international travel airplane mode

The Dos & Don’ts of Using Your Phone Overseas

Our smartphones make our everyday lives much easier, providing us with a constant stream of communication and knowledge at our fingertips. Overseas, your phone can be an equally powerful tool to maximize your travels and stay connected with loved ones back home.

There are a few best practices to keep in mind so you can stay safe and connected while you travel. Here are our top tips for using your phone overseas.

Do: Turn Off Data Roaming

Before you get on that plane (or train) to leave the country, turn off both data roaming and cellular data on your phone. This will prevent your device from connecting to towers or networks along your journey, leading to pricey roaming charges from your carrier.

At least…in theory. Some third-party apps , particularly those with automatic data syncing (like Google, iCloud, and Dropbox), can turn cellular data and data roaming on by themselves. Comb through your app list while you’re packing to make sure you’ve uninstalled or restricted data access for these types of apps. 

While you’re at it, reset your data usage statistics before you leave and monitor the graph while you travel. If something is still using data even after you’ve turned everything off, it’ll show up right away.

Don't: Rely on Airplane Mode.

Airplane mode doesn’t actually turn off data roaming and cellular data. One family learned that the hard way, returning home to a $13,470 bill thanks to “offline” apps quietly updating software and refreshing ads in the background (yikes!).

Airplane mode turns off all your phone's radio connections (cellular, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi), but apps that don’t require an internet connection will continue to use data. Your best bet to avoid expensive roaming charges is to turn off data roaming or — even better — use a prepaid data plan .

When you check your roaming bill...

Do: Get a Prepaid Data Plan

Avid travelers typically opt for local SIM cards or else just remove their SIM cards and rely on WiFi hotspots, but better options exist. If your phone has eSIM support, you can access cheap, convenient mobile data plans on demand from a marketplace like  Airalo .

Depending on where you’re going, a mobile data plan can be a godsend. Whether you need maps or to connect with local resources, a functioning phone may mean the difference between a frustrating and blissful trip.

If your phone was manufactured after 2018 and it’s not a cheap burner phone, there’s a chance it has eSIM support. Here’s a list of devices that have it.

Don't: Rely on Wi-Fi

Don’t hope that Wi-Fi is available everywhere you go. Relying on Wi-Fi for international travel is a common bit of advice for travelers on a budget, but only about 59% of the world has internet. While that number is substantially higher in the developed world and tourist hotspots, it says nothing about connection stability or speed.

A better option is to have data access at the ready. With a prepaid eSIM plan, you can connect to data no matter where you are in the world. It’s as simple as downloading and activating a data pack and topping it up as you go. That means no more spotty Wi-Fi and instant access to an internet connection.

Do: Refresh Your Phone's Security

If there’s one thing you’re most likely to lose on your trip, it’s your phone. Research shows that smartphones are the most commonly misplaced and stolen devices during travel. Prepare for this by revisiting your phone’s security measures before you leave. 

We recommend that you:

• Update multi-factor authentication steps so they’re accessible if you can’t receive calls or texts.
• Get a VPN for when you’re connected to public WiFi abroad.
• Use a password manager.
• Check for security patches or updates before leaving.
• Set up a phone tracker app in the event that your phone goes missing.

Don't: Leave Your Phone Case Behind

Electronic data security matters, but so does physical security. Don’t leave home without a solid phone case and possibly a screen protector (if you’re the adventurous type, you’ll thank us!). It’s easy for your phone to slip out of your hand or pocket while you’re climbing the next peak or sprinting to catch the next train. Protecting your device on all fronts will save you the stress (and tears) of a cracked screen or dislodged component.

Do: Back Up Your Phone

Backing up your phone to the cloud keeps your data safe while you’re traveling. To maintain your privacy, you should strongly consider performing a factory reset as well to remove your personal information from the device

There are two main reasons for this. First, border agents and customs can search your phone – both at the US border and abroad. Some reports suggest that certain countries, like China, may install tracking software on your phone that downloads your data, texts, and even your social media activity.

Second, airport WiFi is of increasing interest to hackers, thanks to open (unsecured) WiFi and waiting crowds connecting to it. Even if you’re using a VPN, you have no idea who may be eavesdropping on your connection.

If you don’t want to perform a factory reset before you leave, then definitely perform one when you get back. You will likely encounter questionable WiFi connections while abroad, so assume your device has been compromised and take proactive steps to minimize that threat.

Don't: Trust Open Wi-Fi Connections

Don’t leave automatic Wi-Fi connectivity on while you travel. It might seem obvious not to trust open connections in cafes or hotels, but you don’t even need to be knowingly connected to a network for your data to be stolen.

To turn off your automatic Wi-Fi connection on an iPhone:

• Go to “Settings”
• Tap “Wi-Fi”
• Choose “Ask to Join Networks”
• Switch it on

On an Android:

• Tap “Network & Internet”
• Tap “Wi-Fi Preferences”
• Switch off “Connect to Open Networks” 

Using your phone abroad to stay connected and on track is entirely possible with a few preparations. From knowing your options regarding mobile data to securing your device from hardware to operating system, make sure you’re laying the groundwork for a fun, connected, stress-free vacation.

Need mobile data while you travel? You’ve got options. Check them out in the Airalo marketplace .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is data roaming.

Data roaming is a feature that allows you to connect to a mobile network outside of your carrier's coverage area. Although data roaming allows you to continue to access mobile services, doing so is significantly more costly than using data within your home network.

Should data roaming be on or off abroad?

It's best to turn data roaming off when you are abroad to avoid incurring roaming charges from your carrier. However, if you have an eSIM or data roaming plan, you may need to turn data roaming on to continue to access your mobile services abroad. 

Can I use my phone overseas without roaming?

Yes, it is possible to use your phone overseas without roaming by taking advantage of eSIMs, local SIM cards, Wi-Fi, or international plans. For example, you can use an eSIM to add a local or international plan to your phone without physically changing your SIM card. This enables you to use mobile services abroad without worrying about unexpected roaming charges from your provider.

What is airplane mode?

Airplane mode is a feature available on many electronic devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops, that allows you to quickly disable wireless communication functions. When airplane mode is activated, it turns off your device's radio-frequency transmission capabilities, including cellular networks, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. The purpose of airplane mode is to ensure that the device does not transmit signals that could potentially interfere with the communication and navigation systems of an airplane during flight.

Does airplane mode use data?

No, airplane mode does not use data. When you activate airplane mode on your device, it disables all wireless communication functions, including cellular data, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. While you can manually enable Wi-Fi after turning on airplane mode, the device won't use mobile data unless you disable airplane mode or turn on mobile data separately.

Does airplane mode prevent roaming charges?

Yes, activating airplane mode can help prevent roaming charges while you are abroad. When you turn on airplane mode, it disables all wireless communication functions on your device, including cellular networks. This means that your device won't connect to any mobile network, and you won't incur roaming charges for voice calls, text messages, or mobile data.

Can I use Wi-Fi on airplane mode internationally?

Yes, you can use Wi-Fi while in airplane mode internationally. When you activate airplane mode on your device, it turns off cellular networks, including voice, data, and text messaging; however, it does not disable Wi-Fi. You can manually enable Wi-Fi while in airplane mode, allowing you to connect to available Wi-Fi networks without incurring international roaming charges.

Ready to try eSIMs and change the way you stay connected?

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How to Use Your Phone Internationally With Minimal Charges

5 strategies to help you connect in other countries without paying a bundle.

If you travel to another country and use your smartphone as you would in the States — to access maps, check email, text the kids, many times a day — you could end up with hundreds of dollars in fees. To connect abroad affordably, you need a strategy. Here are your easiest options.

1. Put your phone in airplane mode to avoid charges

Aside from features such as the camera, only use the phone when you can connect to Wi-Fi. Some phones and  apps  automatically download data when the phone is on and connected, leading to charges — even if you aren’t using the phone for calls. To make calls, use apps such as WhatsApp (which is also great for texting photos to friends), FaceTime, Skype, Google Voice, Viber and Facebook Messenger.

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2. Get an international phone plan

Every phone carrier offers its customers international plans, which vary. If you use T-Mobile, for instance, your monthly plans include unlimited overseas texting and data, at no extra charge, and 25 cents per minute for phone calls. But, again, you can avoid those fees by switching to airplane mode. (See tip No. 1.) For Verizon customers, overseas options include a TravelPass plan that costs $10 per day for unlimited calling, texting and data. AT&T’s International Day Pass is also $10 per day with the same benefits. Google offers a wireless phone service called Google Fi: The plan covers texting and data, whether you’re at home or abroad, though you’ll pay 20 cents a minute for overseas calls. The  Federal Communications Commission  maintains a list of select service providers and how to contact them about their international plans (click on “Web Resources: Service Providers”). Most carriers offer cheaper options if you’re visiting Mexico or Canada.

3. Buy a prepaid SIM card to use your phone in another country

This is a slightly more complicated option: A SIM card stores your subscriber data in your phone. When you’re traveling internationally, you can replace it with one that gives you a local phone number. The first step: Ask your carrier to “unlock” your phone (a “locked” phone will only work on your carrier’s network). The unlocking process varies depending on the phone and the carrier; some new phones are unlocked by default.

You can buy a SIM card before you leave. Amazon, for example, sells SIM cards for Europe ranging from around $20-$50, typically for 30 days of use. (Before you buy, research the most used networks in the country you’re visiting and buy that brand of SIM card. In France, for example, the largest mobile company is Orange, followed by SFR and Bouygues Telecom.) The cards vary based on the amount of data, minutes and texts, and the number of countries where you can use it. You can install it after you land by following instructions that are included with the card.

Another option is to buy a SIM card at your destination — such as from a mobile provider at the airport or a local department store. The upside of buying it when you arrive: A store employee can help you choose the right data plan, install the card and make sure it’s the right one for your phone. (Older iPhones, for example, have different SIM cards than newer iPhones, which might not have SIM cards.)

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4. Try an eSIM card in your phone

Most new phones have what’s called an  eSIM card . Unlike the physical SIM card that you can remove from a phone, an eSIM is a microchip embedded in the phone’s hardware. That eSIM can be useful when you’re traveling internationally. Instead of replacing a SIM card, you can add a plan to your eSIM from a local provider in the country you’re visiting, or purchase data through eSIM providers such as Airalo, Flexiroam, GigSky and Nomad. Apple maintains an  online list  of wireless carriers and service providers that offer eSIM service. You also can find information online about eSIMs in  iPhones  and  Android  phones (including which ones support eSIMs, since Android phones vary depending on the manufacturer).

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5. Mix and match options while traveling

It’s OK to choose more than one of these options. Seattle-based travel writer Mary Jo Manzanares, 68, uses Airalo for data but makes calls with WhatsApp. Andy Gibson, 54, an IT specialist in Virginia who recently traveled to Germany, used T-Mobile for its free data but also used WhatsApp for calls. A combination of strategies can help you save money.

Editor's note: This article was originally published on Aug. 20, 2019. It's been updated to reflect new information. 

Ken Budd has written for  National Geographic Traveler , Travel+Leisure , The Washington Post Magazine  and many more. He is the author of a memoir,  The Voluntourist.

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Simple Flying

Do you really need to put your phone in airplane mode for a flight.

A look at why airplane mode exists and how important it really is.

• Phones in airplane mode are not dangerous while flying. The main reason for using airplane mode is to conserve battery.
• European aviation regulator EASA allows full use of electronic devices during flights, but airlines have discretion.
• The 5G C-Band rollout in the US caused safety issues for aviation due to interference with radar altimeters, but the issue has been resolved.

In many countries and on most airlines, passengers are reminded to turn their phones' cellular functionality off before every flight. This requirement alone led tech companies to develop "airplane mode" and name it accordingly. The reasons for cellular devices preflight announcement are straightforward and long-established. This article will talk about the background of the use of airplane mode and how dangerous phones really are. Additionally, the 5G US rollout troubles will be addressed at the end.

Regulatory background

Regulators differ on the topic of whether phones need to be in airplane mode or not. For its part, the FAA in the US disallows the use of cellular devices if they do not have their carrier-provided cellular transmitting function turned off (otherwise known as airplane mode). The FAA outlines this policy in Advisory Circular 91.21-1D , where it's made clear in section 9.2 that using a personal electronic device's cellular transmitting functions in the air is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rule which the FAA enforces. Passengers are allowed to use cell phones to make calls on the ground according to the Advisory Circular, but airlines must ensure passengers turn this function off in the air.

The European aviation regulator EASA was in agreement with the FAA until September 2014. Since then, EASA has allowed electronic devices to remain on and connected during all phases of flight. In a press release , EASA explicitly states that devices no longer need to be in airplane mode during flight. However, each airline maintains discretion about the application of this rule and can only allow passengers to use devices after an undefined "assessment process." The bottom line is that there is a decade-old precedent set by EASA which allows for full cell phone use in-flight.

