Layer 2 handling during a cell change procedure includes decoding an RRC reconfiguration message received from a first cell. The RRC reconfiguration message includes a Layer 1 (L1) configuration corresponding to a second cell. The first cell and the second cell share an SDAP entity, a PDCP entity, an RLC entity, and a MAC entity. The first cell and the second cell have a separate L1 entity. In response to decoding the RRC reconfiguration message, the L1 configuration corresponding to the second cell is stored. A cell change message received from the first cell is decoded. The cell change message indicates that a cell change from the first cell to the second cell is to be performed. The stored L1 configuration corresponding to the second cell is applied for data transmission and reception associated with the second cell. A cell change to the second cell is initiated.