How to turn off data roaming on iPhone and Android

iPhone: turn off data roaming

1. Open Settings and tap Cellular (or Mobile Data in some regions).
2. Tap Cellular Data Options (or Mobile Data Options).
3. Toggle Data Roaming off. The switch turns gray when disabled.

On iPhones with eSIM and a physical SIM, you see separate roaming toggles for each line. Turn off roaming on your carrier line. If you have a travel eSIM installed, you can leave its data roaming on, because the eSIM connects to local networks at local rates.

Android: turn off data roaming

1. Open Settings and tap Network & internet (or Connections on Samsung).
2. Tap SIMs (or Mobile networks on older versions).
3. Select your carrier SIM and toggle Roaming off.

Samsung Galaxy phones put this under Settings > Connections > Mobile networks > Data roaming. Google Pixel phones use Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > your carrier > Roaming.

AT&T: how to disable International Day Pass and roaming

AT&T charges $10/day for its International Day Pass in 210+ countries. The pass auto-enrolls: the moment your phone uses data abroad, AT&T bills the $10 fee for that 24-hour period. Without the pass, pay-per-use charges are $2.05/MB, which adds up to $2,050 per gigabyte.

To disable AT&T International Day Pass, call *611 from your AT&T phone or dial 1-800-331-0500. Ask the agent to remove International Day Pass from your account. You can also remove it in the myAT&T app under Plan > Add-ons > International Day Pass > Remove. After removing the pass, turn off data roaming in your phone settings (Settings > Cellular > Data Roaming) to prevent $2.05/MB charges from hitting your bill.

AT&T also offers a Passport plan at $60/month for 2GB of international data. For a 7-day trip, that costs $60 vs. $70 on International Day Pass vs. $4 to $15 for a travel eSIM. The eSIM costs 78% to 94% less than either AT&T option. Rates checked June 2026.

Verizon: how to turn off TravelPass

Verizon TravelPass costs $10/day in 210+ countries and $5/day in Canada and Mexico. Like AT&T, it auto-bills once you use data, calls, or texts on a foreign network. A 7-day trip at $10/day totals $70. A 14-day trip totals $140.

To turn off TravelPass, open the My Verizon app and go to Account > Manage Plan > International travel. Toggle TravelPass off. You can also call *611 from your Verizon phone or visit 1-800-922-0204. After disabling TravelPass, turn off data roaming in your phone settings to avoid pay-per-use charges of $2.05/MB.

Verizon bills TravelPass per line. If you travel with a partner, both phones incur separate $10/day charges. Two phones for 7 days: $140. Two travel eSIMs for 7 days: $8 to $30. Rates checked June 2026.

T-Mobile: free data at 256kbps and the paid speed add-on

T-Mobile Magenta and Magenta MAX include free international data in 215+ countries, but at 256kbps. At that speed, loading a web page takes 30+ seconds and Google Maps is unusable. Turn off data roaming in your phone settings (Settings > Cellular > Data Roaming) and the free 256kbps data also stops.

If you want full-speed data on T-Mobile abroad, the Go5G International Pass costs $5/day in most countries. That is $35 for a week. Compare that to $4 to $15 for a travel eSIM on the same towers.

When to keep T-Mobile roaming on: If you have a Magenta plan and are traveling in Mexico or Canada, T-Mobile includes full-speed 5G data at no extra cost in those two countries (up to 10GB high-speed). There is no reason to turn roaming off for Mexico/Canada trips on T-Mobile. Rates checked June 2026.

What happens when you turn off data roaming

Your phone stops using mobile data on foreign networks. You can still connect to WiFi. Phone calls and SMS may still work (and may still incur charges), but your phone will not send or receive mobile data. Apps like WhatsApp, Maps, and email will only work on WiFi.