Safety considerations

The argument behind every regulation is safety. In the case of cell phones, the FAA and FCC reason that cell phones can interfere with critical navigational systems on planes. At the top of the list of systems that use radio frequency bands are ILS components used for landing in poor weather, as well as ground-based systems like VORs and other beacons. These nav aids reside at the lower end of the electromagnetic spectrum, far below the frequencies used to power cell phones. Instrument landing systems utilize frequencies between 108-112 MHz, while mobile phones generally utilize the 800-1800MHz bands for functionality, depending on their age and technology. The distance between the frequencies for phones and VHF navigation equipment is great enough to not produce interference.

The reality is that there is not a single definitive instance when cellular technology was solely responsible for an accident. At any given time, countless passengers on a flight do not have airplane mode enabled nor their phones turned off. Aside from being far-removed from VHS frequencies used for navigation, individual PEDs simply are not powerful enough to interfere with aviation. Leaving a phone's cellular functionality on only depletes the device's battery as it fruitlessly searches for satellites that the phone is too high and moving far too fast to connect to for any reliable signal.

5G problems

Those who follow aviation news closely know about the troubles with the 5G C-Band rollout in the US in 2020 which did cause a safety hazard to aviation. The FCC allowed telecommunications companies to utilize 3700-3980 MHz for 5G networks. Radar altimeters, which are some of the most critical parts of an airliner's auto-land capabilities, use 4200-4400 MHz. These frequencies are closer together than the previous frequencies, and this has led to issues.

Radar altimeters have a limited ability to "filter" spurious nearby frequencies according to RTCA Inc. RTCA conducted a thorough assessment of telecommunication interference with low range radar altimeters and found that individual phones on the ground do not interfere with radar altimeters. However, 5G ground transmission stations represent a threat and can cause a plane's radar altimeter to not function properly if it receives nuisance signals from nearby frequencies. This poses no real problem on a clear day when the pilots can see the runway from miles away, but it affects landings on days when the visibility is limited since pilots rely on radar altimeters to decide whether to land or go-around.

Want to read more about the 5G problem and solutions? Check out more articles here.

In the past few years, airlines have installed 5G C-band filters on their fleets to eliminate radar altimeter interference from 5G telecommunications networks. Though no accidents resulted from this interference, many flights and passengers were impacted by the short-sighted rollout of the 5G network. Limitations existed for over two years at many airports affected by 5G interference. In a perfect world, the FCC would not have allowed 5G to utilize frequency bands so near to those used by aviation. Additionally, more tests could have been conducted on the front-end which would have allowed engineers to detect the problems and install filters on airplanes in anticipation rather than as a reaction.

Conclusions

Cell phones not being in airplane mode are not at all dangerous while flying. The best reason for placing a PED in airplane mode is to conserve battery while allowing you to connect to the airline's in-flight Wi-Fi without your device attempting to roam and disconnecting your stream as a result. The rollout of 5G in the US market wasn't properly vetted at its outset, but that issue has since been resolved. Barring massive changes in telecommunications and equally massive lapses in regulatory protocol, having a phone not in airplane mode while flying should never result in anything more than a dead battery when you pull it out of your pocket after the flight.

A Complete Guide to Using Your iPhone Abroad: For Dummies

This complete guide to using your iPhone* overseas includes comprehensive details, such that even the least tech-savvy people will be able to use their smartphones abroad by following the instructions below.

This post contains affiliate links. 

In this guide, we’ll go over:

1. How to use Airplane mode and Wifi 2. How iMessage and FaceTime work overseas 3. Best apps for texting overseas 4. Using international SIM cards with your American iPhone 5. Locked vs unlocked phones 6. Must-have travel accessories for your iPhone 7. Freezing your existing cell phone plan 8. Adding international service to your existing cell phone plan 9. Keeping your US phone number even if you cancel your service 10. Overview of the best cell phone plans for travelers 11. Dumbphones: Buying a cheap international cell phone 12. International Hotspot: Global Wifi Device

*Android users, while your exact Settings instructions will vary a bit from the iPhone’s Settings instructions detailed in this post, the ideas are exactly the same.

Read it, save it, pin it , share it. Help me help you and your friends to be smart with your cell phone bill when you travel.

First, What Type of Traveler Are You?

If you have no idea what you should be doing with your iPhone abroad, start here to identify which parts of this guide apply directly to you.

A – Short-Term Traveler: You’re going on a one-time short trip (less than a month) and you want Wifi capability to keep in touch with family and friends or check Facebook, email, post to Instagram, etc., but you don’t necessarily need an international SIM card or international data. Pay attention to sections 1, 2, 3, 6.

B – Relocator: You’re going abroad for at least a month to one location or region and would like an international SIM card to have all the regular calling and data capabilities of your smartphone abroad. Examples: Study abroad students, working or volunteering abroad, or moving abroad. Pay attention to sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9.

C – Convenience Traveler:  Trip length doesn’t matter so much to you, you just want to be able to add international service to your already existing plan, so that you can easily use it in multiple places without having to think twice. Pay attention to sections 3, 6, 7, and 10.

D – Nomad: You’re peacing out without a long-term plan, you need all the data in all the countries. You’re hoping to not switch SIM cards all that often, or at all if possible. Pay attention to sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10.

1. Using Airplane Mode and Wifi

This section will help you completely avoid international charges on your iPhone bill.

Why is this important? If you don’t freeze your account (Section 8) and your phone happens to pick up service in foreign countries, you might be tempted to use apps or answer calls, and that will skyrocket your bill.

SKY. ROCKET. Your bill. International charges will be applied to your account, and the sight will not be pretty.

Avoid international charges, yet still enjoy the apps on your phone by connecting to Wifi.

You don’t need to do anything special to your phone before you go abroad. After you arrive in your destination country:

How to Turn on Airplane Mode and Use Wifi at the Same Time (Yes, you can)

Swipe down from the home screen to access your control center:

As long as Airplane Mode is ON, you won’t be charged for data. To double triple make sure you won’t be charged for data, do this:

• Settings –> Cellular –> turn Cellular Data OFF

Any apps that function on Wifi (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Mail, Voxer, etc.) are accessible as long as you are connected to Wifi. Go to town.

Turning off Airplane Mode and Cellular Data essentially turns off your phone number and the data you normally pay for.

This means you cannot receive or place regular phone calls or SMS messages (iMessage excluded, see next section). Also, you can’t access anything that needs Wifi to function if you’re not connected to a Wifi signal.

No Control Center? Using Airplane Mode and Wifi for Dummies:

Step 1: In your Settings, turn Airplane Mode ON (make sure the little airplane icon is highlighted). This ensures you will not use any data or incur any unexpected international charges.

Step 2: In your Settings, select Wifi, and turn your Wifi ON. Airplane Mode automatically turns Wifi OFF, so you will want to go in and turn it back ON.

Your only chance to use your phone’s Wifi-capable apps and functions will be when you are connected to Wifi. If you aren’t picking up any free signals, you’ll want to head to a coffee shop or your hotel to find one.

Step 3: To connect to a Wifi signal, go into your Settings, select Wifi, and select a network. If your hotel or a restaurant provides Wifi that takes a password, you’ll need to get the password from them, then select that network and type in the password to connect.

2. Using iMessage and FaceTime Overseas (for free)

Sorry Android, this is for iPhone only.

Connect your iPhone to Wifi with iMessage and FaceTime turned ON and activated:

• Settings —> Messages —> make sure iMessage is ON
• Settings —> FaceTime —> make sure FaceTime is ON
• If you have been switching SIMs and phone numbers around recently and iMessage isn’t activating on your iPhone, restart your phone and try again.

iMessage and FaceTime work through your Apple ID if they can’t use your affiliated phone number. This means that in Settings—> Messages—> Send & Receive, you will see all the options you have to reach people through iMessage.

Your email address will be one option when your phone number is frozen or unavailable (i.e., perhaps you switched out your SIM). Friends at home might see an email address instead of your phone number when you send a text, but it still works.

You won’t be charged for using these services if Airplane Mode is ON or your Cellular Data is OFF. If Airplane Mode is not on and your Cellular Data is turned on, FaceTime will charge as Data, so be careful.

Using iMessage and FaceTime for Dummies

FaceTime: A nice way to chat with family and friends back home as long as they have iPhones and are awake at the same time as you! (Mind the time zone!)

Open your contacts, select the person you want to FaceTime with, and hit the video icon in your options.

Alternatively, open your FaceTime app (it looks like the green one in the photo above). On the top, select Audio or Video. Then type the name of the person you’d like to chat with. They should appear in a list. Then tap their name to place the call.

If they don’t have an iPhone, this won’t work.

iMessage: Yes, iMessage functions on Wifi (between iPhones only), so you can text all you want with others who also have iPhones and iMessage, even overseas!

You don’t have to do anything special to make iMessage work (it should already be turned on in your Settings). Your phone already knows what to do.

Simply text anyone else with an iPhone. If you aren’t sure who has one, look back in your texts. Anyone you text with blue text bubbles has an iPhone, but anyone with green text bubbles does not.

3. Best Apps for International Texting and Calling (for free)

All of the following listed app functions are free on Wifi. Please note that it is necessary for each user to communicate through the same app. For example, you can’t send a WhatsApp message or place a call to someone who doesn’t have WhatsApp.

Most popular app outside the US for texting and phone calls.

Download it and activate your phone number with it. Even if you freeze your phone number or switch out the SIM, you can still opt to continue using WhatsApp with the original number that you connect to it.

The only time this won’t work is if you give up your number and someone else starts using it. (Avoid that with Tossable Digits , read more about saving your phone number while you travel here).

Functions: texting, sending images and videos, voice messages, video calls, audio calls.

Refer to the previous section.

Functions: texting, sending images, and videos from iPhone to iPhone only.

Functions: audio and video calls from iPhone to iPhone only.

Facebook Messenger

Messenger has come a long way.

Functions: texting, sending images and videos, and placing voice and video calls.

One of my favorite apps for keeping in touch with my best friends and family. It’s like a walkie-talkie app .

Functions: texting, sending images and videos, voice messages up to 15 minutes long.

4. Using an International SIM Card with an American iPhone

aka How to get a foreign phone number with data .

SIM Cards for Dummies

A SIM card is essentially your cell phone number and whatever data you pay for, while the actual phone is just the machine that makes it all work.

This means you can take out your SIM and insert it into another (unlocked) phone and make a phone call, and the person you are calling still sees your name on the caller ID.

It also means you could take out your SIM, and still use your same phone with Wifi to access any apps, you just wouldn’t have your phone number or any data connected anymore.

Taking out your SIM essentially does the same thing as turning on Airplane Mode or turning off Cellular Data. Your phone just becomes a Wifi device.

So, getting a foreign SIM means getting a foreign phone number and data. This is ideal for people moving to one place overseas for longer than a month.

Before you do anything else (like leave the country), make sure:

• Your phone has a SIM card slot. See the photo below if you don’t know what this looks like.
• Your phone is unlocked. See next section for more about unlocked vs. locked cell phones.

Having an unlocked phone is important if you want to be able to use your own phone once you get abroad. If your phone is locked, you will have to buy a local phone rather than use your own.

Unlocking your phone gives you the ability to use an international SIM card .

As long as you have an unlocked phone with a SIM card slot, you should be able to purchase a SIM overseas, or pre-order a SIM card , with data, calling, texting, whatever you need. Then slip it into your phone, and have a fully-functioning local phone.

How to Install a SIM Card

After you arrive in your destination country:

Step 1: Purchase a SIM card. There are three different sizes of SIM cards: regular, micro, and nano.

Newer iPhones use nano-SIM cards, but most SIM cards for sale will come in a “one size fits all” format, with perforations in the plastic such that you can punch out the size you need to fit in your phone’s SIM card slot. Be sure to check before you buy.

Getting one might be as easy as purchasing one from a vending machine like the one in the photo below from London Heathrow Airport (I’ve never done this!). In most cases, however, you will need to locate a store where they are available for purchase This I have done a ton of times.

SIM cards are cheap. You can get a SIM with a decent amount of data and calling for under $20 just about everywhere, then you just “top up” when your data gets low.

You may want to do a bit of research on the best carriers in your destination country before you choose one.

When purchasing an international SIM card, keep in mind:

• If you purchase it from a cellular carrier, you may be required to show your passport, so bring it with you.
• Some SIM carriers have better coverage or offer better pricing than others. If you have a chance, ask around to see which carrier the locals prefer before you commit.
• Some SIM carriers might simply be a better option because they exist in more than one country. For example in Italy, you could go with an Italian SIM carrier, like Tim, or a general European one, like Vodafone, that will recharge your data or minutes in more countries than just Italy. This is a good thing to keep in mind if you’ll be traveling through multiple countries.
• Make sure it is the right size and will work for your phone, whatever phone you decided to buy it for.

Step 2: Purchase any extra credits or data that might not have come included on your SIM card. These will be available in the same store where you buy your SIM card. Many convenience stores also sell them.

