How to activate Claro international roaming on your iPhone
To activate Claro international roaming on your iPhone: go to Settings > Cellular Data, select your Claro line, and turn on "Data Roaming." Before doing that, confirm in the Mi Claro app that your plan includes international roaming, because the iPhone switch is useless if the operator hasn't enabled it on their end.
Follow these steps in order. They are listed from the most probable cause to the least probable, so if the first one solves your problem, you don't need the others.
- Check that your Claro plan includes roaming. This is the step most people skip because they assume "roaming" is just a phone button. Open it from the Mi Claro app or your online account before proceeding.
- Activate data roaming on your iPhone. Settings > Cellular Data > tap your Claro line > turn on "Data Roaming." On iPhones with dual SIM, you will see this option repeated for each line: activate it for the Claro line, not the other.
- Confirm that airplane mode wasn't accidentally left on. Many people turn it on when boarding and forget to turn it off when landing, or they turn it off but leave the plane's Wi-Fi connected, and the iPhone still shows "No Service."
- Restart your iPhone once you are in the destination country. The phone sometimes doesn't re-register on a new network until it's restarted, even if roaming is correctly activated.
- Manually select the network if "Automatic Selection" doesn't connect. Settings > Cellular Data > Network Selection, turn off automatic selection and choose a network from the list that is associated with Claro or its partner operators in that country.
Before activating: check that your Claro plan includes roaming
The most frequent error is not on the iPhone, it's in the account. Data roaming is a permission that Claro activates (or not) on your line, and the Settings switch only works if that permission already exists on the operator's side. It's advisable to check it first because it's the easiest thing to rule out before touching anything else on the phone.
For postpaid plans, international roaming is usually available to activate directly from the Claro app or website, sometimes as a package that needs to be added for the trip. For prepaid plans, it's generally necessary to purchase a specific roaming package before leaving the country; without that package, data roaming may appear activated on the iPhone and still not connect.
An iPhone that "has no signal" while roaming is almost never broken: it's almost always a permission turned off on the operator's side, or turned on for the wrong line on the phone.
If your Claro account doesn't show an international roaming option, contacting the operator directly is the next mandatory step: no iPhone setting can replace that permission.
How to activate roaming on any iPhone (step-by-step in Settings)
This part is the same on any iPhone, with Claro or another operator, because the switch lives in iOS, not on the network. The path is: Settings > Cellular Data > select the line > turn on "Data Roaming." If you also want to receive calls and SMS abroad (not just data), check that "Voice & Data" is set to automatic or the recommended option for your operator on that screen.
A detail almost no one checks: if your iPhone has dual SIM — one physical and one eSIM, or two eSIMs — data roaming is activated per line, not globally. You might have roaming on for your primary line and off for the secondary without realizing it, and still see "No Data Service" even if you swear you've activated it. Before restarting your phone or calling support, go into each line separately and confirm which one actually has roaming turned on.
Other points to check on the same Settings screen:
- Default Cellular Data Line. If you have two lines, the iPhone uses one as primary for data. If that's not the Claro line with active roaming, you won't be able to browse even if everything else is correctly configured.
- Update Carrier Settings. Settings > General > About. If a carrier update notification appears, accept it before traveling: it usually includes the network parameters needed to recognize foreign operators.
- iOS Updated. Very outdated versions of iOS sometimes don't recognize new network profiles that operators add over time.
How to activate your Claro roaming if you are in Mexico
If you're specifically looking for how to activate Claro roaming in Mexico, the procedure has two separate parts: activating the permission in your Claro account and activating the switch on your iPhone. You've seen the second part above; this section is about the first.
In the Mi Claro app (available for iPhone), you can check your plan details and see if international roaming appears as an included service or as a package available for purchase before your trip. If your postpaid plan already includes roaming, you typically don't need to do anything extra on the account side: just activate the iPhone switch when you arrive at your destination. If your plan is prepaid, check if Claro offers a data package for the country you're traveling to and activate it in advance, as some may take time to apply.
One point to clarify: activating roaming is not the same as activating an independent data eSIM. Roaming still uses your Claro number and plan from Mexico, with the coverage and speed conditions that the operator has agreed upon with the local networks in the country you visit. Later in this article, we compare both options with concrete criteria.
Roaming activated but iPhone has no data: probable causes
If you've already activated roaming in Settings and in your Claro account, and you still don't have data, the problem is usually one of these points. We've ordered them from most frequent to least frequent so you can check the quickest solutions first.
| Problem | Probable Cause | What to Check |
|---|---|---|
| LTE/5G icon doesn't appear | iPhone didn't re-register on the new network | Restart your phone, or toggle airplane mode once |
| Roaming activated but no internet | Roaming package or permission is not active in the Claro account | Verify service status in the Mi Claro app |
| Works for a while then disconnects | iPhone switches between local and roaming networks automatically | Manually select the partner operator's network, do not leave it on automatic |
| Only fails on one of the two lines (dual SIM) | Roaming is activated on the wrong line | Check the "Data Roaming" switch for each line separately |
| No signal at all since landing | APN or carrier settings are outdated | Accept the carrier update in Settings > General > About |
| Works in the city but not outside of it | Claro's partner operator in that country doesn't cover that area | Confirm local operator coverage before leaving the main city |
If after checking the entire table the problem persists, it's no longer an iPhone setting: it's something only Claro can fix on the network or account side.
How much Claro charges for international roaming
There's no single figure: Claro charges for roaming according to your plan, the country you're traveling to, and the current promotion at that time, and these amounts change frequently. It could be a daily charge, a fixed data package for the trip, or a consumption-based charge, depending on whether your plan is postpaid or prepaid.