Here is exactly what changes when data roaming is disabled:

• Your phone uses WiFi only for internet access. No carrier data charges accrue
• Calls and texts may still work over the cellular network, but carrier call rates still apply ($1-3/min on most US carriers)
• WiFi calling stays active if your carrier supports it. Calls over WiFi use your domestic plan minutes at no extra charge
• MMS (picture messages) may stop working because MMS requires a cellular data connection on most carriers
• You will not receive carrier roaming charges for data. AT&T International Day Pass and Verizon TravelPass will not trigger
• Push notifications stop until you reconnect to WiFi. This includes email, social media, and news alerts
• iMessage switches to SMS if no data connection is available. SMS may incur international texting charges ($0.25-0.50/text on most carriers)

When to keep data roaming on

In a few situations, turning off data roaming creates more problems than it solves. Keep roaming enabled if any of these apply:

• You have a T-Mobile Magenta plan and are traveling in Mexico or Canada. T-Mobile includes full-speed data in those countries at no extra charge (up to 10GB)
• You need to receive SMS verification codes from your bank or other services. Two-factor authentication codes arrive by SMS, which requires cellular connectivity. Turn roaming off for data but keep the SIM active for SMS
• You have already purchased a carrier daily pass and want to use it. If AT&T International Day Pass or Verizon TravelPass is on your account, the daily fee triggers on first data use. Keeping roaming on lets you use the pass you paid for
• You installed a travel eSIM but your eSIM line needs roaming enabled. Some eSIM providers require data roaming to be ON for the eSIM line. Turn roaming OFF on your carrier line and ON for the eSIM line

This is a safe default before any international trip. Turn roaming off, then decide how you want to get data abroad: a travel eSIM, a carrier daily pass, or WiFi only. If you are travelling within Europe, the EU roaming rules may mean your carrier data is already included at no extra cost.

The eSIM alternative: use local data instead

Instead of going data-free abroad, install a travel eSIM before your trip. Turn off roaming on your carrier SIM to prevent charges, and set the eSIM as your default data line. You get mobile data at local rates ($4 to $15 for a full week) while your carrier SIM stays active for calls and texts. Not sure whether an eSIM suits your phone? Read our eSIM vs physical SIM comparison to check compatibility.

The math on a 7-day trip to Japan: AT&T roaming costs $70 (7 x $10/day). Verizon costs $70. T-Mobile high-speed add-on costs $35 to $105 depending on the tier. A travel eSIM costs $4.50 to $12. Same towers. Same LTE speeds. The only difference is the bill.

Learn more in the guide to data roaming costs.

Data roaming vs airplane mode: what is the difference

Airplane mode shuts down all wireless radios on your phone: cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS. Turning off data roaming only disables mobile data on foreign networks. Everything else stays active.

For most travelers, turning off data roaming is the right setting. It blocks surprise data charges while keeping calls, texts, and WiFi active. Use airplane mode only during flights or when you want complete radio silence.

Pre-trip checklist

• Turn off data roaming on your carrier SIM (instructions above)
• Download offline maps in Google Maps or Apple Maps
• Save important documents (boarding passes, hotel confirmations) offline
• Install a travel eSIM while on home WiFi
• Test the eSIM data connection before leaving

How much you save by turning off roaming and using an eSIM

Here is the cost comparison for three trip lengths. The eSIM price uses an average rate of $4.50/GB (Airalo) for a 5 GB plan.

Carrier rates verified June 2026. eSIM prices from Airalo ($4.50/GB) and Nomad ($3.00/GB).

The bottom line: a month-long trip costs $300 on AT&T or Verizon roaming. The same month on a travel eSIM costs $20 to $35. The $265+ difference pays for several nights of accommodation. Turn off roaming, install an eSIM, and redirect the savings toward your trip.

Frequently asked questions

Will I still receive calls with data roaming off?

Yes. Turning off data roaming only disables mobile data on foreign networks. Voice calls and SMS still work, though they may incur international calling charges from your carrier. Use WiFi calling to avoid those fees.

Does turning off data roaming save battery?

Slightly. When data roaming is off, your phone stops searching for and connecting to foreign data networks. This reduces background activity and can extend battery life by 10-15% during international travel.

Can apps still use data with roaming off?

No, apps cannot use cellular data on foreign networks with roaming disabled. They can still use WiFi. Some apps like Maps allow offline downloads, so prepare those before your trip.

What is the difference between airplane mode and turning off data roaming?

Airplane mode disables all wireless connections including calls, texts, WiFi, and Bluetooth. Turning off data roaming only blocks mobile data on foreign networks while keeping everything else active. For travel, data roaming off is usually the better choice.

Carrier-specific roaming guides

See exactly what your carrier charges for roaming and how an eSIM compares:

• AT&T roaming vs eSIM
• Verizon roaming vs eSIM
• T-Mobile roaming vs eSIM
• Vodafone roaming vs eSIM
• EE roaming vs eSIM

Check what your carrier charges in: Japan · United Kingdom · Mexico