They come in the form of cards with scratch-off codes or it may be an automated system that the store clerk can do for you.

Your SIM card provides your phone number, while credits and data provide your service. It is pay-as-you-go with SIM cards, so once you use up your credit, you will need to buy more. Don’t worry, you will still have all your apps on your phone, switching out the SIM is simply switching out the phone number.

Step 3: Insert the SIM card into your phone. For iPhones, make sure your phone is off, take off any case you might have, and find the tiny slot on the side with a little hole in it. Use a paper clip to push into the hole (push hard), and that little tray will slide out. Remove your SIM card associated with your account in the States (be very careful not to lose this!) and replace it with your new international SIM card. Turn your phone back on to set up your new SIM.

Tip: tape your home SIM card to a card in your wallet for safe keeping. For additional security, store that card in a room safe if you have one.

Step 4: Add any credits/data that you purchased. If you’re using a card with a scratch-off code, just follow the instructions on the card. Usually, you dial a number, and a recording tells you what to do, entering your scratch-off code to activate your credit.

Be careful if you are in a country that speaks another language, perhaps ask someone else to help you load your credits to make sure nothing gets lost in translation.

Once you have activated your credit, you should be good to go! You will have a local phone number, and you should be able to use everything on your phone just as you would in the States.

Buy an International SIM Card Online

If you want to pre-order an international SIM card for iPhone and have it topped up and ready to go for immediate use, try one from SimOptions.

It’s a bit more expensive than an international plan like T-Mobile or Sprint, and also more expensive than a local SIM, but it is super convenient and guarantees you’ll hit the ground abroad with service. Plus, you can easily top up your data online.

You can get a Europe SIM card easily. Check out all your international SIM card options at SimOptions.

Learn more about pre-ordering international SIM cards .

5. Locked vs. Unlocked Phones

aka How a US iPhone works overseas

When a phone is “locked,” it essentially means it will only operate with the carrier through which you have a contract and, most likely, a monthly payment for the phone.

Carriers do this so you won’t jump ship and start using another carrier. If you bought it through a specific carrier, like at a Verizon store, chances are it came locked.

However, US cell phone carriers will unlock your iPhone for international use if you just ask them. “Unlocking” is a software issue, not hardware, so your carrier can unlock your phone remotely. This will enable your iPhone to be compatible with SIM carriers in other countries.

Unlocking your phone basically means you could go abroad, purchase an international SIM card, put it in your iPhone, and use your iPhone abroad with that carrier as explained in the previous section.

It sounds simple, and sometimes it is, but it requires action on your part, and it’s different for every carrier (if you purchased through a carrier). Click here to find out how to unlock your iPhone with your carrier and use it overseas.

iPhones purchased direct from Apple and paid for in full are always unlocked.

6. Must-Have Travel Accessories for Your iPhone

1. pop socket.

Before they were super popular, one of the top five questions I got asked anywhere was “WHAT is that THING on your phone???”

That “thing” is the cheapest insurance policy I’ve ever bought. That “thing” is a pop socket . Since I bought it, I haven’t dropped my phone while taking photos, texting, or other.

It acts as an extra grip on the slippery iPhone, plus it provides leverage so that I can reach the entire screen with one hand (iPhones are getting so big these days). It also acts as a stand so I can prop up the phone to watch videos, and it really helps if I’m lying in bed and holding my phone above my face so I don’t drop it on myself.

I got it brand new with the case I mention next, stuck it on in March of 2017, and it has not budged at all.

I’m not convinced there is much else out there that is more worth your next $15. I am completely unaffiliated with them and completely in love with their product.

Expert tip: Do NOT purchase a generic version, the stickiness is not guaranteed to be strong. Saving a couple of bucks is not worth losing your iPhone which cost several hundred dollars if the sticky part gives. Stick with Pop Socket 😉

Update 2022: I’m now happily using a PopWallet+ from PopSockets so I can keep my ID and credit cards with my phone without worrying about finding a credit card iphone case that works, because honestly I couldn’t once I bought the iPhone 12. I’m now using an Otterbox case with my PopWallet+ and it sticks just fine and has served me well.

2. Hidden Credit Card iPhone Case

I’m not a purse girl. I love having my ID and credit card ready with my phone; however, I DON’T like it when everyone else can SEE my credit card just hanging out on the back of my phone. Especially if I pass my phone to someone to snap a photo of me.

Look at that photo above one more time. You’d never know there is a hidden credit card slot.

This brilliant little baby is by Spigen , and I swear by it for my iPhone 6.* It is a little worn, but I used it from March of 2017 through December 2018 without breaking, nor did my phone get any dropping damage whatsoever with this case on (I rarely drop it because of the grip of my Pop Socket).

For the ultimate credit card phone case stealth mode, I highly recommend it.

*Update 2022: If this amazing Spigen case fits your phone, get it. If you don’t have an older phone, don’t get it because the new Spigen cases are NOT as good.

I’ve upgraded my phone and am now happily using a PopWallet+ from PopSockets so I can keep my ID and credit cards with my phone without worrying about finding a credit card iPhone case that works. I’m now using an Otterbox case with my PopWallet+ and it sticks just fine and has served me well. I still use this tempered glass screen protector .

3. Waterproof Case

This is a simple waterproof phone case by Joto, sort of like a dry bag for your phone for those of us who don’t have Lifeproof cases. It has smart material so you can operate the screen through plastic. For $8, another great insurance policy for the active traveler.

4. Anker Charger

I can’t get through any packing list or iPhone post without mentioning my absolute favorite mobile USB phone charger. No matter which one you get, go with one from Anker , they are a great brand and make powerful batteries.

I’ve had mine since the summer of 2015 and it still charges my phone up to 7 times on one charge. I never leave home without it.

7. Freezing Your Existing Cell Phone Plan

aka How to not pay money for services you aren’t using.

If you are leaving for at least a month and not going to be needing your US cellular service at all during that time, I suggest that you put your service on hold. You should be able to do this online or by calling your carrier’s customer service.

For Verizon, you can freeze your service online in your MyVerizon account. In my experience in the past, if you call customer service and ask them to do it, they charge a $15 fee, so be smart about how you do it.

On one trip to Mexico in 2014, I waited until I arrived, then I did it online and it took effect immediately. Upon arrival back to the States, you can go back online and have them reactivate your service immediately as well.

Even if your carrier charges a small fee to keep your line “alive” while it hibernates, it could still save you a significant amount of money that would otherwise be wasted.

Note: You will not be able to receive regular SMS texts or phone calls while your service is on hold. Your phone becomes a Wifi device without an active SIM card (you can still use iMessage and FaceTime with your AppleID).

Because I switched to T-Mobile , I do not have to do this anymore. This is for people who want to keep everything about your regular account the same, but you’ll be leaving for long enough to put it on hold for a bit.

The other option would be using Tossable Digits to keep or save your number while traveling , but cancel your plan completely for now (see section 9).

8. Adding International Service to Your Existing Cell Phone Plan

This part is a little tricky for me to write about because there are many different cellular carriers within the US, and each carrier’s services and rates are going to vary. Not to mention the fact that they seem to constantly change.

I wrote a post comparing cell phone plans for travelers , check that out to see what your carrier/plan includes.

Verizon International Service

Verizon has an option to activate a Travel Pass for $5/day in Mexico and Canada and $10/day in over 130 countries worldwide. For short-term trips, this can be a great option. For long-term trips, $10/day = roughly $300/month. Please don’t be that dummy.

Also, remember to activate your Travel Pass BEFORE you travel, otherwise, you’re screwed.

See more about Verizon’s international travel solutions here .

AT&T International Service

AT&T has the same idea as Verizon, but they call it the International Day Pass and it starts at $10/day.

Some of AT&T’s existing plans already cover talk and text in Mexico and Canada, so be sure to know what you’re already paying for before you purchase coverage.

See more about AT&T’s international travel solutions here .

T-Mobile & Sprint International Service

T-Mobile is leading the movement that has made this girl ONE HAPPY TRAVELER. The T-Mobile ONE plan gets you unlimited (2G) data in more than 140 countries worldwide. Sprint is catching on and implementing similar plans.

All you have to do to use it is overseas is make sure your roaming is turned ON:

• Settings —> Cellular —> Cellular Data (ON) and Cellular Data Options (Roaming ON)

While you’re in Settings, turn on your FREE Wifi calling:

• Settings —> Phone —> Wifi Calling ON

Times have changed. Even Montana has T-Mobile now, which was my biggest problem with the carrier until 2018.

Read more about the best cell phone plans for travelers .

9. How to Keep Your US Cell Phone Number When You Travel

Guess what! You don’t have to say goodbye to your precious cell phone number that you’ve had for years just because you’re going abroad for a while.

You can cancel your existing, expensive cell phone plan AND keep your number, even having calls and texts forwarded in the meantime, and reactivating it with a new service at home upon your return.

How? Use Tossable Digits . You essentially turn your existing number into a virtual number by porting it to Tossable Digits (don’t do this until you’re abroad and ready to cancel your existing cell phone plan).

You only pay for the forwarded texts and calls that you use, and you can cancel any time. Lots of people have found this to be a massively helpful solution when it comes to phone numbers and travel.

Check out everything you need to know to save your phone number while you travel .

10. Overview of the Best Cell Phone Plans for Travelers

I have a whole post dedicated to comparing cell phone plans for travelers , but here is a quick summary:

T-Mobile : Best for the frequent traveler or nomad who skips around a lot but still has a home base in the US.

Sprint: Same offering as T-Mobile, not great coverage in the US.

Verizon: Best coverage in the US, has a Travel Pass for short trips, so it is still a great option for frequent but short-term travelers. Not ideal for any long-term travel.

AT&T: Same idea as Verizon.

Project Fi: Consider Project Fi if the Wifi aspect makes sense in your area (and you’re willing to give up your precious iPhone), or stick to what you have.

Click here to read the full post.

11. Dumbphones: Buying a Cheap International Cell Phone

A “dumbphone” is what I call the opposite of a smartphone. It still has a flip screen, qwerty keyboard, or… just buttons. Remember those?

You won’t be able to use your dumbphone abroad unless it is SIM card-compatible, and even then some countries are strict about what phones will work with their networks. Check behind the battery to see if there is a SIM card in there.

Most dumbphones in the US are not SIM-compatible, but don’t worry, because your destination country is bound to have many international cell phones for you to choose from for cheap. The phones will already be SIM-capable and some might even come packaged with a SIM card and credits included.

This means that you do not need to have a smartphone overseas, you can still have a regular phone, but the ones overseas will be SIM-capable, and that is the key to using it abroad.

You will simply need to purchase a new phone, and in most cases, this won’t cost you much. I have paid as little as $10 (Brazil) and as much as $65 (Italy) for a phone abroad.

Refer to Sections 4 and 5 above for help with using SIM cards in dumbphones.

12. International Hotspot: Global Wifi Device

An international hotspot is a portable device that connects to local data and produces a private Wifi signal just for the owner of the device to use (and share with friends or family).

You do not need a SIM card for it, but it will only work where there is cell service. For example, in Germany it might connect to Telekom, in the US it might connect to AT&T, etc., but if there is no cell service for it to connect to, it won’t magically provide a Wifi signal.

With a portable global Wifi device, you don’t need to buy SIM cards or find public Wifi for your phone, you can simply turn on your device, connect to its signal with your phone and laptop, and you are charged for every 24 hours that you use.

I don’t consider this a better option than SIM cards if you’re going on a long-term trip, because the charges will add up quickly. But if you’re traveling somewhere for a short time that has good connectivity (i.e. don’t bring this to Patagonia and expect a signal), this would be a good option if you need to stay connected, especially if you’ll be using the internet on your laptop.

Here are a couple of options to get started with international Wifi devices:

• Skyroam : Skyroam’s device is called Solis. It works as a portable 4G LTE Global Wifi device AND a power charger at the same time. It costs about $9/day. Use promo code BMTWIFI to receive a discount!
• Tep Wireless : Tep’s device is called Teppy, and you can rent it for a trip and return it by mail. It also costs about $9/day.

Conclusions

Tell me, have I forgotten anything?

To read more about using your iPhone abroad, check these out:

• How to Unlock Your iPhone and Use and International SIM Card
• Using Your iPhone Abroad with Wifi and Airplane Mode
• How to Set Up a Telcel SIM Card in Mexico
• Portable iPhone Charger: Anker Review
• Best Road Trip Apps For Your Next Adventure
• Comparing Cell Phone Plans For Travelers
• Global SIM Card Magic: I Switched to T-Mobile and I’m Not Looking Back

Also, now it’s your turn! I would love to hear about your experience taking your phones abroad. It helps others reading the comments if YOU share successes and failures with phones abroad.

What did you do right? Is there something you wish you knew before you left? Can you add anything else to the information here? Please share in the comments!