The only reliable way to know how much it will cost is to confirm it directly in the Mi Claro app or on Claro's official website before traveling, because any figure you read in an article may be outdated for your specific country or plan. If you travel frequently, it's worth comparing that cost with an independent data eSIM, which we will look at in the next section.
Roaming vs. data eSIM: what are the real differences?
Roaming and a data eSIM solve the same problem — having internet outside your country — but in different ways. Roaming extends your Claro line and plan to a foreign network; an international data eSIM is a new plan, separate from your line, that is installed as a digital profile on the same iPhone.
| Criterion | Claro Roaming | International Data eSIM |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Number | Your Claro number is maintained for calls and SMS | Data only; your number remains available via Wi-Fi or through your original operator's app |
| Contracting | Depends on Claro having a roaming agreement in that country | Depends on the eSIM provider's coverage in that country |
| Cost Control | Variable depending on plan; must be actively monitored to avoid exceeding the package | Data defined in advance when purchasing the plan |
| Activation | Requires prior permission in the Claro account, sometimes in advance | Installed before the trip and activated upon arrival, without changing physical SIM |
| Dual SIM | Uses the line you already use for your number | Installed on the iPhone's second eSIM line, without touching the primary line |
No option is better in all cases: if you need to keep your Claro number active and accessible while traveling, roaming solves it directly. If what matters to you is controlling spending and not depending on your operator having an agreement with the country you visit, a separate data eSIM is usually more predictable.
Roaming not working at your destination: what to check before calling Claro
Before assuming you need to call the operator, review this short list. It covers what you can troubleshoot yourself from your iPhone, without needing to contact the operator yet:
- Is data roaming activated on the correct Claro line, not on the other iPhone line?
- Have you restarted your phone after landing in the destination country?
- Have you confirmed in the Mi Claro app that the roaming permission or package is active, not just purchased?
- Have you tried manually selecting the network instead of leaving it on automatic?
- Did you accept the carrier settings update if your iPhone prompted you?
If after reviewing this list your iPhone still has no data, the problem is on the network or account side, and then it is appropriate to contact Claro directly through their official channels to check the service status. No additional phone setting will resolve a permission that is not active on the other end.
When it's better to switch from roaming to a data eSIM
If you've finished reviewing all of the above and roaming is still causing problems — or you simply prefer not to depend on Claro having agreements with every country you travel to — an international data eSIM solves the same problem from a different angle: instead of extending your Claro plan to a foreign network, you install an independent data plan designed for travelers.
A PuraSIM eSIM covers more than 200 destinations, activates in approximately 1 minute once installed, and you have 180 days from purchase to activate it when you need it, without the validity period running in the meantime. If anything is unclear during installation or activation, support is available 24/7, in all languages, via email and WhatsApp.
You can check the available plans by destination in the international eSIM collection, and if you've never installed an eSIM before, it's a good idea to first read how to install an eSIM and confirm that your iPhone is eSIM compatible before purchasing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Claro roaming activate automatically when I arrive in another country?
Not necessarily. Your iPhone may try to connect on its own, but if the roaming permission isn't active in your Claro account, or if the "Data Roaming" switch is off in Settings, you won't have data even if your phone shows coverage from another network.
Can I activate Claro roaming once I'm already at the destination, or do I need to do it before traveling?
The iPhone switch can be activated at any time, even once you're at the destination. However, it's advisable to check or contract the roaming permission or package in your Claro account before leaving, as some packages may take time to apply and it's not always possible to purchase them without an internet connection.
Why isn't my iPhone finding a network even though roaming is already activated?
The most common causes are: the iPhone hasn't re-registered on the new network (resolved by restarting), carrier settings are outdated, or the roaming permission isn't truly active on Claro's side even if the phone's switch is on.
Does roaming work the same on an unlocked iPhone as on one purchased with Claro?
The roaming setting in Settings works the same on any iPhone. What might change is whether the phone automatically recognizes the network profiles of Claro's partner operators in each country; that's why keeping iOS updated helps avoid network recognition issues.
Does using WhatsApp or making calls over Wi-Fi at the destination consume roaming data?
No. If you connect to a Wi-Fi network, both WhatsApp and Wi-Fi calls work without using Claro's cellular data roaming. Roaming only comes into play when your iPhone uses the cellular network of the country you are visiting.
What happens if my iPhone has dual SIM and only one line is Claro?
Data roaming is activated per line, not globally. You need to go into the specific Claro line in Settings > Cellular Data and activate roaming there; activating it on the other line has no effect on the Claro line.
Is it better to activate Claro roaming or use a data eSIM for travel?
It depends on your needs: if you want to keep your Claro number active for calls and SMS while traveling, roaming is the direct option. If you are more interested in controlling data spending upfront and not relying on your operator's agreements in each country, a separate data eSIM usually offers more predictability.
In summary
Activating Claro roaming on an iPhone is, in most cases, a two-layered problem: first, confirm that the permission exists in your Claro account, and then activate the correct switch in Settings > Cellular Data, on the corresponding line. If you have a dual SIM, always check line by line before assuming something is broken.
If, after following these steps, roaming still doesn't work at your destination, or you simply prefer not to rely on Claro having an agreement with every country you travel to, an international data eSIM provides a separate plan, activating in approximately 1 minute and offering coverage in over 200 destinations. You can review the options available for your next destination in the international eSIM collection, and if you have technical questions before purchasing, the eSIM vs. roaming comparison or the guide to common eSIM problems will answer most pre-trip questions.
