Enable international roaming in Settings before you travel

International roaming lets your iPhone connect to cellular networks in other countries so you can make calls, send texts, and use data without switching to a local SIM card. To turn it on, open Settings, tap Cellular, then toggle Cellular Data to on. Scroll down and toggle Roaming to on as well. That's the core step — but there are several related settings that affect how your phone behaves abroad, and getting them right before you leave prevents expensive surprises.

Your carrier charges you for roaming, usually at rates higher than your home plan. The exact cost depends on your carrier and destination country. Some carriers offer roaming packages or day passes that cost less than per-minute and per-megabyte charges. Before you enable roaming, contact your carrier to understand what you'll pay — this conversation takes five minutes and can save you hundreds of dollars.

Key Takeaways

  • Roaming is turned on in Settings > Cellular > Roaming, but you should contact your carrier first to understand the charges and whether a roaming package would cost less.
  • Turning off Data Roaming in the same menu prevents your phone from using cellular data abroad while still allowing calls and texts, which is useful if you plan to use Wi-Fi only.
  • Disabling iMessage and FaceTime before you leave, or turning off Background App Refresh, prevents apps from using data in the background and running up charges while you sleep.
  • Some carriers require you to contact them to activate roaming on your account, so a quick call before departure confirms whether roaming is already enabled.

Check with your carrier about roaming rates and packages

Before you enable roaming on your phone, call your carrier's customer service line or log into your account online to see what roaming costs in the countries you're visiting. Most carriers publish roaming rates by destination — for example, AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile all list per-minute call rates, text rates, and daily data rates on their websites. A five-minute call now prevents a bill shock later.

Many carriers offer roaming packages or day passes that cost less than standard roaming rates. T-Mobile includes roaming in 215 destinations at no extra charge as part of most plans, but you still need to enable roaming on your phone. Verizon offers TravelPass, which charges you a daily fee only on days you actually use data or calls. AT&T offers similar options. Ask your carrier whether a package exists for your destination and whether it's already included in your plan or costs extra.

Some carriers require you to contact them to activate roaming on your account before you can use it abroad. This is a safety measure to prevent fraud. A quick call to customer service confirms whether roaming is already active or whether you need to turn it on remotely before you travel.

Turn off Data Roaming if you plan to use Wi-Fi only

If you want to use Wi-Fi for internet while abroad but still receive calls and texts over cellular, turn off Data Roaming specifically while leaving Roaming on. Open Settings, tap Cellular, scroll down to Cellular Data Options, and toggle Data Roaming to off. This prevents your phone from connecting to cellular data networks abroad, which is where most roaming charges come from, while still letting you make and receive calls and texts.

This setup works well if your hotel, airline, or destination has reliable Wi-Fi. Your phone will connect to Wi-Fi automatically for internet, and you'll only use cellular for emergencies or when Wi-Fi isn't available. Be aware that some apps — like maps, email, and messaging — may try to use cellular data in the background if Wi-Fi drops, so monitor your usage or disable Background App Refresh as described below.

Disable Background App Refresh to prevent hidden data charges

Apps running in the background can use data without you realizing it, which adds up quickly on roaming plans. To stop this, open Settings, tap General, then Background App Refresh, and toggle it to off. You can also turn off Background App Refresh for individual apps by opening Settings, tapping General > Background App Refresh, and toggling off specific apps you don't need to update while traveling.

Email is the biggest culprit — most email apps check for new messages every few minutes by default. If you have roaming enabled and Data Roaming on, your email app will use cellular data to check for mail while you're sleeping or away from Wi-Fi. Turning off Background App Refresh prevents this. You can still check email manually by opening the app and pulling down to refresh.

Turn off iMessage and FaceTime to avoid unexpected charges

iMessage and FaceTime use data, not your cellular plan's minutes or texts. If you have Data Roaming on, these apps will use cellular data abroad. To avoid charges, turn off iMessage before you leave: open Settings, tap Messages, and toggle iMessage to off. Do the same for FaceTime: open Settings, tap FaceTime, and toggle it to off.

When iMessage is off, messages you send will go through SMS (standard text) instead, which uses your carrier's text plan. When FaceTime is off, you can still make regular phone calls. You can turn both back on when you return home. If you want to keep iMessage and FaceTime on but only use them over Wi-Fi, you can leave them enabled — they will use Wi-Fi when available and won't fall back to cellular data.

Monitor your roaming usage while traveling

Even after you've set up roaming, check your usage periodically to catch unexpected charges early. Open Settings, tap Cellular, and scroll down to see how much data you've used. Most carriers also let you check usage in their mobile app or online account portal. If you notice data usage climbing faster than expected, turn off Data Roaming immediately and switch to Wi-Fi only.

Some carriers send text alerts when you've used a certain amount of roaming data or when charges reach a threshold. Check whether your carrier offers these alerts and turn them on before you travel. An alert at $50 of charges is better than discovering a $500 bill when you get home.

Disable roaming when you return home

When you arrive back in your home country, turn off roaming to prevent your phone from connecting to roaming networks unnecessarily. Open Settings, tap Cellular, and toggle Roaming to off. You can also turn Data Roaming back on if you had it off during your trip. This prevents accidental roaming charges if you travel near a border or if your phone connects to a roaming network by mistake.

If you turned off iMessage and FaceTime, turn them back on: open Settings, tap Messages, toggle iMessage on, then open Settings, tap FaceTime, and toggle it on. Turn Background App Refresh back on in Settings > General > Background App Refresh if you had it off.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between roaming and data roaming?

Roaming lets your phone connect to any cellular network abroad, including networks for calls, texts, and data. Data Roaming specifically controls whether your phone uses cellular data networks abroad. You can have Roaming on but Data Roaming off, which means you can make calls and texts but won't use cellular data — only Wi-Fi.

Will my iPhone automatically connect to roaming networks when I land?

Yes, if Roaming is turned on in Settings. Your phone will search for available networks and connect to one automatically. You don't need to do anything else. However, some countries have multiple carriers, and your phone may connect to a different one than your home carrier has a roaming agreement with, which can result in higher charges. Contact your carrier before you travel to confirm which networks they have agreements with in your destination.

Can I use a local SIM card instead of roaming?

Yes. If you buy a local SIM card at your destination, you can insert it into your iPhone and use that carrier's plan instead of roaming. You'll need to turn off roaming to avoid accidental charges. When you return home, remove the local SIM and reinsert your home SIM. This option is often cheaper than roaming if you're staying for more than a few days, but it means your home phone number won't work while you're away unless you set up call forwarding.

Why is my roaming not working even though I turned it on?

Your carrier may require you to contact them to activate roaming on your account before it works. Call customer service and ask them to enable roaming. Also check that you have an active plan with available minutes or data — roaming won't work if your account is suspended or out of service. If you're in an area with no signal, roaming won't help; move to higher ground or a different location and try again.

Do I need to turn off roaming in airplane mode?

Airplane mode turns off all wireless connections, including roaming. When you turn off Airplane Mode, roaming will work again if you have it enabled in Settings. You don't need to change roaming settings when you enable or disable Airplane Mode.