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• Tags airplane mode , international cell phone plans , international phone number , international sim card , iphone , iPhone apps , study abroad , t-mobile , unlocking iPhone , wifi abroad

111 replies on “A Complete Guide to Using Your iPhone Abroad: For Dummies”

Thank a lot for posting this. I am the Dumb phone Users: Buying a Cheap International Cell Phone”. I normally carry my basic cell phone purchased in Trinidad and Tobago, get a SIM card and phone card at the airport upon arrival. This way I can call locally and internationally. Any tips on a workable camera for under $200-$25USD, would be helpful? Thanks again for the detailed information, I learned a lot about my Iphone which I am not taking on this vacation. 🙂

Glad you found it helpful! As for cameras, I stopped carrying them a while ago, I just use my iPhone and my GoPro, but I am a big fan of Canon cameras when I have them!

[…] Related: A Complete Guide to Using Your iPhone Abroad, for Dummies […]

Thanks for the great article! I was researching how to use a current phone and adding an international number. Have you had any experience with using your phone in Cuba? My plan was to unlock an old iPhone 4, buy a SIM card for it and use it as our Cuba phone so our friends could get in touch with us and we could use it to make and confirm appointments. After reading your article, I think just unlocking our current iPhone 5 and buying a SIM card there for it is the way to go. Your thoughts?

I’m sorry I don’t have experience with Cuba specifically. I imagine the best way to go would be to buy a SIM once you get there if you can. Just try to unlock and use your own phone. Good luck!

Cuba is a blacklisted country in the terms of buying a prepaid SIM card, very difficult to buy unless you’re a local resident, roaming data as well as local data is very expensive as well. http://prepaid-data-sim-card.wikia.com/wiki/Cuba

[…] Related: A Complete Guide to Using Your iPhone Abroad: For Dummies […]

[…] A Complete Guide to Using Your iPhone Abroad, for Dummies […]

[…] here for a Complete Guide to Using Your iPhone Abroad. When taking your US smartphone abroad, you have a couple of […]

[…] for taking your smartphone overseas- A Complete Guide to Using Your iPhone Abroad, for Dummies, How to Unlock Your iPhone and Use an International SIM Card, Using Your iPhone Abroad with WiFi […]

[…] Related: A Complete Guide to Using Your iPhone Abroad: For Dummies […]

Great post—thanks for the rundown! I’d love to hear/see a post on cyber security while traveling. Using wifi at hotels and public places can compromise devices and data. My understanding is that it’s extremely easy to siphon off data sent over an unsecured network—passwords you might send while logging in to your bank account or checking your email, etc. I use a VPN (virtual private network), which is easy enough to plug in to my iPhone’s settings (General->VPN) and also have a credit freeze. I was considering trying a wireless travel router for an added layer. I’d love to know how people handle this. Unfortunately identity theft is the petty crime of our era. Thank you for the great travel inspiration!

I agree, and that’s why I’m working on a post about using VPNs while traveling! Stay tuned.

I’d suggest that you all check with your US mobile providers first. A coworker told me that her T Mobile account has free unlimited international service for everything but phone calls (.20/min). We checked with Sprint and have the exact same thing! They just turn it on & we are good to go. Apparently the competition between providers has made this very common. I hope you have the same experience. Good luck!

Going to europe for 2.5/3 months and based off your info, option B seems to be best. If I choose option B and take out my regular sim card will my iMessage and FaceTime be a different email/number when I talk to people or will it still be my same email/number I had with my regular sim in the phone? Wondering if there is a difference between using iMessage/Facetime versus texting/calling with a different sim card.

Yes, it you take out your SIM, you will not have that number associated with your iMessage and FaceTime anymore. Instead, it will be your apple ID that shows up, so be sure that in your settings, you choose to send and receive from your Apple ID instead of your phone number. That way it doesn’t matter which SIM card you have in your phone.

Niall… we’re going to Belize for ten days with iPhones 6. Is there any advantage to buying a SIM card for that period. We’re told we can just dial direct to US or buy a $40 plan. Thanks

Unless you really need to be on your phone, don’t worry about a SIM for just a 10-day trip. You will have plenty of access to WiFi and you can make calls for free using today’s technologies (Skype, WhatsApp, Facebook..) I only recommend a SIM if you’re going to be in one country long-term.

Yes because iMessage works with your Apple ID when it doesn’t go through your phone number. Just check your iMessage settings and make sure you can send and receive from your Apple ID, you might need to be on WiFi for this to work, as I’m not sure what your Argentinian SIM will include. I recommend getting WhatsApp and using that for messaging. Have fun!

so, i’m not that tech savvy, and i learned how to install the sim card to my iphone5s. I’m going to Spain and Portugal. if i understand correctly i can buy a sim card when i get to spain and install it. i have Verizon. so what does it mean to me? verizon has a plan that charges 10.00/day for use, another that is 80.00 flat rate. how does having a sim benefits me? thanks for your response.

Getting a SIM means not using Verizon. It means getting a local phone number and paying locally for data and usage, etc. I recommend getting a local SIM if you plan to be traveling for a while, but for a short trip it’s probably not worth it if you don’t use your phone that much, you can just get by using WiFi in places. If you’re only going for a few days and you want service and don’t want to mess with SIM cards, it could be worth it to just pay Verizon the $10/day, but that gets very expensive if you’re going for a long trip.

Hi Kirk – Okay, this makes sense, I’m going to try to answer this the best I can, but you may consider asking someone at an Apple Store or calling Apple to get the full answer. The reason your devices connect is because they are all associated to your Apple ID. SO, I think that as long as your phone number is still activated (you cannot freeze your account and expect this to work), it makes sense to me that even if you take your SIM out, the other devices should still work at least for texting because they are all still associated with your Apple ID. I am not certain this will work for phone calls. Do you get ALL text messages to your other devices, or only iMessages? Because if it’s only iMessages, then I don’t think it has to do with your phone number at all, we’re only talking about your Apple ID here, which you technically will always have, regardless of which phone number you use. I think you should call Apple and ask them exactly what will happen. And when you find out, I would love to know! Please come back and tell us how it went. I hope that is helpful in some way! Good luck!

I’m going to call APPLE….. BUT…just to test things, I went and purchased a Trac Phone Sim Card ($1)…and I bought a $19 plan just for fun. I plugged it in and as soon as I did….my computers and my iPad and all my devices LIT UP and asked me if I wanted to associate this “NEW NUMBER” with my apple ID….again….just for fun, I said NO! As a result, my other number disappeared…..all text messages coming to the old number STOPPED….all phone calls STOPPED….. Then I made a few calls with the new Sim Card and a few text messages….took it out and put in my OLD sim card…the REAL one….the one that is my regular number……and again all my devices LIT UP asking if I wanted to associate THIS number with my apple ID…I said YES…..and bingo……my voice mails started coming in….my text messages…etc. Just as info…..

Hi. Do I have to unlock my iPhone if I’m just going the wifi/ airplane route?

[…] For short (under 3 months) trips, learn how to freeze your plan, get an international SIM card, or use WiFi and airplane mode in my Complete Guide to Using Your iPhone Abroad. […]

I always bring with me a cheap unlocked T-Mobile or AT&T phone and buy a sim card there when traveling to Europe. It’s inexpensive, there are no hidden charges and some cards are very generous when it comes to calls to the US (gotta check around when you get there). Moreover, you can always refill your card at a convenience store or a supermarket.

I went to England and purchased a local SIM card. Now I am back in the U.S. And have put my American SIM card back into my phone but I’m not receiving any of the texts I missed while out of the country.

I found this so helpful, thank you! I’m traveling to Peru for 11 days, and I was wondering whether it would be better to freeze my service and use the Wi-Fi or to leave it as is and just set it on Airplane Mode and use the Wi-Fi.. what would you recommend? I have an iPhone and a plan with Cricket Wireless.

Don’t worry about freezing your service, that’s only really helpful when you’ll be gone for an entire billing cycle (1 month) or more. Just use Wi-Fi and airplane mode! Have FUN!!

You can remove and insert SIM cards whenever you want to. It does no harm to the phone, it’s just a matter of whether the SIM card will work in your current location or not.

If I’m understanding your question correctly, then I’d say yes to buying an iPhone that uses a SIM card, because that means it can be unlocked (or it comes unlocked) and used overseas. You must have a slot for a SIM card to do this (obviously), but Verizon also is able to put a SIM card in your phone for use in the States. This is why purchasing from a third party vendor (like a cellular store or a kiosk at Target) is a better idea than purchasing through Verizon because they won’t automatically give you a phone that uses SIM cards. I hope that helps!

Very helpful even from the 2016 point of view, thanks 🙂

You are welcome! 🙂

Why is that you have to wait until you reach your destination country before turning on airplane mode? Just curious. Thanks in advance.

Hi Anna! You don’t have to wait, you can put your phone in airplane mode at any time. 🙂

[…] A Complete Guide To Using Your iPhone Abroad […]

Mobile phone is very useful when you travel to different places or in any other countries, just be sure that your phone is open to accept different sim card networks to work well or else it’s useless.

I am going to Mexico in 16 days. I called up Verizon and was able to add a Canada/Mexico plan that gives me 500 minutes, 500 sent texts, unlimited received texts, and 1GB of data for only $25 extra. That’s really good for when I’m out and about and I won’t have WiFi. When I do have WiFi I use WhatsApp to text and I don’t make phone calls much (but have 500 minutes if I do need to call). But the peace of mind of being able to have some data for google maps and what not is nice.

Great post. I kept my iPhone 4S when I upgraded to a 6. It is already unlocked. I plan to buy a Telcel Sim card and data when I am in Baja this winter. And the big hope, and I think it is completely possible, is to hook up the phone as a modem, like I do with Verizon in the US. Any knowledge on the subject?

I wrote the guide on setting up data with Telcel, and yes you can use a prepaid Telcel SIM card in your iPhone 4s as a wifi hotspot, just follow the guide I wrote for adding data https://www.thebudgetmindedtraveler.com/how-to-set-up-a-mexican-telcel-sim-card-with-your-iphone/

Yeah, Alvin! Thanks.

One caveat–be sure to text back to Telcel with the code for the plan you bought when you add $$–or the $$ will be used by the minutes instead of the plan. (That detail that I learned after burning through my data in 2 days was a $60 Spanish lesson.) I learned my mistake from a call to Telcel requesting English speaker.

I recently went to Greece for two weeks and swapped out my iPhone 6 SIM card for a prepaid one and it was great! However, now that I’m home and have my real SIM card in, my iPhone is weird. The name of my phone is back to “iPhone,” iTunes thinks it’s a new phone, all of my saved wifi passwords are gone, and even though Location services is on and apps that use it are configured correctly, I can’t seem to use apps that need locations. Is this a common side effect of swapping SIM cards? I’m wondering if loading a backup from pre-Greece will solve the issue?

That is strange! I have not had that issue so I wouldn’t say it’s normal. It’s definitely good that you backed up your phone before swapping out the SIM, and it probably wouldn’t hurt to restore it to your backup. You can always take it into the Apple store if you have one to have them do it or ask questions to feel safer about it. Let us know how it goes!

My boyfriend and I have Verizon and he is in Korea right now! He got a Korean SIM card for his phone and I just wanted to make sure the SIM card would still work even if his services with Verizon are frozen.

Yes! Your Verizon account is only associated with your Verizon SIM, not your actual phone. As long as your phone is unlocked, it can take any SIM.

This was very helpful – thank you. I am moving to New Zealand this winter. I owe Sprint $480 on my current Samsung Note 4 but have no contract with them otherwise. My phone just broke down on me after 6 months so I have an $800 gift card from my best buy warranty. I have 2 options and would love advice/input. 1. Pay off Sprint. Purchase an iPhone w my gift card and sign up with Verizon. Suspend service when we move and purchase a sim card in nz. 2. Keep my contract with Sprint. Use my gift card to buy an unlocked phone from Best Buy. They carry two brands – blu and some other that I can’t remember. I’d suspend my contract with Sprint upon move and purchase a sim card in nz. I’m leaning towards option 1. Any thoughts?

Just keep in mind you can only suspend your account for a few months max, check into that before you sign up for Verizon. It may be worth looking into T-Mobile, I just made the switch and I’m loving the international data plan. You could always wait to cancel with Sprint, then just cancel when you leave instead of starting with Verizon before you go. Use a NZ SIM while you’re there, and then get a new contract (if you must) when you return.

Option 1, If you are moving to NZ permanently, then buy the unlocked GSM iPhone at full price, if you plan on moving back to the US in the next year, then purchase the Verizon version of the iPhone at full price, sign up with Verizon on a no contract plan until you move to NZ.

If I purchase and use the SIMS card after unlocking my phone would I still be able to use airplane mode and not use the SIMS card and use WIFI in certian situations?

Yes! You can always opt to just use WiFi by turning off the data or switching to airplane mode.

If you insert a local prepaid SIM card with data in your phone when you get to your destination, you’ll be able to use your phone like you would at home with no fear of an expensive phone bill when you get home, no need to put your phone on airplane mode unless you are roaming outside of the country you bought the SIM from.

