What do I need to do to avoid roaming charges?
Turn off the "Data Roaming" switch in Settings > Mobile networks (not just the quick panel icon) and confirm that your phone does not reactivate it after a restart or an update. These are the two steps that almost always resolve an unexpected roaming charge, although the exact menu changes depending on the brand.
Follow this order: it's the most likely first, so if step 1 solves it, you don't need to continue.
- Open Settings > Connections (or Networks) > Mobile networks. On almost all Android phones, this is the full path, distinct from the quick icon that appears when you swipe down the top bar. Look for "Data Roaming," "Itinerancia de datos," or "Datos en itinerancia" and turn it off.
- Check that the quick access panel icon points to the same switch. On some phones (especially Xiaomi and Motorola), the quick access controls a different option than the one in Settings, so you might have it "off" at the top and "on" at the bottom without realizing it.
- If you travel and roaming reactivated on its own, check the APN. Go to Settings > Mobile networks > Access Point Names (APN) and confirm that there isn't a new profile automatically created by the visited network with roaming enabled by default.
- Restart your phone after turning off the switch. Some Android phones don't apply the network change until the next restart or until you toggle airplane mode once.
- If none of this works, contact your carrier. The roaming block might be forced by a network configuration sent via SMS or by the carrier itself (common with prepaid lines), and this block cannot be removed from the phone's settings.
Where do I enable and disable roaming?
Roaming exists in two places that are not always synchronized: the quick access panel (the icon that appears when you swipe down from the top) and the full menu in Settings > Mobile networks. The first is a shortcut; the second is where the complete configuration truly resides, including voice and SMS roaming separately from data roaming.
The exact path varies from one brand to another because each manufacturer customizes its Android overlay (One UI on Samsung, HyperOS/MIUI on Xiaomi, Motorola's interface, or a Pixel's pure Android). This table summarizes the most common paths:
| Brand / Overlay | Path to roaming switch | Detail to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung (One UI) | Settings > Connections > Mobile networks > Data Roaming | If you have two SIMs, the switch appears duplicated: one for each line. |
| Xiaomi / Redmi (HyperOS or MIUI) | Settings > SIMs and networks > tap active line > Data Roaming | The quick access from the top panel does not always reflect this same switch. |
| Motorola (near-stock Android) | Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > tap line > Roaming | The menu is one of the most similar to Google's standard Android. |
| Google Pixel / Stock Android | Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Roaming | Reference for recent Android versions without brand customization. |
| Huawei (no Google, EMUI/HarmonyOS) | Different menu from the rest as it doesn't use Google services | Full steps are in the specific guide for Huawei. |
If your model doesn't appear exactly the same, search for "roaming" directly in the Settings search bar (the magnifying glass usually at the top of the menu): it will take you to the switch without having to guess the submenu.
Why does my roaming activate?
It's not your imagination: there are several technical reasons why an Android phone reactivates roaming without you touching it, and almost none of them have to do with user error.
- Phone restart or shutdown. Some models restore network settings to the SIM profile's values at each startup.
- Operating system update. A major update can rewrite network settings and return the switch to its "factory" state (activated).
- Reset network settings. If you ever used the "Reset network settings" option (e.g., to troubleshoot a Wi-Fi problem), that also resets roaming.
- Automatic switch to a new APN profile. When entering a different carrier's coverage for the first time, the phone sometimes downloads a network profile from that carrier that has roaming enabled.
- Dual SIM with eSIM and physical SIM. Each line has its own roaming switch. It's easy to turn off one line and forget that the other is still active.
Before boarding the plane, check the switch in Settings > Mobile networks, not just the quick panel one: they are different shortcuts on several brands, and one might be off while the other remains active.
Specifically on Xiaomi with HyperOS, it's advisable to check the switch again after installing a system update: some versions treat the update as a "new network profile" and reactivate data roaming even if you had turned it off weeks prior. This is not a notification that appears on screen, so if you travel frequently, it's worth checking after each update and not just before a trip.
How to remove the R from the Samsung phone signal?
The letter "R" that appears next to the signal icon (instead of the normal coverage bar) indicates that your phone is registered on another carrier's network, either because you are outside your country or because your local carrier does not have its own coverage in that area and uses an agreement with another network. It is a network registration indicator, not necessarily a charge indicator: you can have the R visible and data roaming turned off at the same time, because voice and SMS are registered on the visited network even if you don't use data there.
To make the R disappear completely, you have two paths, and neither is instantaneous on all models:
- Activate airplane mode and deactivate it after a few seconds, to force the phone to search for a network from scratch.
- If it still appears, go to Settings > Mobile networks > Network operators and change from "Automatic selection" to manual, choosing your own carrier if it appears in the list (outside your country this is not always possible).
If what bothers you is the charge and not the icon itself, you don't need the R to disappear: just confirm that "Data Roaming" is still off in Settings. The R will remain there for voice registration, and that usually doesn't incur charges if your plan doesn't include calls or SMS abroad.
Is turning off mobile data the same as turning off roaming?
No, and confusing them is why people sometimes lose internet in their own country or, conversely, continue to spend data abroad without realizing it.
| Turn off "Mobile Data" | Turn off "Data Roaming" | |
|---|---|---|
| What it cuts off | All cellular internet, in your country and abroad | Only internet when you are connected to a network that is not yours (usually outside your country) |
| What still works | Wi-Fi, normal calls and SMS | Mobile data in your country, Wi-Fi, calls and SMS |
| When to use it | If you want to control total data consumption at home | Before traveling, to avoid spending data with the local carrier at your destination |
| Common mistake | Turning it off thinking it only affects roaming (you lose internet in your country) | Leaving it activated thinking it's the same as "mobile data" (you get charged at the destination) |
What can't you use if you disable roaming?
