, you’ll have a backup connection for essential tasks, so you’re never truly offline.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I receive bank SMS on a data-only eSIM?
You cannot receive them directly on the data-only eSIM itself. However, by using the data from your eSIM to enable Wi-Fi Calling for your primary SIM, you can receive all your regular SMS and 2FA codes on your home number, just as if you were at home.
How can I get my verification codes in Europe with an eSIM?
The process is the same worldwide. Enable Wi-Fi Calling on your primary line before you travel. Then, purchase and install a Yoho Mobile Europe eSIM plan to use its data connection. This will allow your home number to receive verification codes anywhere in Europe.
Does this Wi-Fi Calling method cost extra?
No. Receiving SMS messages via Wi-Fi Calling is typically free and does not incur roaming charges from your home carrier. You are only using the data you’ve already paid for with your Yoho Mobile eSIM plan. For more details on avoiding extra fees, see our guide on how to avoid roaming charges.
What if I don’t have Wi-Fi? Can I still receive texts?
Yes! This is the most misunderstood part. The feature is called “Wi-Fi Calling,” but it also works over the cellular data of your other SIM. As long as your Yoho Mobile eSIM has a data connection, your primary line can receive texts. You don’t need to be connected to a Wi-Fi hotspot.
Stay Connected and Secure with Yoho Mobile
Traveling internationally no longer means choosing between affordable data and access to your essential services. By pairing a cost-effective, high-speed data eSIM from Yoho Mobile with your phone’s built-in Wi-Fi Calling feature, you get the best of both worlds.
You can confidently navigate the streets of Rome, upload photos from the beaches of Thailand, and approve online transactions without ever worrying about a missed verification code. It’s the ultimate travel connectivity solution for the modern, digital traveler.
Ready to travel smarter? Explore Yoho Mobile’s flexible eSIM plans and stay securely connected on your next adventure.