How to Disable Roaming Mode on a Huawei Device
To disable roaming on a Huawei device, go to Settings > Mobile network (on some devices, it appears as Settings > More connections > Mobile network) and turn off the "Data roaming" switch. On most phones with EMUI or HarmonyOS, the change applies instantly, without needing to restart.
This is the method that works on most recent Huawei devices, but the exact path changes depending on the system version and whether your phone has one or two active lines. Follow this order, from most to least likely:
- Settings > Mobile network > Data roaming. This is the direct path on most devices with EMUI 11 and above, and with HarmonyOS. Turn off the switch and you're done.
- Settings > More connections > Mobile network. Some EMUI models hide "Mobile network" inside "More connections" instead of showing it as a main category.
- Settings > Dual SIM & mobile network > [select the line] > Data roaming. If your Huawei has two SIMs (or one physical plus an eSIM), the roaming switch lives within each line separately, not in a single menu.
- From the quick access panel (swiping down from the top). On several EMUI devices, there's a "Mobile data" icon; long-press it to go directly to the network screen instead of searching in Settings.
- Searching for "roaming" in the Settings search bar. If none of the previous paths match your menu, use the magnifying glass at the top of the Settings app and type "roaming": it will take you directly to the switch, even if the manufacturer moved the menu in your version.
If you still see the roaming icon in the status bar after turning it off, check the general guide to disable international roaming, which covers variants that apply to Android in general, not just Huawei.
Where to Enable and Disable Roaming on Huawei
Roaming lives within the same network menu where you configure mobile data: Settings > Mobile network. It's not a separate function or a separate app, so if you search for "roaming" as if it were an independent application, you won't find it.
What confuses most users is that this menu has three similar switches, and it's easy to tap the wrong one:
- Mobile data: completely turns on or off the use of cellular data (with or without roaming).
- Data roaming: allows you to use the internet when you are outside your carrier's network. This is the one you are looking for.
- Automatic network switch: decides whether the phone only searches for a compatible network when it loses signal. It is not directly related to roaming charges but is usually in the same menu.
If you have dual SIM, each line has its own complete network configuration block, with its own roaming switch. Turning off roaming on line 1 does not turn it off on line 2.
Steps According to Version: EMUI 10-14 and HarmonyOS
Huawei has reorganized the Settings menu several times between versions, and some phones with regional updates show different texts even if they share the system version. This table summarizes where the switch is usually located according to the most common version in each age range.
| System Version | Common Path | Switch Name |
|---|---|---|
| EMUI 8 / EMUI 9 | Settings > Wireless & networks > More > Mobile networks | Data roaming |
| EMUI 10 / EMUI 10.1 | Settings > More connections > Mobile networks | Data roaming |
| EMUI 11 / EMUI 12 | Settings > Mobile network | Data roaming |
| EMUI 13 / EMUI 14 | Settings > Mobile network > [SIM line] > Data roaming | Data roaming |
| HarmonyOS 3 / HarmonyOS 4 | Settings > Mobile network > [SIM line] > Data roaming | Data roaming |
If your device doesn't exactly fit any row—because your carrier or country installed its own customization layer—the Settings search bar (step 5 of the previous section) remains the most reliable shortcut.
Why Roaming Activates by Itself (Even If You've Disabled It)?
It almost always happens for one of these four reasons, and none of them are your fault: a system update reset the setting, you have dual SIM and turned off roaming on the wrong line, a third-party app to "optimize battery" touched the network settings when restarting the phone in the background, or you confused the data roaming switch with the mobile data switch and never actually turned it off.
Basic support rule: check the roaming switch after each system update, not just before traveling. An update can reset network settings to their factory defaults without warning.
Another frequent cause: if you leave the country and re-enter (for example, on a trip with a layover), some Huawei devices re-detect the network and automatically reactivate roaming upon reconnection, even if you had turned it off when you left the first time. It's worth confirming as soon as you land, not just before taking off.
Data, Call, and SMS Roaming: Not the Same
The "Data roaming" switch only controls internet. Calls and text messages in roaming depend on your carrier and your plan, not a switch on the phone: you can have data roaming off and still receive a call or SMS with a charge if your plan does not include voice roaming.
| Function | Controlled from | How to avoid the charge |
|---|---|---|
| Data roaming | Switch on the phone | Turn it off in Settings > Mobile network |
| Roaming calls | Plan contracted with your carrier | Put the phone in airplane mode or data only (without cellular network) |
| Roaming SMS | Plan contracted with your carrier | Deactivate the physical line or leave it without cellular signal |
If you truly want zero risk of charges for your physical line while traveling, the only sure way is for that line to have no cellular signal at all—airplane mode, or remove it and use data only via Wi-Fi or a second line specifically intended for the country you are in.
Dual SIM on Huawei and Roaming on the Wrong Line
If you use a physical SIM from your country along with a travel eSIM, there is a behavior in dual-SIM Huawei devices that almost no one checks and that can result in a charge even if you have manually turned off roaming: smart data switching.
This function (Settings > Dual SIM & mobile network > Smart data switching) makes the phone automatically switch to the line with the best signal when the one you are using for data briefly loses coverage. The problem is that if your travel eSIM has a brief signal gap—which is normal when moving between areas of a city—the phone can switch to the physical line with roaming from your home carrier, generate data traffic there, and then switch back to the eSIM without you seeing any notification.
The fix is to turn off this automatic switching while traveling, or at least confirm which line was set as the default data line before leaving home. You can check which phones support this type of dual-line configuration well in the guide to eSIM-compatible phones.