“Sorry Android”? Not hardly. Skype, Hangouts, Voxer, WhatsApp, Facebook, and others all offer free WiFi calling and video calling on Android. I prefer Hangouts because you can call landlines, and use it on your laptop.

This is all true! There are many options for Android, but not iMessage or Facetime, which is what I was referring to.

Hangouts is an awesome wifi/data app that works across devices and acts as both facetime and iMessage. It can also show up on your laptop/PC when you have messages if you allow it. Overall a very good app.

Hi! This might be a silly question, but if you swap out your sim card and have a local number, what happens to any text messages or phone calls people send to your regular number while you are using the international sim card? I am traveling to Australia for 2 weeks and I am wondering if it is even worth it to try and use an international sim card. But I also want to make sure that I do not miss any important texts or calls while i am away. Thanks!

It’s a great question! You will NOT be able to receive any texts or calls to your regular number in real time if you switch out the SIM. Voicemails may still come through when you put your SIM back in, and you should still be able to check your voicemail (calling from another phone) even while your SIM is out (because your account is still active), but I wouldn’t count on catching everything that comes through. On an iPhone, you can change your iMessage settings to use your apple ID (your email address) instead of your regular phone number, that way you can still communicate with people via iMessage on your new SIM (just don’t forget to change it back when you put your normal SIM back in). This reply is getting long but I have another idea too – if you have one or two people that you really don’t want to miss anything from, text them from your new SIM as soon as you get it, that way they know you have a new number in case they need to get ahold of you. I hope this helps..

Thank you! That helps a lot. Changing the iMessage setting to your apple ID is a brilliant idea!

Yes your phone will update timezones whenever it connects to WiFi as long as it is set to “set automatically” in your settings, which it probably is already. As long as your time is up to date, your alarms will work normally. If you can’t connect to WiFi, simply go into your settings: General > Date & Time > and turn off “set automatically” so you can choose your own timezone. Then your alarms will also work just fine. Hope that answers your question!

I have an iPhone on a Pay Monthly contract with O2. Annoyingly, I cannot ‘freeze’ my contract, despite the fact that I will be leaving the country and living in Spain for nine months. My only answer is essentially, to purchase their O2 Travel Bolt-Ons, which charge you a flat rate of £1.99 a day if using data overseas. Not bad, really. However, my best option is to — like you recommend — keep my phone firmly on Airplane Mode (if simply to conserve battery life!), and log in to any available Wi-Fi spots that I can. I’m also going to encourage my family and friends to install Skype onto their PCs for free video calls.

Interesting, I wish I knew more about O2 to help you. I’m actually about to leave for about 9 months or so myself, I use Verizon and I think I’m just going to cancel my contract, eat the fee, and figure it out from there. I’m considering T-Mobile since it has $50/month unlimited data worldwide, or something crazy like that.. Or I’ll just get SIMs as I go. Let us know how you end up!

Hey Jess- I’m not sure if you can suspend your plan for less than a month, you’ll have to check with your carrier. But if you can’t, don’t worry about it (just continue to pay for it), if you take your SIM out, you don’t have to worry about data charges to your US plan, at that point your phone simply becomes a vessel for WiFi, and then you can put any SIM in it that you want to get local phone service and data (in Europe) and you’ll put credit on that SIM, it will have nothing to do with your US account. I hope that helps!

I am curious that if you suspend the account that all the messages will be lost of people who are trying to call you. I will be going abroad for 40 days. I was thinking of keeping my phone on airport mode and using Viber in wifi for calls. The sims sounds much better but my concern that I will not receive important calls. Any issues?

You are correct – when you suspend your account, your phone number is essentially deactivated for that period of time. It cannot accept calls, nor allow anyone to leave voicemails. If you need to accept phone calls, do not suspend your account. You can always use Skype or another service to call yourself to check your voicemail for important messages (make sure you have a passcode for your voicemail to do this). That’s what I do.

Hi Sarah- it depends on his plan. It may still charge him to accept texts, but if it’s the US phone number that he is still using, I would imagine it wouldn’t charge YOU to text him. I can’t promise though! It really is going to depend on the plan that he got and what number he is using. Here is an idea for both of you- just download Voxer and you can text and talk all you want for free! (And no, they don’t pay me to say that) 😉

A few months ago I found out about Republic Wireless. It’s no contract and allows you to pick one of four plans that are as little as $5/month. That plan strictly uses WiFi for calls, data, and texts, so it can be used internationally without additional fee. We chose to go for the $10 plan that uses WiFi and cell towers for calls and texts while still relying on WiFi for data. They also let you switch plans mid-cycle so you could drop down to the $5 plan while abroad without penalty. The only downside is that you have to purchase one of their phones which are all on the Android operating system. That being said, the phones are very reasonably priced and we are very happy with the service.

You used to have to call to get it unlocked, but it only took a few minutes, now they save you a phone call!

I Jackie, I hope this question hasn’t been asked yet. I scrolled through the answers trying to find out & I don’t see the answer, so……If I buy an overseas SIM card & install it in my unlocked phone, will I be able to text and/or call back to the US on it? (affordably) Thanks.

Hi Cathie- Yes, you will be able to use it internationally to call/text whatever country you want, with international charges according to whoever the SIM is through (the local carrier). You will just have a new (local) phone number.

I’m sure you can order an international SIM through a company that specializes in that, but I’ve never done it. I always just get it on the ground. That being said, yes, you can always get WiFi on your smartphone and use it whether it’s unlocked or not. As long as there is free WiFi at the airport you will be fine to use any app on your phone that works on WiFi.

Hi Amberly! I have not heard of this new SIM card yet but I’m intrigued, thank you for bringing it up, I’ll try to look into it!

Very helpful, thank you so much for sharing! Traveller B is definitely going to be my option, since I will travel to Asia for almost three months. Really wish I had seen this sooner…Wasted a lot of time trying figure things out with Verizon customer service people—all of them were trying to put me on an international calling&texting bundle added to my existing domestic plan (very expensive after accounting for everything), instead of recommending a simple account suspension and purchasing local SIM card. Guess money always comes before customers’ real needs and convenience.

So glad you found it helpful! Enjoy your trip!

If you are going to the UK first, get a Vodafone SIM, great roaming program for the EU. http://www.vodafone.co.uk/shop/pay-as-you-go/travelling-abroad/

So I will be traveling with school for about a month and wanted to “freeze”, put my service on hold (essentially Traveler A). Do you recommend just doing the whole airplane mode process or calling AT&T and putting my account on hold for the time being- or am I suppose to do both? When I called AT&T to ask about putting my account on hold (they called it suspending it), they said it would just be $10 a month and I would not be able to take or make calls but could operate my applications on wifi (such as vibe, Facebook, etc…). I would do the airplane thing, but I’m just afraid it would accidentally turn on. Also if I suspend my account through AT&T, will I still be able to use IMessage or FaceTime when I’m connected to Wifi? Thank you for your help!

If you’re going to be gone for a month, I would do both! Freeze your account just before you leave the US, and then just don’t take your phone off of airplane mode while you’re gone. All airplane mode does is essentially allow WiFi only on your phone, so it’s like an extra security blanket. And yes, you will still be able to use iMessage and FaceTime, I suggest getting Voxer as well. There is SO much you can do with WiFi, who needs phone calls anymore 😉 Have a great trip!!

Be careful as placing a non ATT SIM card in your phone will delete your voicemail!

The SIM cards will work in all those countries, BUT you will be charged roaming fees so get a SIM from the country that you’ll spend the most time in, and prepare yourself with plenty of credit so you don’t have to worry about running out in a place where you can’t buy more credits. I would look for Vodafone, or do some research about which SIMs are available in all those countries and get the one that shows up in the most countries. Hope that helps!

Here is a video showing an unlocked iPhone 6 swapping SIM cards. Hopefully this gives you an idea of how it works. Don’t worry about the special tool that he uses to swap SIM cards, a paper clip bent open works fine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_ispNVHmQY

Does this still work if you are using a Verizon iPhone 6? I read a post about having to call Verizon to have them unlock my phone before going overseas. Do I need to do that, or can I just switch out the Verizon SIM card with an international SIM card once I am in Europe?

You still need to make sure your phone is unlocked. It only takes a few minutes to make the phone call, so I would recommend calling to make sure. The worst would be to get overseas, switch your SIM, and find out your phone is locked. Also, make sure your Verizon iPhone has a SIM card, many don’t, which is why it’s also a good idea to get your phone through a 3rd party company.

The apps and music get stored to your phone (or the cloud), not your SIM card. Therefore when you switch it out, it shouldn’t matter, unless there is a strange glitch everything should be there. However, I would recommend making sure everything is backed up regardless. I do this before every trip anyway just in case anything were to happen to my phone.

Exactly what Jackie said, I perform the iCloud backup before I leave and backup every night when I get a new SIM card and connected to wifi at my destination, don’t wait a few weeks to backup your phone while traveling, especially if you take a lot of photos. Backup your photos to iCloud or dropbox when your phone is plugged in and connected to wifi for the night.

Thanks for sharing all of the options to suit different travelers. I usually opt to use Wi-Fi, but I’m considering other options for longer visits, so it’s nice to know what’s out there and what might best fit me!

Happy to help!

This was EXACTLY the post I needed. I haven’t traveled internationally in a couple of years, and wasn’t sure what was now the suggested way to use cell phones overseas. I have a few school trips coming up (none exceeding a month at a time) and it seems like using WiFi exclusively is the way to go. Quick question though: instead of turning airplane mode ON, is there any difference with just turning off “Cellular Data” and “Data Roaming”? Thanks!

Yay! Glad you found it helpful. I don’t think there is a difference between turning Airplane Mode on or those two things off. I guess just simplicity. It’s like a security blanket, seeing the Airplane is your ticket to FREEdom 😉 and you don’t have to double check your settings.

FYI – The newer iPhones use nano SIM cards, not micro (as mentioned in this post). Please see this helpful reference from Apple. http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT5554

Wonderful, thanks for sharing!

we go to Mexico twice a year for the past 3 years.,I have called verizon each time about the best way use the phone. I’ve gotten a totally different answer each time. I’ve paid for the “Mexican plan.” 3 times, it’s never worked and one time got an international bill from a Mexican provider, a lot of money. The last 2 times we turned everything off but wifi. We had no problems, it,s easy to use. We pay about $10 a week for the service from the resort, well worth it. Last trip a small family emergency came up and I needed to call home. Checked with the resort and it only cost 75 cents a call, what a deal. I highly recommend the wifi plan.

This is great, thanks for sharing, Rod!

I fall under Traveler B, I have an unlocked GSM iPhone 5 that was originally locked to T-Mobile. Two months after I got it, I paid off the full balance of the iPhone and was quickly approved for the unlock, once I got the confirmation from T-Mobile, I connected my iPhone 5 to iTunes via my laptop and performed a backup and restore and got the “Congratulations, your iPhone is now unlocked” message and restored my iPhone from iCloud. I have a Telcel Mexico SIM card that I used in my old unlocked iPhone 3GS and had it cut down to fit the nano SIM and installed it in my newly unlocked iPhone 5 and it recognized it as a Telcel carrier. A few weeks later I was in Spain, during a layover in Madrid I went to an electronics store in the terminal and bought a Orange SIM card with 1GB of data for €15 and added an extra €15 for voice and text credit. I was in Spain for over a month and was able to use my iPhone like I would at home without the fear of outrageous charges on my phone bill. I traveled to the Philippines earlier this year for a month and bought a SMART SIM for P45 ($1) and month of unlimited data (hotspot too) for P1000 ($21) and added P500 ($11) for voice and text credit. After I got back, I travelled to Mexico and used my Telcel Mexico SIM card and bought 1GB of data good for a week for $169.00MXN ($11 US) and extra credit for voice and texts. After too many dead spots in coverage from T-Mobile I switched to AT&T on a non contract month to month plan. That’s five different SIM cards on one iPhone with no special settings needed, I get to my destination and buy and install a new SIM card and off I go. From my experience, every foreign SIM card I have used has had free incoming calls and texts even if there is no credit on the phone. The only special items I needed to bring are the travel adapters from the Apple world travel kit that I paid half price on Ebay and a paper clip to change SIM cards. I have tested several of my friends Verizon 4G LTE iPhone 5, 5C, and 5S with my Telcel Mexico SIM card when I was in Mexico and all of them connected with no problems at all, I even helped them get their own Telcel SIM cards for their iPhones. http://www.verizonwireless.com/aboutus/commitment/safety-security/device-unlocking-policy.html I’m not a fan of buying a dumb phone when I travel, most of those phones get tossed out and added the e-waste pile that gets bigger and bigger each year. A SIM is cheaper than buying a whole dumb phone. Has anybody tried to text from one? Not fun at all. This is why I like to travel with my unlocked iPhone, I’m familiar with my device and able to use it like I would at home much cheaper than any “international plan” through a US carrier.

