How to disable roaming on your phone right now
To disable roaming, open Settings, go to the mobile network or mobile data section, find the "data roaming" option, and turn off the switch. The process is almost identical on iPhone and Android: the name changes depending on the brand, but the destination is always the same menu.
If you've just landed and want to stop charges immediately, here's the order of priority, from most likely to least likely adjustment:
- Mobile Data > Data Roaming: This is the switch that actually generates charges for megabytes used abroad. Turn it off first.
- Airplane Mode, turn on and off again: This does not disable roaming, but it forces the phone to search for a network again if the previous setting didn't "stick" at first. It's a verification step, not the solution.
- Manual to automatic network selection: In network settings, confirm that the phone isn't stuck on a specific foreign network that it's still negotiating roaming with in the background.
- Check your carrier's app: Some carriers have a duplicate roaming switch within their own app, independent of iOS or Android, and that also needs to be turned off.
The following table shows the exact path depending on your phone's brand, so you don't have to guess the menu name.
| System or Brand | Where the switch is located | Exact name to look for |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone (iOS) | Settings > Mobile Data > Mobile Data Options | "Data Roaming" |
| Stock Android / Google Pixel | Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > [your line] | "Roaming" or "Data Roaming" |
| Samsung (One UI) | Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks | "Data Roaming" |
| Xiaomi / Redmi / POCO (HyperOS or MIUI) | Settings > SIM cards & mobile networks > [your line] | "Data Roaming" |
| Motorola (Standard Android) | Settings > Network & internet > Mobile networks | "Roaming" |
| Huawei (EMUI / HarmonyOS) | Settings > Mobile data > [your line] > More settings | "Data Roaming" |
Step-by-step on iPhone
On iOS, the setting is quick to find and applies immediately, without restarting the phone:
- Open Settings.
- Tap Mobile Data (if you have two lines, you'll see each one separately under Mobile Data).
- Select the line you want to edit and go to Mobile Data Options.
- Turn off the Data Roaming switch.
If you use two lines—for example, your physical SIM and a travel data eSIM installed separately—check each one: iOS treats the roaming of each line independently. You can leave roaming off on your home line and use data normally through the second line, without them mixing or incurring cross-charges.
Step-by-step on Android (Samsung, Xiaomi, Motorola, Pixel)
Android distributes the same setting across menus with different names depending on the manufacturer, but the logic is identical for all:
- Open Settings and look for Mobile Networks, Connections, or SIMs (the name changes depending on the custom UI).
- Go to the line or SIM card you use for data.
- Look for Roaming or Data Roaming and turn off the switch.
- On Samsung and Xiaomi, if you have two active lines, the system allows you to configure roaming for each one separately, just like on iPhone.
A shortcut that works on almost any Android: type "roaming" into the internal search bar of Settings (the magnifying glass at the top of the Settings app). This takes you directly to the switch without having to navigate menu by menu, which is especially useful in UIs like MIUI or HyperOS where the setting sometimes hides two levels deeper than expected.
How to check if roaming is active on your phone
There's no need to guess: the same menu where you turn off roaming will tell you, with the switch on or off, if it's currently active. But there are earlier signs that reveal it even before you open Settings.
- The network name in the top bar: If instead of your carrier's name you see something like "R" next to the signal icon, or the name of a carrier that is not yours, your phone is connected via roaming.
- Welcome notification: Many carriers send an automatic SMS when you land in another country, advising that roaming is available or already active. If you received that message, voice and SMS roaming is probably already working, although data roaming might still be off.
- Unexpected data consumption: Check in Settings > Mobile data usage if consumption is registered outside your country; if the counter keeps going up without you opening anything, it's the most direct confirmation that data roaming is active.
The most reliable way is still to go to the mobile data menu and check the switch directly: external signs help raise suspicion, but the actual status is only confirmed by the setting itself.
What you need to do to avoid roaming charges
Turning off the data roaming switch stops charges for megabytes, but it's not the only thing that can generate charges while you're in another country. To avoid surprises on your bill, it's advisable to check three fronts at once:
- Mobile data: Turn off data roaming as explained above. This stops megabyte consumption outside your country.
- Apps that use data in the background: Even if data roaming is off, some apps continue to try to sync via Wi-Fi, and if they detect an available mobile network, they can briefly reactivate the connection. Check in Settings that no app has permission to "use mobile data always."
- Incoming calls and SMS: This is the point most people overlook, and it's explained in the next section: turning off data roaming does not automatically turn off voice or SMS roaming.
If your carrier does not confirm in writing (SMS, email, or app) that roaming has been deactivated for your line, the phone's switch only controls your device, not billing in the carrier's system. Both should coincide, but they don't always.
Where to enable and disable roaming depending on the situation
Roaming is controlled in two different places, and it's important not to confuse them:
- On the phone: This is the Settings switch explained in the previous sections. It controls whether your device attempts to connect to foreign networks to transmit data.
- With the carrier: Some prepaid or low-cost plans have roaming completely blocked on the carrier's side, regardless of what you set in your phone's settings. In such cases, even if you activate the phone's switch, you won't get a signal abroad because the block is on the network, not on your device. To activate it (if your plan allows it), you usually have to call, chat, or use the carrier's app.
If you use a travel data eSIM independent of your main line, this problem disappears: the eSIM connects directly to a local or international coverage network depending on the destination, without going through your home carrier's roaming or depending on it being enabled.
