How to Turn Off Data Roaming Abroad: iPhone and Android Settings

Last updated: August 30, 2026

You step off the plane, switch your phone back on, and it quietly latches onto a local network before you've decided anything. If you're travelling for the first time in a while, that worry is very common. The short answer: if you turn off data roaming on your phone before you leave, you generally avoid the situation where your device connects to a foreign network and starts using data on its own. This guide walks through the settings on both iPhone and Android, how to still get online abroad with roaming switched off, and the easy-to-miss details that cause the classic "I thought I turned it off" moment. Menu names and screen layouts vary by device and OS version, so if the exact wording differs, look for the closest match.

The short answer: turn off data roaming before you fly

The simplest and most reliable way to avoid unintended connections abroad is to turn off "Data Roaming" in your phone's settings before you leave home. This setting stops your device from using your home carrier's plan over a partner network in another country. With it off, powering your phone on after landing won't start a data session through your home operator.

• When to do it: the day before departure, or before you head to the airport. Doing it after you land can be too late.
• Where to find it: on both iPhone and Android, it sits inside the mobile data / mobile network settings.
• What to do next: line up Wi-Fi or a local data option so you're not stuck without maps or messaging.

If you also want to understand how international roaming charges work and how that compares with keeping your existing plan running abroad, see International roaming vs. a Bloomy eSIM: how the pricing works and how to choose. This article stays focused on the device settings themselves.

Your pre-departure checklist

There isn't much to do. Working through it in this order makes it hard to forget a step.

When	What to do	Why
A few days before	Check that your phone supports eSIM	To know whether a local data option is possible
The day before	Turn off data roaming	To stop automatic connections on arrival
The day before	Install the eSIM you plan to use	So you're not scrambling for Wi-Fi abroad
Airport / on board	Switch on airplane mode	To stop transmissions during take-off and landing
After you land	Turn the added eSIM line on	To start using data

If adding an eSIM is the part you're unsure about, the setup guide shows the whole flow in advance. You can confirm your handset on the eSIM-compatible devices page.

Turning off data roaming on iPhone

On iPhone, each line has its own options inside the cellular settings, and that's where the roaming switch lives.

Step by step

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Cellular (or Mobile Data).
3. From the list of lines, select your home carrier's line.
4. Open Cellular Data Options.
5. Turn the Data Roaming switch off.

Worth double-checking

• If you have more than one line installed, the setting is per line. Check each one, including lines you don't plan to use.
• Depending on your iOS version, the position and name of "Cellular Data Options" can differ. Look for the nearest equivalent.
• Turning off Cellular Data for that line switches off all data on it at once. If you want extra certainty, you can use that as well.

Turning off data roaming on Android

Android menus vary by manufacturer, but the path you're looking for follows the same logic everywhere.

Step by step

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Network & internet or Connections.
3. Go into SIMs, Mobile network, or a similarly named section.
4. Select the line you're using.
5. Turn Roaming or Data roaming off.

If you have two lines installed

When you're running an eSIM alongside your existing line, there's a separate setting for which line handles mobile data. Roaming off on your home line, with the travel eSIM set as the data line, is the combination least likely to switch over unexpectedly. Names differ between devices, so look for wording like "Mobile data", "Preferred SIM", or "Data SIM".

How to get online abroad with roaming switched off

With roaming off, you won't have mobile data by default. The common solution is to add a data-only eSIM that works at your destination: you keep your original line in place and hand data duty to a separate line.

From install to first use

1. Before you leave, choose a plan that matches your destination and trip length.
2. Tap the setup link you receive once, and follow the on-screen prompts to add the line.
3. After you arrive, switch the added line on and use it for data.

Bloomy eSIM is built around that one-tap setup link. QR codes and manual entry are available as fallbacks if the link doesn't work on your device. Activation timing can differ by plan, so check the instructions you receive at purchase. Plans described as unlimited are subject to a fair usage policy, and pricing is shown in USD — confirm the current price and conditions at the time you buy.

What happens to calls and SMS

You can browse destination plans on the eSIM comparison page by country, data allowance, and number of days. Prices and terms can change, so check the latest listing before you buy.

The small settings that prevent "but I turned it off"

Even when you've changed the setting, the first few minutes after landing are where things slip through. Clear these up in advance.

Common oversights on arrival

• The moment you leave airplane mode: if roaming is still on, that's when your phone connects. Safer to check your settings first, then turn airplane mode off.
• Two lines installed: it's easy to switch one off and leave the other untouched.
• After a restart: occasionally you'll want to confirm the setting stuck. A quick look at the settings screen once you land removes the doubt.

App settings worth reviewing

• Set photo and cloud backups to run on Wi-Fi only.
• Set automatic app updates to Wi-Fi only.
• Temporarily turn off autoplay and automatic downloads for video and music.

These stay useful once you start using your travel eSIM, since they keep your data allowance from draining in the background.

Who this approach suits — and who needs more

In short: it works well if your usage is mostly data. If you need to take calls or receive SMS on your number while you're away, you'll need to plan something extra.

A good fit if you

• Travel for leisure or work and mainly use maps, translation, search, and messaging apps
• Would rather not be in a position where you don't know what your data will cost
• Have a reasonable idea of how many days you'll travel and how much data you'll use

Not enough on its own if you

• Need to receive calls or SMS on your home-country number while travelling
• Often get asked for a phone number by local services, hotels, or ride-hailing apps
• Have a device that doesn't support eSIM, or can't add another line right now

If you're still weighing it up, the FAQ covers similar situations.

What to check, in order, if you can't connect

When data isn't working, going through these one at a time usually finds the cause quickly.

1. Confirm airplane mode is off.
2. Confirm the eSIM line you added is switched on.
3. Confirm the line selected for mobile data is the travel eSIM.
4. Turn airplane mode on, wait around 30 seconds, then turn it back off.
5. If nothing changes, restart the device.

If you're still stuck, the troubleshooting page has steps organised by symptom. The more rushed you feel right after landing, the more it pays to work down the list one item at a time.

In summary: three things to do before you fly

Turn off data roaming, arrange your data option for the destination in advance, and review the apps that use data in the background. Each takes a couple of minutes, and together they change how the first hour abroad feels.

If you're still choosing how to get online, search the eSIM comparison page by country, data allowance, and trip length. If you'd rather understand the difference from simply roaming on your existing plan first, the roaming vs. Bloomy eSIM comparison is a good starting point.

Information in this article was checked as of August 2026. Setting names and screen layouts differ by device, OS version, and carrier. Bloomy eSIM plans are data-only: they do not include a phone number, voice calls, or SMS, and unlimited-style plans are subject to a fair usage policy. Prices, plan contents, and terms may change, so please check the current listing and official sources before purchasing. Connection speed and quality depend on the local networks available, your device, coverage in your area, and network congestion.