This is so awesome, thanks for sharing, Alvin!

What your forgetting is ” what’s app” and “bbm” will ask you to associate all contacts with this new number then reverting back to your primary card will be an issue..

Hi Cleo, Using Voxer is my absolute favorite (or in your case Viber or Skype), and you can find WiFi in so many places in Europe that this really becomes a personal preference, and you could easily get by without a SIM. It does limit your interactions to finding WiFi, but it’s free… I think if you really want to have access to phone calls and data on your phone (without WiFi or Skype, etc.) then choose the country you will spend the most time in and get a SIM card there, but make sure it’s Vodafone or another carrier that exist in multiple European countries. This way you can top up minutes and data when you need to, no matter what country you are in. You will essentially be getting a phone number for one country and then you’ll be charged the international rates as you travel through other countries. If you are sharing it could definitely be worth it because it’ll be cheap for you. Do a bit of research to find out which carriers are present in all or most of the countries you’ll be visiting and be sure to get one of their SIMs over a local carrier. Hope this helps!

Awesome post! Thank you!

Glad you enjoyed it, Katie!

Perfect example, thanks for sharing Glenn!

I also have verizon and think that the best decision is to suspend my account, like you mentioned when you went to Mexico. If I do this, will I still be able to imessage and use all of the same wifi functions?

I have not done this personally, but my sources say yes- this is when your iCloud stuff kicks in and rather than sending from your phone number, it will come across as your email address in iMessages (and this is iMessage only, so iPhones only, sorry Droids). And Wi-Fi is a for sure yes for any smartphone (just no data obviously).

So if I suspend my account and just use iMessage from the iCloud, will I still be able to receive iMessages from someone sending a text to my phone number? Or only my email address?

Check out this website to see just how iMessage works: http://www.apple.com/ios/messages/ You can activate your phone number as well as your email address (or multiple email addresses), so when one isn’t available (like if you suspend your account) the other one will kick in. Then what happens (I’m pretty sure) is that when someone tries to send a text to your phone number, the number isn’t available but your email account is, so it just sends “via” your email account instead. It even shows up on your phone as your email account rather than your phone number, but it all still works the same as far as the user experience is concerned. I know this is a confusing subject, I really hope that helps!!

I have the iPhone 4s on Verizon and spent half a year in Ireland recently. Most of the carriers there (I used Vodafone) give away the standard size SIM cards for free. You can take a pair of scissors and cut this down to the micro SIM card size. I lined up my Verizon card over the full size SIM making sure the metal contact points had the same distance to the side of the card. Use a pencil to draw the outline of the smaller card onto the larger card and cut on the line. Hope this helps! My wife and I are really enjoying your podcast. Keep it up!

That’s a great tip! Thanks for sharing, Drew!

[…] The unabridged notes for this episode can be found in the previously published blog post entitled A Complete Guide to Using Your iPhone Abroad: For Dummies. […]

This was so incredibly helpful. My husband and I are heading to France and I’ve had “phone stuff” on my list to research. I just got off the phone with verizon after reading this and they essentially repeated your instructions and have more specific pricing info. Thanks!!

That’s great, Maggie! So glad to be able to help you, have fun in France!

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While preparing for your next international journey, get your iPhone ready. To be secure, connected, and stress-free, you must know essential iPhone settings for international travel. This will help you avoid receiving unexpectedly high bills upon your return. Here, I will tell you cool tips and tricks for using the iPhone while traveling abroad. 

• Use Airplane Mode and Wi-Fi simultaneously
• Use Wi-Fi-based services and apps for international travel
• Turn off Data Roaming or buy a roaming plan
• Benefits of using eSIM on iPhone
• Make sure your iPhone is unlocked
• Reset your data usage statistics
• Update the procedures for multi-factor authentication

1. Use Airplane Mode and Wi-Fi simultaneously

Using Airplane Mode and Wi-Fi ensures your iPhone bill won’t include any foreign fees. You can use mobile data or accept calls if your phone picks up service in a foreign country. Therefore, connecting to Wi-Fi may avoid paying for overseas data while using your phone’s apps.

So, how to use Wi-Fi and Airplane mode simultaneously? Here’s how to do this: 

• Swipe up to open the Control Center .
• Tap the Airplane and Wi-Fi icons. 

Also, you should turn off your Cellular Data. You can do so from the Control Centre, or you could do it from Settings:

• Go to Settings. Tap Cellular Data.
• Now, toggle off Cellular Data . 

But this iPhone settings for international travel restrict you from making or receiving ordinary phone calls or text messages (iMessage excluded). You may use any Wi-Fi-enabled applications (such as Facebook, Instagram, etc.) as long as you are connected to Wi-Fi. Besides, add your tickets to your Apple Wallet to avoid any inconvenience.

2. Use Wi-Fi based services and apps for international travel

If you’re traveling to a location where you anticipate having access to Wi-Fi, you should use it because it enables your iPhone to operate online rather than accessing your mobile data. Besides, the best part is your iPhone already comes with several Wi-Fi-based built-in apps. With iMessage, you can send SMS via Wi-Fi (to other iPhones only). 

Similarly, FaceTime allows you to conduct network-based voice and video calls. Ensure you have enabled iMessage and FaceTime in Settings . Also, you can view options for sending messages using iMessage in Settings → Messages → Send & Receive . Sometimes, our SIM switches out of network. In that case, you may use your email address to send a text.

If you are a customer of the big four carriers, another perk of using the iPhone internationally is Wi-Fi calling. Essentially, this built-in carrier function allows the native app to place audio calls via Wi-Fi when there is no cellular service. Besides, you may use other Wi-Fi-enabled travel apps for iPhone , like Skype, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, etc., for calling and texting. 

It will reduce your data usage, whether you purchase a local SIM card or an eSIM data plan. We will talk about the benefits of having eSIM later in this post.

3. Turn off Data Roaming or buy a roaming plan

We all know data roaming helps to access the internet in other regions. But connecting to partner networks overseas results in a hefty bill. So, should data roaming be on or off on iPhone? Well, always disable data roaming on your iPhone to avoid being charged the international fee. For that, do the following:

• Open Settings .
• Tap Cellular Data .
• Now, go to Cellular Data Options .
• Then toggle off the switch beside the Data Roaming option.

Besides, to be extra secure, completely switch off Cellular Data . However, you’ll need to turn it on if you have an eSIM data plan.

In case you wish to use Cellular Data while on the go, then you may opt for an international roaming plan offered by your carrier.

4. Benefits of using eSIM on iPhone

An eSIM is a standard digital SIM supported by carriers across the globe. The iPhone XS and subsequent models support eSIM. And the US variant of the latest iPhone 14 does not allow conventional SIM cards and only supports eSIM.

While traveling overseas, there are several benefits of eSIM . Because it cannot be taken out, it is more secure than a real SIM. So, you don’t need to buy, carry, or exchange physical SIM cards. Additionally, your carrier could let you manage your eSIM plan online and may provide free international roaming with data plans.

The functionality of international roaming with an eSIM is identical to that of physical SIM roaming. Besides, you may have two active eSIM plans while using a data-only eSIM as your secondary line. You only need to change iPhone settings for international travel. To choose your data line, open Settings → Cellular → Cellular (or Mobile) Data .

5. Make sure your iPhone is unlocked

Carriers lock handsets to keep customers on their network. If your iPhone is carrier-locked, it functions just like a real SIM card and can only be used by that carrier. But you can not use local SIM cards or even eSIM services while traveling internationally. Therefore, if your phone is locked, you’ll have to use Wi-Fi or pay international roaming fees. 

Besides, Apple advises contacting your carrier to have them unlock your iPhone. Frequently, just stating that you’ll be going overseas and want a local phone number may be sufficient. But if they object, there are several third-party alternatives available. But how to check if your iPhone is unlocked?

• Go to Settings . Tap General .
• Then tap About .
• Scroll down to see if you see No SIM restrictions next to Carrier Lock . If so, your iPhone has been unlocked.

6. Reset your data usage statistics

It’s a good idea to monitor your data consumption while you’re on the road. Additionally, you may identify apps that consume a lot of data and stop them. To reset the app statistics before international travel, do the following. 

• Open Settings, then go to Cellular Data .
• After that, scroll down to the bottom and click on Reset Statistics . This will allow you to see exactly how much data you use while traveling.

7. Update the procedures for multi-factor authentication

Most multi-factor authentication or two-step verification send you an OTP to verify your identity and protect your accounts against fraud. However, you can lock out your email at a crucial time if you don’t have a network overseas. Therefore, update your 2FA logins to be as easily available to avoid this. 

Get a Google Voice number by temporarily transferring your phone number to Google. Or install an authenticator app, like Google Authenticator or LastPass Authenticator.

So, that’s all for today, folks!

Preparing for your next travel includes setting up your iPhone as well. Knowing what to turn off on your iPhone when traveling internationally will bring convenience, save your pocket, and keep you connected on the road. Please let me know in the comment section below if you have any doubts.

Explore more about traveling with iPhone …

• 10+ Must-have travel accessories for iPhone
• iPhone Travel Guide – Accessories and travel apps
• Best Apple Watch Travel Apps

Ava is a die-hard Apple aficionado and seasoned writer with a knack for breaking down complex tech concepts into easily digestible content. Having honed her writing and editing skills over 3 years at renowned media houses like TechBurner, Ava crafts informative and engaging articles including troubleshooting guides, product reviews, editorials at iGeeksBlog. When not typing, you can find her exploring the latest Apple releases or pondering the future of tech innovation.

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How to Use Your Phone Internationally—Without Breaking the Bank

From the most cost-effective international cellphone plans, to wi-fi-enabled apps, hot spots, and esim cards, use these money-saving tips to stay connected while abroad..

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Many of us would be lost without our smartphones when traveling.

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Let’s face it: Our phones have become an essential tool when traveling abroad. Much more than for sharing your experiences with friends and family back home (though that’s part of the fun), smartphones are crucial to be able to communicate with those in your travel group , to find hotels and restaurants, navigate new streets, and use translation apps .

Unfortunately, domestic cellphone plans don’t often include international talk, text, and data services with their monthly rates; if you aren’t prepared, you could end up spending a small fortune in added charges when using your phone abroad.

But all is not lost. Travelers have a wealth of options at their texting thumbs when it comes to staying connected while traveling internationally without having to dig deep into their savings.

From affordable international travel plans to pay-as-you-go options, downloadable secrets, and more, here are the best tips and hacks for using your phone on your next international vacation.

Consider a carrier with a free international plan

It does not have to be super complicated to get free data, calls, and texting when you travel internationally. Several wireless carriers bake free international plans right into their business model, including Google Fi Wireless and T-Mobile , to name a couple.

Google Fi Wireless allows its customers free cell, data, and text services because it partners with local cell providers in more than 200 countries. All you have to do is turn your phone on and use it exactly as you would at home. The only thing you’ll have to pay for is phone calls, which cost $0.20 per minute worldwide.

T-Mobile (which merged with Sprint in 2020) is also friendly to those who travel overseas. T-Mobile customers can get unlimited 2G data, unlimited texting, and calls starting at $0.25 per minute. The downside is that 2G connectivity won’t get you anywhere in a hurry. However, you can purchase a faster data roaming package.

Buy an international plan

Switching carriers is a huge hassle, especially for a single trip overseas. If you’ve already committed to another carrier like Verizon or AT&T , you can purchase one of their international travel plans.

Every Verizon plan includes free data, talk, and text in Mexico and Canada. If you’re going farther afield, you can use the Verizon TravelPass , which costs $10 a day for unlimited text, talk, and data in more than 185 countries. For longer trips, Verizon also offers an International Monthly Plan for $100 per month. This option is worth it if you plan to be abroad for more than 10 days.

AT&T has a similar package, called International Day Pass , which also costs $10 per day. AT&T offers a monthly option called Passport , which starts at $70 and includes 2GB of data, unlimited text, and talk for $0.35 per minute. For $140 per month, the data usage is raised to 6GB.

Both the TravelPass and International Day Pass will only charge you for the days you use them, so if you don’t need it every day, then leave your phone on airplane mode to avoid additional charges.

WhatsApp is one of the most widely used Wi-Fi-enabled apps.

Use Wi-Fi communication apps

If you want to skip additional charges altogether, you can leave your phone on airplane mode for the entire trip. The good news is that today so many communication apps operate over Wi-Fi that you may not even miss having cellular data.

For iPhone users, iMessage operates on Wi-Fi anywhere in the world. But Android users fear not. There are plenty of Wi-Fi messaging apps that apply to all devices. WhatsApp is one of the most widely used messaging apps on the planet. But you also have apps like Facebook Messenger, Instagram DMs, and the ultra-encrypted Signal app .

Other free options include but are not limited to:

The downside to these is that they won’t work without a connection so if you’re on the road in between Wi-Fi hubs, you won’t receive any notifications.

