How to turn off data roaming on your iPhone for international travel, or completely turn off cellular data
- It's a good idea to turn off data roaming on your iPhone if you want to avoid using data while traveling internationally.
- This will help you avoid roaming fees your carrier may charge while you're abroad.
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Data "roaming" is when your phone connects to a network that isn't owned by your wireless carrier so that you can continue receiving calls and using data.
And while this isn't an issue when traveling domestically, depending on your plan, it can be while you're abroad.
To avoid incurring any exorbitant fees from your carrier, you'll want to turn off data roaming when you're overseas.
For iPhone users, this can be done in four simple steps. Here's how.
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How to turn off data roaming on your iPhone
1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap "Cellular."
3. Tap "Cellular Data Options."
4. Tap the slider to the right of "Data Roaming" so that it turns white.
How to turn off cellular data completely on your iPhone
If you'd like to take some additional measures against incurring roaming charges, turn off cellular data entirely.
1. To turn off cellular data, open the Settings app and tap "Cellular."
2. Tap the slider to the right of "Cellular Data" so that it turns white, as shown here.
How to turn on Airplane Mode on your iPhone
You can also enable Airplane Mode, which will disable calls in addition to turning off data.
1. To turn on Airplane Mode, open the Settings app and tap the slider to the right of "Airplane Mode" to enable it.
2. The slider will turn green when Airplane Mode is on and an airplane icon will appear on the top left of your screen.
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