How to Enable Roaming on Huawei (and When It's Worth It)
Enabling it is the same switch, in the same path: Settings > Mobile network > Data roaming, turned on. The real question is not how to enable it, but when it makes sense to intentionally leave it on:
- As an emergency backup, when your travel data plan has run out and you need to resolve something specific (a map, an urgent message) and accept the charge for that one time.
- To receive SMS verification codes from your bank or apps that depend on your local number, if your plan includes SMS roaming.
- For emergency calls with your usual number, when you need to be reachable on your regular line.
Outside of these three cases, leaving roaming on "just in case" throughout the trip is the most common way to end up with an unexpected charge.
You've Already Been Charged for Roaming: What to Do
If the charge has already appeared, the first step is to confirm the exact date on your bill or your carrier's usage details and cross-reference it with your itinerary: this tells you if it happened upon landing, during a layover, or throughout the entire trip due to a setting that was never turned off. With that date in hand, filing a complaint with your carrier is much faster to resolve.
Next, review the four causes from the previous section on your own phone—recent update, wrong line, battery optimization app, or switch confusion—to find out what yours was and avoid repeating it on your next trip.
If you discover that the problem was not a misplaced switch but that your carrier simply charges high or in an unclear way for international roaming—quite common—then it's worth separating your travel data usage from your regular line. A travel eSIM installs separately, without touching your physical SIM, and doesn't rely on you remembering to turn off any roaming switch: it simply doesn't use it.
Carrier Roaming vs. Travel eSIM: Which Is Better for Your Trip?
Your usual carrier's roaming has a real advantage: you don't install anything, you use your same number. Its disadvantage is that the price and conditions depend entirely on the carrier, and they are usually different in each country you travel to. A travel eSIM solves this with a data plan designed for the destination, but it is a new line, not your usual number.
| Aspect | Local Carrier Roaming | Travel eSIM (PuraSIM) |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | None: use your line as is | Activation in approximately 1 minute |
| Coverage | Depends on your carrier's agreements country by country | More than 200 destinations available |
| Support if something fails | According to your carrier's support channel | 24/7 in all languages, via email and WhatsApp |
| Time to use it | Not applicable (it's your regular line) | 180 days to activate from the purchase date |
| Your usual number | Yes, it is maintained | No; it's an additional data line |
If you're going to be away for a short time and only need to handle an emergency, turning off roaming for most of the trip and turning it on only when necessary might suffice. If you're going to rely on the internet for the entire trip—maps, work, video calls—it's worth checking what an eSIM is before deciding: the guide to what an eSIM is explains the technical difference from a physical SIM, and the eSIM vs. roaming comparison goes into detail about when each is appropriate. You can check available destinations in the international eSIM collection.
Checklist Before Traveling with Your Huawei
Before leaving home, with your phone in hand:
- Confirm in Settings > Mobile network that "Data roaming" is off on your physical line.
- If you have dual SIM, check the switch on each line separately; don't assume that turning it off on one turns it off on the other.
- If you're going to use a travel eSIM, turn off "Smart data switching" or confirm that the eSIM is set as the default data line.
- Install the eSIM using Wi-Fi before you leave, not at the destination airport with poor signal; complete steps are in the guide to installing an eSIM.
- If something doesn't connect upon arrival, first check the most common errors in the eSIM common problems guide before assuming the phone isn't compatible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does airplane mode also disable roaming?
Yes, airplane mode cuts off all cellular signal, including roaming, as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth if you don't reactivate them separately. It's the fastest way to stop any charges on your physical line, but it also completely cuts off calls and SMS, not just data.
Can I disable data roaming and leave calls and SMS active?
The phone's switch only controls data. Roaming calls and SMS depend on your plan with the carrier: if the plan includes them, they will continue to work even if data roaming is off.
No. Roaming only controls the cellular network. With Wi-Fi connected, WhatsApp, email, and any app continue to work the same as at home, whether roaming is enabled or disabled.
Do I need to restart my Huawei after disabling roaming?
In most cases, no; the change applies instantly. If the roaming icon still appears in the status bar after a couple of minutes, a restart usually solves it.
Does roaming deactivate automatically when I leave the country?
No. The switch maintains the value you set until you change it, or until a system update resets it. Leaving the country does not turn it off or on by itself.
Why doesn't my Huawei have the roaming option in Settings?
It's almost always because it's in a different path, not because it's missing: check under "More connections" or search for "roaming" in the Settings search bar. On dual SIM devices, it's also within each line's configuration, not in a general menu.
Does roaming consume battery even when disabled?
The switch itself does not consume battery when off. What can consume more is the phone constantly searching for a network if it doesn't detect a compatible one, which is independent of roaming.
Can I disable roaming before traveling, while still in my country?
Yes, and it is recommended. Turning it off at home, with Wi-Fi and time to confirm the change has been applied, avoids doing it in a hurry at the airport or once you already have the destination's signal.
Conclusion
Disabling roaming on a Huawei is a matter of a well-placed switch: Settings > Mobile networks > Roaming data, checked for each line if you have dual SIM, and reconfirmed after any system update. If you've already received a charge, check the date against your itinerary and the four most common causes before complaining.
If what's happening to you is that your carrier's roaming simply isn't suitable for the type of trip you're taking—multiple countries, high data consumption, or wanting responsive support if something goes wrong—it makes sense to separate that line entirely. You can check the definitive eSIM guide for travel or directly view the available plans by destination in the international eSIM collection, with 24/7 support via email and WhatsApp if you need help installing it.