Data roaming vs. voice and SMS roaming
Turning off "Data Roaming" on your phone stops megabyte consumption, but on most devices, that switch does not turn off voice or SMS roaming. These are three distinct services that the operating system treats separately, and only one of the three—data—has a visible and easy-to-find switch in Settings.
This means that even if you correctly deactivate data roaming, your phone may still be registered on a foreign network to receive calls and text messages, and these can incur charges depending on your contracted plan. The only way to cut off that part is by completely turning off your phone, putting it in airplane mode permanently, or asking your carrier to block voice and SMS roaming for your line from their system.
For someone who only needs internet during their trip—maps, messaging, social media—and doesn't rely on traditional calls or SMS, the simplest solution is to leave their main line in airplane mode (or with only data roaming off) and use a separate data eSIM for everything that requires a connection.
You disabled roaming and it's still not working
When the switch is off but something still isn't right—either you have no signal or data consumption is still increasing—it's usually one of these causes:
| Symptom | Probable Cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| No signal at all | With data roaming off, there's no mobile data outside your country: this is expected behavior, not a malfunction. | Confirm if you need mobile data there (then a local plan or eSIM is needed) or if Wi-Fi is sufficient. |
| Data consumption continues to appear | An app has continuous mobile data permission active. | Settings > Apps > [app] > Mobile data. |
| The switch reactivates itself | A carrier profile (eSIM or SIM) restored its default settings after an update. | Re-enter the menu for that specific line and confirm the status. |
| You keep receiving welcome SMS messages for roaming | Voice/SMS roaming is active even if data roaming is off (see previous section). | This is not an error: they are different switches. |
| A roaming charge appeared even with everything off | Consumption occurred before turning off the switch, in the time between landing and the adjustment. | Check the time of the charge against the time you deactivated roaming. |
How to avoid roaming on your next trip
Disabling roaming solves the immediate problem, but it leaves your phone without data abroad. For your next trip, the most direct alternative is not to rely on your home carrier's roaming from the outset, but to install a specific data plan for your destination before leaving home.
| Aspect | Home Carrier Roaming | Travel Data eSIM |
|---|---|---|
| How it's activated | Depends on whether your plan allows it and a process with the carrier | Activation in approximately 1 minute from the phone, without going to a store |
| Cost control | Variable billing per megabyte or per day, according to carrier policy | Fixed data plan, purchased before traveling |
| Coverage | Limited to your carrier's roaming agreements with foreign networks | Available in over 200 destinations |
| Support if something goes wrong | Depends on your local carrier's customer service channel | 24/7 support in all languages via email and WhatsApp |
| When it's convenient | If you only need data for a few hours and your plan already includes roaming at no extra cost | If the trip lasts several days or your carrier doesn't have a good roaming agreement in that country |
If your phone is eSIM compatible—you can check it in the eSIM compatible phones guide—you can leave your main line exactly as it is, with roaming off, and install an international eSIM just for the trip. The purchase remains active for up to 180 days from the date of purchase, so you can have it ready in advance and activate it on the day you land.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove roaming from a phone?
From Settings, in the mobile data or mobile network section, there's a "data roaming" or "roaming" switch that can be turned off with a tap. The menu name changes depending on the phone brand, but the destination is always that same setting.
Does airplane mode disable roaming?
No. Airplane mode cuts off all connections—cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth—while active, but it does not change the line's roaming settings. When airplane mode is turned off, the phone returns to the roaming state it was in before: if it was activated, it remains activated.
Can I only disable data roaming and leave calls active?
Yes. Data roaming and voice/SMS roaming are independent settings on most phones. You can turn off data roaming to avoid charges for megabytes and leave calls and SMS active if your plan allows it without extra cost.
Why do I keep receiving a roaming welcome SMS if I already disabled it?
That message is usually triggered by voice/SMS roaming, which is a different service than data and is not turned off from the same switch. See the section on the differences between both types of roaming.
Does disabling roaming affect my travel data eSIM?
No, as long as the eSIM is configured as a separate line from your main SIM. You can leave roaming off on your home line and use data normally through the eSIM, because the phone treats each line independently.
What happens if I disable roaming and need emergency data?
With data roaming off, you will not have mobile data outside your country, but emergency calls work the same without active roaming, as phones are obligated to connect to any available network for those types of calls.
Do I need to restart my phone after disabling roaming?
It's not necessary. The change applies immediately. If the phone doesn't reconnect to the expected network, turning airplane mode on and off once is usually enough to force the update.
Does roaming automatically disable when I return to my country?
The switch doesn't change by itself, but upon returning to your country, the phone reconnects to your home network and stops roaming, even if the setting is technically still "activated." It's good practice to check it anyway before your next trip.
In summary
For most phones, turning off roaming is a single switch: Settings > Mobile Data > Data Roaming, off. If after that you still have no signal outside your country, that's expected behavior, not a malfunction: without roaming, your home line has no data abroad.
The real solution to avoid relying on operator roaming on every trip is to install a data plan for your destination before you leave. If your phone is compatible —check the list of eSIM-compatible phones— you can permanently turn off roaming for your main line and use an international eSIM every time you travel, with activation in approximately 1 minute and up to 180 days to activate it from the moment you purchase it. If at any time something doesn't work as expected, there's 24/7 support in all languages via email and WhatsApp, without having to rely on the customer service of an operator who doesn't speak your language.
To better understand how this alternative works before deciding, you can review what an eSIM is, how it differs from traditional roaming, how to install it, and what common problems are worth knowing in advance.