Download before you go

But you won’t be completely cut off from the outside world on the road if you opt to work from Wi-Fi only. Downloading things you need while you’re on Wi-Fi can save you a lot of headaches for when Wi-Fi isn’t available.

You can download Google Maps to your phone so that you can navigate offline. Simply tap your profile picture in the app and go to Offline Maps. This will allow you to select the area you want to download and save the map to your phone. The downside is that it only provides driving directions, not walking directions, and it won’t reroute you if there is a slowdown or traffic.

Downloading podcasts and television shows to your phone can also be a lifesaver. Long train trip? Travel delay? Wi-Fi connectivity goes out? At least you’ll stay entertained.

If you’re headed to a country where you don’t speak the language, you can download that language to your phone on Google Translate . That way, even when you’re offline, you can still keep communication lines open to help you navigate more easily.

Renting a local hot spot for internet access isn’t necessarily a bad idea, depending on the destination.

Rent a hot spot

This option tends to be less popular, but it has certain advantages. A rentable Wi-Fi hot spot is a small device, about the size of a cellphone itself, that creates a mobile Wi-Fi network for you and those in your travel party. You can connect everyone’s device to it when you need it and shut it off when you don’t. This is a much cheaper alternative than everyone getting their own international plan.

You can rent a mobile hot spot from most cellphone stores for as low as $7 per day. With this option, though, you’ll have to return the hot spot whenever you’re done with your travels, which means either bringing it back to wherever you got it or sending it back in the mail.

Purchase a local SIM card

Avid travelers will remember when SIM cards were a widespread thing for staying connected abroad. A SIM card was a small chip that would need to be activated and inserted into your phone in order to use it abroad with a local number and local rates. These days, it’s more common to purchase and download an eSIM in lieu of a physical SIM card. An eSIM is a downloadable digital chip that can be activated remotely.

You can find loads of eSIM providers online with a wide variety of pricing options depending on where you are going and for how long. If you’re headed to Europe, for example, Bouygues My European eSIM is a popular and cost-effective option. The eSIM costs $45 and offers 30GB of data and unlimited calls and texts within Europe. It’s also valid for 30 days, which is great if you’re doing a longer trip.

The downside to eSIMs is that you will be given a new local number depending on where the services are from. With Bouygues, you’ll receive a temporary French number.

clock This article was published more than  1 year ago

How to keep your phone working while traveling abroad

Here are some of the best tips to stay connected during your next international holiday

After a rocky start to the summer travel season due to high prices and crowded skies, the prospect of relaxing in some far-flung locale seems just a little more attainable. Flights are getting cheaper, at least by a little . And for now at least, the dollar is on par with the euro , a feat that has some people thinking about ways to make the most of it abroad.

The euro is equal to the dollar. Here’s why it matters.

For some of our readers, dealing with this wanderlust has them wondering what they should do with their phones when traveling overseas. And unfortunately, finding the right answer can be trickier than people expect.

Why? Well, the “best” solution hinges at least a little on your travel style. And it doesn’t help that the roaming deals offered by U.S. wireless carriers aren’t always straightforward.

That’s where the Help Desk comes in. We put together a brief guide to walk you through the options for staying connected while living your best tourist life. If you have treasured technology travel tips of your own, share them with us at [email protected] .

In the meantime, here’s where you should start.

Check your wireless plan

If you have a plan with AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile, and you passed a credit check when you signed up, you have the most options available to you. Other services, like Mint Mobile and Consumer Cellular , have roaming plans that charge you for every little thing. And some brands, like Tracfone, don’t have roaming features at all.

Once you know what you’re working with, take a moment to think about your travel style. Are you a loner, content to stay off your phone and live as the locals do? Or are you more of the travel influencer type, meticulously documenting each moment online?

Some of you may even want to disconnect entirely, which I can confirm is a wonderful way to spend a vacation. In that case, consider leaving your phone in airplane mode, disable data roaming and jump on WiFi networks when the need arises. (Just be careful about what you do while connected to them.)

Weigh your international options

Not all wireless plans are created equal, and the way they think about international roaming can differ pretty wildly. Here’s how different companies handle it.

AT&T and Verizon are pretty similar

If you get a monthly bill from AT&T or Verizon, you have access to day passes, a very convenient international roaming feature. AT&T lets you use your devices the same way you did at home for $10 a day for the first phone and $5 a day for each additional one. Verizon offers the same feature for $5 a day per phone in Mexico and Canada and $10 a day everywhere else .

The benefit? You can send and receive calls and text messages with your existing phone number, plus use your mobile data at reasonably fast speeds for online browsing and streaming.

The problem is that these can get expensive pretty fast, especially if you have a whole family that wants to stay connected. At least AT&T stops charging for day passes after 10 days — Verizon keeps you that daily rate as long as you keep using your phone, though some of its 5G plans let you earn and save day passes for use on your next trip.

These companies offer some alternatives, but they come with their own (frustrating) limitations.

For AT&T customers who want to go without day passes, their only choice is to pay for each text and each minute of a phone call at obscene rates . Verizon mostly works the same way, with one twist: It offers an “international calling” feature for $100 per line that gives you 250 voice minutes, 1000 text messages and 5 gigabytes of data. In a word, ouch.

T-Mobile is easier, but comes with a catch

T-Mobile customers have it a little easier, since most of their plans have some free international features built in. The Essentials plan gives you free unlimited texting while abroad and charges calls at 25 cents a minute. The Magenta plan offers the same thing but adds unlimited data at 2G speed. Meanwhile, customers on the most expensive Magenta Max plans get those same features but with slightly faster — but still pretty slow — data service.

Even then, expect some frustration if you want to do more than basic online browsing, since T-Mobile says the standard speeds on those Magenta Max plans are far less than 1 megabit per second.

What about Google?

More than a few Help Desk readers have recommended Google Fi, a phone service that offers a lot of flexibility overseas. Under the company’s “Flexible” plan, you pay a set amount per month for each phone line — for one person, it’s $20 — plus $10 for each gigabyte of data you use in a month.

A few things make Fi a tempting choice for international use. First, you pay that same $10/GB of data whether you’re at home or cycling the winding roads of Girona. Google will also stop charging you once you’ve used a certain amount of data — for individuals, the cap is 6GB, or $60. You also can pause your service for up to three months at a time.

The catch? Google really doesn’t want you to use Fi solely for international use.

The company’s support website says if "a majority of your usage occurs outside of the United States over a consecutive 90 day period, you may have your international capabilities suspended.” Google is cracking down on how frequently you can pause your Fi subscription, too: “repeated or extended pausing may result, at our option and sole discretion, suspension of your Google Fi account,” says the company’s terms of service.

If you were thinking about using Google’s phone service full-time anyway, its international flexibility is a great perk. Otherwise, you may want to skip it and take our next suggestion instead.

Consider local phone service

If none of your wireless carrier options feel like a great fit, I’d recommend buying a SIM card from a local cell service provider once you arrive. Do a little homework before you fly and you stand to save a lot of money.

In Hong Kong, a favorite haunt, $15 gets you 8 gigabytes of data to use for Web browsing and calls through apps like WhatsApp and Telegram over eight days . In France, Orange offers “holiday” SIM cards that give you unlimited calls and texts inside Europe and buckets of data you can still use if you head to another European country. If you can, buy these from a local carrier store instead of generic travel SIM cards at the airport.

The only real downside is that you have to use a different phone number while abroad. That could get confusing for people you try to contact, and you cannot easily access passcodes sent to your usual phone number via text.

Taking advantage of them requires some prep work. First, you have to make sure your phone is unlocked. That means it can accept SIM cards from different carriers and work on their networks properly. Most American wireless carriers do not sell unlocked phones, but if your account is in good standing, you can request that AT&T or T-Mobile unlock a phone you bought from them. Verizon phones, meanwhile, are automatically unlocked after 60 days.

Alternately, if your finances allow, you could buy a separate unlocked phone for use while traveling. If you use a prepaid phone service like the ones we mentioned earlier, you could also buy an unlocked phone for travel, after checking its compatibility with your provider, that is. Prefer to stick with your own phone? Your provider may agree to unlock it for you.

Mint Mobile will unlock a phone you purchased from them if you meet certain criteria . After a settlement with the Federal Communications Commission a few years ago, the parent company of Tracfone is mandated to do the same. Since that company runs other brands like Straight Talk Wireless, Simple Mobile and Net10, you can ask it to unlock a phone you bought from any of them.

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How to Prep Your Phone for International Travel

You’ve bought your plane tickets, booked your Airbnb, stocked up on tiny shampoo bottles. The only thing separating you from that summer jaunt to Mexico or the Bahamas or the south of France is the plane ride, and setting up your phone to come along with you.

Sure, vacation should be the time to power down, disconnect, and focus on the people in front of you. But that doesn't mean giving up the option of getting directions from Google Maps or documenting your exotic meal on Instagram. Using your phone abroad used to be complicated, expensive, or both, but it's getting easier and easier. Here are a few options for bringing your smartphone abroad.

__Level 1: Go Wi-Fi Only __ Good news: You can go "off the grid" and still update your feeds by using your phone in Wi-Fi mode. Just toggle off cellular data or leave your phone in airplane mode from the moment you board the plane. Then, just practicing asking: " Excusez-moi, quel est le mot de passe pour le Wi-Fi? "

Level 2: Take Your American Plan Abroad If you need better connectivity to, say, hail a Lyft from the Acropolis, simply add a global package to your current service. It's shockingly easy. For example, AT&T offers a service called Passport , which gets you 200 MB of data and unlimited texting in more than 200 countries for just $40 tacked onto your current monthly plan. (Calls abroad still cost a buck a minute, so talk quickly.) Verizon offers a similar service, Travel Pass , that costs $5 a day to extend your plan to Mexico and Canada and $10 per day for service in more than 100 other countries. How much data you need depends upon how active you plan to be online. Posting 30 photos to social media costs about 10 MB; each web page you visit costs about one. Downloading apps like Whatsapp lets you send texts and make calls without racking up minutes, and disabling "automatic refresh" on email and other apps helps avoid blowing through your data allowance.

__Level 3: Talk Like the Locals __ Flexing that unlimited vacation policy and staying abroad for more than a week or two? Consider replacing your SIM card and using a local service provider. First, make sure your phone is unlocked. You can do this by swapping your SIM card for another one and confirming that your phone still works, or simply calling your service provider. The FCC requires that providers unlock all devices so you can use them on any network, so simply ask your provider for an unlock code. One caveat, though: That rule doesn't apply if you're locked into a contract or you haven't paid for your phone in full.

A local SIM usually replaces your domestic phone number with a local one, so apps like Whatsapp or WeChat remain the simplest way to talk with friends back home without the whole "new number, who dis?" routine. You will, however, be able to call the local pizza place for a delivery or add your new international friends on Facebook without spending the extra coin on calls, texts, and data usage.

Luckily, almost all smartphones will work plugged into outlets between 100 volts and 240 volts, so you probably don't need a voltage converter to charge your phone. (If you’re not sure, you can find the voltage printed on the bottom of the phone.) All you need is a simple plug adapter to power up just like you would back home. Just make sure you have enough battery for all those travel foodstagrams.

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Using data plans outside Canada

If you’re travelling outside Canada with a cellphone, mobile device or computer, you may be charged international data roaming fees if you connect to a wireless network. The data used by your device in another country could result in large bills from your service provider. Your devices may intermittently use data even if you are not actively using them.

On this page

International data roaming, before you go, while you are away.

• When you return to Canada

International data roaming is a service that allows you to use messages, email and the Internet on your wireless device while you are using a wireless network in another country.

When you use your wireless device while you are abroad, you connect to a local wireless network to transmit data. International data roaming occurs when your data is transmitted through a local service to your Canadian network.

The rate you pay for international roaming charges is determined by your Canadian service provider.

Check with your current service provider

Check your service contract for roaming fees that will be applied when you call, text or use data outside of your plan’s coverage area. You may also be able to get this information from your service provider’s website or by contacting a customer service representative.

Your service provider may also offer packages for travel to the United States and other international destinations. The packages usually provide a bundle of minutes, texts and/or data for a fixed price.

• Check if there is a toll-free number to reach customer service from your destination country without long-distance charges.

Compare other service options

To avoid roaming fees, you may be able to subscribe to a telecommunications service at your destination. To find a reliable service provider, research service providers on the Internet, notably on travel forums.

• Check the coverage area of the service providers. You may be charged roaming fees if your device connects to another network that is stronger than your home network.

You may also have access to limited services while you are on a cruise ship or a plane.

Monitor usage on your device and compare it to the limit of your plan. You can take the following steps to help reduce your usage:

Enable airplane mode

Enable airplane mode when you are not using your device. Voice, text and data services are turned off when your device is in airplane mode. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and other services may also be turned off, depending on your phone.

• To avoid being charged roaming fees, ensure that airplane mode is activated before you cross the border or your flight takes off.
• While your device is in airplane mode, you can manually re-enable Wi-Fi to connect to wireless services that are offered for free or at low cost at many hotels and public places.
• Bluetooth, GPS and other location services can also be manually turned on while in airplane mode.

