Imagine that you land in a foreign country and find that your phone is not connecting to any network. You cannot make calls, texts or use Internet. International roaming is essential for staying connected while traveling internationally, but when it does not work, it can cause irritation and disrupt your plans. This guide will give you step-by-step solutions to troubleshoot international roaming not working issues and recommend practical alternatives to ensure you are always connected, no matter where you are.
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International roaming is a service offered by mobile network operators of a country to allow their customers to make calls, send texts, and use mobile data with their SIM home cards in another country without changing SIM cards.
However, the cost of international roaming is often higher than other options, like using SIM/eSIM cards.
Most travelers only use international roaming when they do not have access to other options.
When international roaming does not work, it is often due to one of the following reasons:
You must activate roaming services before you travel. If not, your phone will not connect to networks abroad.
To activate international roaming services on your phone, take these steps:
Some phone settings can prevent roaming from working.
For example:
Not all SIM cards work in every region. Older SIM cards or those from regional carriers may not support the network frequencies used in certain countries. Incompatible SIM cards can block your access to calls, texts, and data.
Your carrier may not have agreements with local network operators in the country you’re visiting. Without these agreements, your phone won’t connect to any network, even if roaming is enabled.
Outdated phone software or missing carrier updates can interfere with roaming. These updates are necessary to ensure your device can connect to networks abroad. Without them, roaming may not function properly.
Take these troubleshooting steps to resolve your data roaming not working:
Once you confirm that your plan supports data roaming, you can enable it from your device settings.
When you arrive at your destination, go to your phone’s Network Selection settings and switch to manual mode. Then, choose a compatible local network from the list.
Resetting network settings can fix software glitches.
► Learn: Does reset network settings delete eSIM?
Ensure that your SIM card supports international roaming. You can also insert the SIM card into another device to test functionality.
You can consider alternatives to international roaming below:
eSIM allows users to make calls, send texts, or use mobile data without changing your SIM cards (similarly to the benefits of international roaming) but with more reasonable fees.
You can use eSIM from a provider that offers international data plans. I recommend Gigago provider, which offers eSIM plans for 200+ countries and regions. They offer convenient, and cost-effective eSIMs with stable and high-speed connections. However, eSIM only works on phones that support eSIM functionality.
Research which local carriers offer SIM cards for tourists and buy them upon arrival at airports or in city destinations. However, if your phone has only one SIM tray, you need to remove your primary SIM card and save it in a safe place, which is rather inconvenient for travelers.
You can also rent or buy a portable WiFi device that connects to local networks. This device allows multiple devices to connect to the Internet simultaneously. But you need to return it after finishing the trip (if you rent it).
If supported by your carrier, WiFi calling allows you to make and receive calls over a WiFi connection without relying on cellular networks.
► Learn: eSIM wifi calling
To troubleshoot international roaming issues, start by ensuring roaming is enabled on your account and follow the guidelines mentioned above. If things do not work, consider alternatives. Preparation is key. With these steps, you will get connected no matter where you go.
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