When you turn off data roaming, you lose cellular internet in the country you are in (outside your own). What remains available depends on which switch you touched:
- Wi-Fi: still works the same, at the hotel, airport, or any available network.
- Wi-Fi calling: if your carrier offers it and you have it activated, you can still receive calls to your number even if data roaming is turned off.
- SMS and cellular network calls: they have their own roaming switch, independent of data. You can leave them active if your plan includes them, or turn them off if you want to avoid them completely.
- Apps that depend on constant internet: maps with live navigation, messaging with multimedia, streaming: all of these need data, so without roaming and without Wi-Fi, they will lose connection.
If you need internet at your destination without relying on Wi-Fi everywhere, the usual alternative is a data eSIM for that country or region, which works in parallel with your normal line without touching your home carrier's roaming.
You've disabled roaming and it still doesn't work: what to check
When the switch is off but the problem persists, it's almost always one of these four cases, in order of frequency:
- The wrong switch. Check that it's the "Data Roaming" switch in Settings and not just the quick panel icon, which on some models controls something else.
- Dual SIM. If you use eSIM and physical SIM simultaneously, each line has its own roaming. Check both, not just the one you use as primary.
- APN needs reconfiguring. Go to Settings > Mobile networks > Access Point Names and compare it with the APN indicated by your carrier for your plan; sometimes an automatically downloaded profile overwrites the correct one.
- The destination network does not have a roaming agreement with your carrier. No phone setting can fix this: only your carrier can confirm it, and in that case, there will be no signal even if roaming is correctly configured.
If after checking these four points the phone still has no data, it's a coverage or plan issue, not a configuration one, and no phone setting will resolve it.
Does international roaming always cost money?
Not necessarily: it depends entirely on your plan and your carrier, so it's best to confirm with them before traveling rather than assuming a price. Some plans include roaming in certain countries at no additional cost, others charge per MB or per day, and still others simply don't offer it and block data connection outside the country even if the switch is activated.
That's why the roaming switch, by itself, doesn't tell you how much you're going to pay: it's a door that opens or closes the possibility of connecting, but the price (if any) is defined by the plan contracted with your carrier. Confirming it before you leave avoids surprises, in either direction.
Roaming off vs. eSIM: what's best for your next trip
Turning off roaming solves unexpected charges, but it also leaves you without mobile data at your destination unless you rely on Wi-Fi for the entire trip. The most common alternative for having internet without using your home carrier's roaming is to install a data eSIM just for that trip, which coexists with your main line without affecting it.
| Home carrier roaming (off) | Home carrier roaming (on) | Data eSIM for destination | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet outside Wi-Fi | No | Yes, if plan includes it | Yes |
| Cost | None | Depends on plan (confirm with your carrier) | Purchased before or during the trip, separate from home plan |
| Your usual number | Remains for calls/SMS | Remains for calls/SMS | Remains: eSIM is for data only, in parallel |
| Installation | Already on the phone | Already on the phone | Requires a compatible phone; check the list of compatible models |
If your phone is compatible, installing an eSIM before your flight is the step that avoids having to touch your home carrier's roaming: you leave it off as in this guide and use the eSIM for data. If you've never installed one, the step-by-step installation guide covers the complete process, and if it's your first time using one, the article on what an eSIM is explains the difference from a physical SIM.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to restart my phone after disabling roaming?
Not always, but if the change doesn't seem to apply, restarting (or toggling airplane mode) usually forces the phone to re-register on the network with the new configuration.
Does airplane mode also automatically disable roaming?
Airplane mode cuts off all cellular connection, including roaming, while activated. But when you deactivate it, the roaming switch returns to its previous state: if it was on before activating airplane mode, it will remain on afterward.
Can I disable only data roaming and leave calls active?
Yes. On most Android phones, data roaming and voice/SMS roaming are separate switches within the same Mobile Networks menu. You can turn off only data if your plan includes calls at the destination.
Are the steps the same on an iPhone?
The concept is the same (a "Data Roaming" switch in Settings > Mobile Data), but the iOS menu is different from Android and is not covered in this guide.
Why does my Android still show the R after turning off roaming?
The R indicates registration on a network that is not yours, and that voice/SMS registration may still be active even if data roaming is turned off. They are two different things: check the section about the R in this guide to differentiate them.
Does disabling roaming affect normal Wi-Fi?
No. Roaming only controls data connection over the cellular network outside your usual carrier. Wi-Fi works completely independently, whether you have it activated or not.
What if I have two SIMs (physical + eSIM) in the same phone?
Each line has its own roaming switch. If you only turn one off, the other may continue to incur charges at the destination without you realizing it. Check both separately in Settings > Mobile networks.
How do I prevent this from happening again on my next trip?
Leave your home operator's roaming off as a rule and use a data-only eSIM for trips where you need internet outside of Wi-Fi. This way, the problematic switch is never an issue again.
In summary
The switch that solves the problem in most cases is "Data roaming" within Settings > Mobile networks, not the quick panel icon. If after turning it off and restarting your phone the charges or lack of signal continue, the problem is no longer in the phone's settings but in your operator's plan or the destination's network agreement, and you should resolve it directly with them.
For trips where you do want data at your destination without relying on your home operator's roaming, an eSIM fills that gap: it installs in minutes, covers more than 200 destinations, and has 24/7 support in all languages via email and WhatsApp if anything is unclear during your trip. You can buy it up to 180 days in advance and activate it right when you land, without touching your main line's roaming. If you want to compare the two ways of having internet outside your country beforehand, the eSIM vs. physical SIM guide and the complete eSIM guide for travel delve into each option; and if something doesn't make sense during installation, the list of common eSIM problems solves the most frequent cases.
