I’m traveling overseas soon and need to use my iPhone for calls and data. I’m not sure how to turn on the international roaming feature. Can someone guide me on enabling it? I want to avoid extra charges or issues while abroad.
Alright, so international roaming on an iPhone—it’s pretty straightforward. But let me tell you, turning it on is the easy part. The bill shock? That’s where the real horror story begins.
Step 1: Go to Settings, tap Cellular (or Mobile Data, depends on iOS).
Step 2: Hit Cellular Data Options and toggle that sweet Data Roaming switch. Boom, it’s on.
BUT WAIT. Before you jump into this international data abyss, call your carrier. Seriously. They might offer international plans that’ll save you from paying $50 just to check Google Maps for that one coffee shop you got lost looking for. Basic roaming without a plan can be evil—like $10 per MB kind of evil.
Also, if you’re paranoid like me, you can disable background app refresh for most apps, because some sneaky apps love nibbling your data while you’re not looking. Goodbye Instagram loading every cat meme ever while you aren’t even using it.
Pro tip: Consider getting an eSIM (if your phone supports it) or a local SIM card at your destination. Cheaper, faster, and you’ll probably spend less time calling customer service later, crying about your phone bill that’s as long as a CVS receipt.
TL;DR: Toggle the roaming switch, call your carrier, and don’t trust your apps. Roam responsibly. 
First off, let’s just address the fact that international roaming sounds helpful until you see your bank account crying after one week abroad. @cazadordeestrellas has already covered the steps, but let’s focus on avoiding the sucker punch of fees.
Yeah, sure, flipping that Data Roaming switch is simple (Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Data Roaming), and yes, your carrier probably offers some “international package deal” to ~save you~ from the roaming mafia. But, I don’t trust those plans as far as I can throw them. They’re usually overpriced for what they offer. You pay $10/day just to feel less guilty about not getting scammed harder.
Here’s another trick: forget the carrier, go for an eSIM or local SIM when you land. It’s 2023—do the smarter thing. eSIMs like Airalo or Holafly cover most places and usually laugh in the face of carrier roaming rates. Just beware data-only plans—they won’t handle calls/SMS (unless you use WhatsApp, which most humans do these days anyway).
And this whole “background app refresh” thing? Yeah, it’s smart, but don’t just stop at that. For real, download the offline maps of wherever you’re going (Google Maps has this feature—no extra fees for staying not lost). Disable automatic updates too (Settings > App Store > Automatic Downloads) because nothing screams “money to burn” like your phone deciding to download a 2GB update on a foreign network during a coffee run.
Here’s a bold idea: turn that roaming off unless you desperately need it. Use Wi-Fi most of the time. Airports, hotels, coffee shops, McDonald’s—thank you for saving the little guy’s data bill.
But hey, if feeling adventurous, go ahead with international roaming and pray your carrier isn’t sharpening its claws while you’re sipping espresso in Rome. Or Barcelona. Or Tokyo. Wherever.
Wait, before you go all-in on toggling that Data Roaming switch and calling it a day, there’s a bit more nuance here. Sure, @vrijheidsvogel and @cazadordeestrellas nailed the basics and threw in gems like getting a local SIM or eSIM (absolutely clutch advice, BTW). But here’s the deal: even beyond roaming versus local SIM, there’s another approach you might like—leveraging Wi-Fi-only solutions.
If your travel plans involve cafes, hotels, or airports with decent Wi-Fi, consider going full-on Wi-Fi warrior. Apps like Skype or FaceTime for calls, WhatsApp for messaging, and offline maps let you sidestep the international roaming trap entirely. It’s just… free. Well, almost.
Another trick they’ve skipped: set strict app permissions so only essential apps can access data when roaming. It’s a compromise between the paranoia of fully disabling roaming and letting your iPhone burn through data for notifications you don’t need. Go to Settings > Cellular, scroll down, and toggle off Cellular Data for non-essential apps.
One con of skipping traditional roaming packages and using Wi-Fi or local SIMs is a potential loss of seamless connectivity, especially for verification texts (hello, two-factor authentication nightmares). That’s where roaming at least offers stability, even if it’s at an eye-watering fee.
If you must enable roaming for emergency calls or data, some carriers include a “daily cap” system (think AT&T’s International Day Pass or Verizon’s TravelPass). It’s not cheap, but smarter than per-MB rates. Pros: less hassle, built-in service. Cons: still way pricier than eSIMs from Holafly or Airalo.
Final advice? Only toggle that roaming switch when absolutely unavoidable. Backup plans like pre-downloading maps or prepping eSIM coverage before you land will save not just your dollars but your sanity. Roam smart, not scared.