Remove or switch your SIM card

To avoid roaming charges, you can remove your SIM card from your device. You will not have access to data, but you can use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth without a SIM card. You can also replace your SIM card with one from a local service provider at your destination or use a digital SIM card (eSIM) that can be used without removing your SIM card.

If you remove or replace your SIM card, keep it in a safe place. If you lose your SIM card, you will lose any data that is saved on it, which could include your contacts, photos and text messages. Before your trip, check to see if your data can be saved to a cloud service.

To change your SIM card or eSIM, your phone must be unlocked. This means it is not tied to a particular service provider. Phones sold by Canadian service providers must be unlocked.

• If you bought your phone before December 1, 2017, or if you bought a used phone, check your device’s settings to ensure that your phone is unlocked.

Use Wi-Fi and Chat apps

Using Wi-Fi rather than data roaming will save money.

You can text and make calls through the Internet using applications like WhatsApp, Signal, Skype and Google Voice. Some applications may charge a fee, particularly if you are calling a landline.

Find directions using a GPS app that doesn’t require data usage or download offline versions of maps from an app. The maps can be used without an Internet connection and can use less data when used while connected to a mobile network.

Data compression apps

There are apps that can compress data and let you do up to 5 times more with your current data plan without additional fees. They reduce your roaming charges by providing a leaner version of the Internet.

They will also provide you with a breakdown of your mobile data usage, showing you how much data is being consumed by each app and allowing you to make better-informed data usage choices.

Go to mobile-friendly websites

Some websites are available in versions that are optimized for mobile devices, so they use fewer megabytes. In some cases, the mobile websites have an address that is very similar to their desktop site. Try replacing the “www” with “m” or “mobile” or replacing the “.co”, “.ca” or “.com” with “.mobi.”

Set up a MiFi

If you’re travelling with your family or a group, you can create your own personal secure Wi-Fi hotspot with a MiFi device—a wireless modem that can service up to 5 Wi-Fi-enabled devices.

When you return

You can monitor your real-time usage on your device and compare it to the limit of your plan. Your monthly bill is the next-best tool to review your usage.

Service providers cannot charge more than $100 for roaming per billing cycle unless you explicitly agree to pay more. They also need to notify you when you are roaming internationally. If you get unexpected charges, contact your service provider.

Related links

• Cyber security while travelling
• Data plans, usage and fees (CRTC)
• International roaming fees (CRTC)

How to Prep Your Phone for International Travel

January 06, 2020

International travel is exciting, but it can also cause a lot of anxiety, especially if it’s your first time abroad. One of the things people often worry about is whether or not they’ll be able to use their Android phone or iPhone internationally , and, if so, how much it will cost. A little planning can ease these concerns so you can focus on the fun.

Will your phone work?

The first step in your journey is to make sure your Android or iPhone settings for international travel will work in the country you’re visiting. While cell phone technology is rapidly changing, there are still two competing standards (CDMA and GMA) that may impact your phone’s compatibility during your travels. The good news is that you don’t need to understand the technology to figure it out. Check your provider's website or contact them, tell them where you’re traveling, and ask them:

• If your phone is compatible.
• If they have any special packages for international use.
• To activate your mobile roaming plan for the countries you plan to visit.
• To email you the rates you can expect while away.

Bring a compatible plug

Electrical outlets around the world aren’t a standard shape or the same voltage. While your phone charger is likely capable of handling the change in voltage, you may need an adapter to plug your phone charger in. Travel adapters are inexpensive and sometimes include several attachments so they can work across the globe. Bring multiple adapters if you tend to use several items at a time, such as your phone, laptop, and hairdryer.

Save money along the way

International phone use is notoriously pricey, but there is no reason it should break the bank. A little knowledge and smart planning can go a long way. These four tips will help you save:

• Turn off mobile data. The best money-saving tactic is to turn off your mobile data. Most newer phones have an easily accessible button in settings that toggles data use on and off. If not, look under Network & Internet settings for the option. Turning off your mobile data prevents your phone from updating apps, downloading email, and sending messages beyond basic SMS texts. You can also turn off roaming data access , which specifically blocks access to data on networks other than your home network. Don’t worry about being completely off the grid — WiFi will keep you connected.
• Airplane mode. Airplane mode is not just for airplanes. On most phones, it quickly disables WiFi, data, and incoming/outgoing calls and texts. You can typically turn WiFi on while leaving the rest of your device in airplane mode. Before you leave home, check that your airplane mode is behaving as intended by enabling it and calling your phone from another line.
• Make use of free WiFi. From cafes, to hotels, to museums, WiFi is readily available almost everywhere. Take advantage of free WiFi to make WiFi calls , send emails, browse the web, and send messages via WiFi-based apps like iMessage and Google Hangouts. Keep in mind that public WiFi is not secure , so don't handle your banking or other sensitive matters. It may also be slow, so plan ahead if you’d like to upload photos or video.
• Look for other available discounts. For example, Xfinity Mobile offers a Mexico & Canada Call Pass . Your family can call you all they like for one low price if you provide a local number. Additionally, stay connected while traveling abroad with Xfinity Mobile and Global Travel Pass . Get over 500 MB of LTE data each day, so you can browse online and access your apps with no added fees.

These cell phone international tips can help ensure you can stay connected while keeping costs down, but none of them will matter unless you do your homework in advance. Reach out to your provider, double check your power adapter, and get to know the settings on your phone.

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How to Use Your Phone Internationally Without Charges

If you’re going to travel, you need to know how to avoid international roaming charges. There are so many sneaky things our phones are doing in the background that can rack up data usage and create hundreds of dollars in roaming charges. Ain’t nobody got time for that.  

It can feel really daunting and complicated to figure out how to use your phone internationally without charges. It’s tempting to throw your hands up and resort to not using a phone at all while abroad. You start trying to rationalize it by thinking things like, “It’s ok, I can just use my camera to take photos and upload a month later”, or “I’ll have email to connect to people when I’m on my laptop”, and “I’ll get really good at using those big paper maps if I can figure out how to fold them.”

While those are totally viable options (we believe in you), it doesn’t have to be that way. Let’s face it, we all want access to our phones abroad. How else are we going to let our loved ones know we arrived safely, post stunning pics of our travels, or have a lifeline in case of an unexpected or murky situation?

The best way to avoid international roaming charges may technically be to lose the phone altogether, but it doesn’t have to come to that. We have some tips that will teach you how to avoid roaming charges overseas so you can keep us up to date on that Insta story while abroad. ? 

How to avoid international roaming charges FAQ

1. does mobile data cost money abroad.

Yes, it sure as heck fire does! And it can cost way more than your typical bill if you’re not careful due to international roaming fees. But don’t worry, there are ways to work around exorbitant data charges.

You may be wondering, “Should I turn off mobile data when abroad?” While that’s not a bad idea, you have to remember that you won’t be able to use your phone unless you connect to WiFi. However, if you are willing to rely on only WiFi for phone use, just turn off that data and don’t worry about it.

If you’re trying to figure out how to avoid data charges abroad, you should look into your cellular carrier’s options for international travel. Some carriers have specific international plans you can add on, while others, like T-Mobile, come equipped with international ability with certain domestic plans . 

TL;DR: Mobile data DOES cost money abroad, but it’s possible to cut the cost with an international plan or by avoiding data usage altogether through airplane mode. 

2. How much does data roaming cost?

Quick lesson in mobile technology: When you get a cellphone, you also have a service plan. You have a contract with a carrier like Verizon, T-Mobile, or Sprint, and you essentially pay to access a certain amount of data each month.

When you are using your phone outside a provider’s coverage, it latches onto a local network and uses that instead. Major carriers have roaming agreements so that you can still tap into that sweet sweet data, but you have to pay an extra fee for that right to use it. Here’s a helpful blog about Data Roaming by Lauren Hannula .

It definitely adds up when you’re traveling because the networks aren’t the same overseas. In the US, you may have a plan with Verizon. But as soon as you land in India, Vodafone is the top dog and Verizon is nowhere to be seen. 

So how much does data roaming cost? It really depends on the carrier and your plan. It’s very possible to be charged hundreds of dollars for mobile roaming charges. There was a man who was charged $62,000 because he downloaded a movie abroad . Pro tip: Don’t do that.

TL;DR: Data roaming can cost boatloads. Learn how to avoid roaming charges overseas so you don’t get a hefty bill! 

3. Should I turn off mobile data when abroad?

A lot of people are asking the question “Should I turn off mobile data when abroad?” Simple answer, yes. If you don’t want to mess around with changing your cell phone plan or getting a local SIM card abroad, just turn off mobile data when abroad and use your phone as a mini computer via WiFi.

Just get used to the fact that you won’t be able to make calls, use apps, or do… most anything without WiFi. But never fear! There are ways to use your phone without data. 

• If you’re not using data, you can still text and call on WiFi. Use apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Skype, or Google Voice to connect with friends and family while abroad.
• There are a surprising number of apps that work without any type of connection (data or WiFi). Look for conversion apps, translation apps, and maps that work offline. Google maps has an option to download sections of maps, but CityMaps2Go, maps.me, and HereWeGo have more options. 

TL;DR: If you’re wondering how to avoid international roaming charges, just don’t use mobile data. Boom. Done. If you’re still confused and want to know, “But like… why does mobile data cost money abroad?”, see #2. 

4. If my phone is on airplane mode will I get roaming charges?

Nope . Definitely the best way to avoid international roaming charges while abroad is to simply switch to airplane mode. Don’t freak out when WiFi and Bluetooth stop working, you just need to switch them back on manually. 

TL;DR: Really? No way was that too long. If you want to know how to avoid data charges abroad just turn on flight mode, yo!

5. Are there any special Android or iPhone settings for international travel?

If you’re planning on learning how to use your phone internationally without charges seamlessly, you’re going to need to dive into the settings. There are some things your phone does in the background that you can switch off the save data while traveling abroad. There are subtle nuances between Android and iPhone settings for international travel when it comes to navigating the device, but the end result is the same. 

When you’re using Airplane or Flight mode, you don’t need to worry about data use. So before you even get off the plane, make sure these settings are turned on (or off). Even if you decide to get a local SIM card, these tips will help you out by saving data abroad. 

• iPhone: Settings > General > Cellular > Data Roaming > toggle off/white.
• Android: Settings > Mobile Networks > Data Roaming > toggle off/white
• iPhone: Settings > General > Cellular > Cellular Data > scroll down and toggle/white apps you don’t use
• Android: Settings > Data Usage > App Data Usage > tap app you want to turn off > toggle background data off/white 
• iPhone: Settings > [your name] > iTunes & App Store > Use Cellular Data > toggle off/white. Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > toggle off/white 
• Android: Google Play> Hamburger icon top-left > Settings > Auto-update apps> do not auto-update apps 
• iPhone: Settings > Cellular > Scroll to bottom and tap Reset Statistics
• Android: Settings > Wireless & Networks > Data Usage > Billing cycle and tap reset

TL;DR: If you still don’t know the answer to “Should I turn off mobile data when abroad?”, go back and just read. It’ll help your wallet and your travel anxiety, we promise.  

6. What is the best way to avoid international roaming charges?

Hands down best way to avoid international roaming charges is to not use data abroad. But like we’ve gone over before, that just seems silly. Instead, set yourself up for success by learning how to avoid data charges abroad before you go. 

If you want to use data abroad instead of relying on WiFi, first thing to do is call your carrier and see if they have any good deals for international plans. It’s typically a daily add-on where you pay $5-$20/day (depending on your carrier) and have a bit o’ data to work with. That way you can just use your phone as you normally would; just pay attention to how much you use so you don’t go over your limit.

Another option is to use a local SIM card. Most smartphones have the ability to function globally, as long as they are unlocked and set up to function with Global System for Mobiles (GSM) . Here’s an article about the difference of CDMA and GSM .

Most phones these days are set up to work globally, so you shouldn’t have to worry about this. Just call your carrier and ask two things: “ Is my phone unlocked?” And, “ Will it work with another SIM card? ”. In some countries you’ll only pay $10 to $20 for a decent amount of data (like in Southeast Asia), so think about how much you want to pay to use data abroad. 

Avoid roaming charges overseas—use FundMyTravel!

Just because you know how to use your phone internationally without charges doesn’t mean travel is free. Does mobile data cost money abroad? Yes. Do you need to pay extra for it? Nope! Use FundMyTravel to alleviate some of the global mobile fees you’ll run into . Raise some extra cash to buy a local SIM, get an international plan, or for juuuuust in case you use a little more data than had you planned to. 

Now you know how to avoid data charges abroad

That’s right, now YOU are the expert! When your friend asks you, “How much does data roaming cost?” you can tell them the horror stories of people being charged hundreds, even thousands of dollars. But you also know exactly how to avoid roaming charges overseas, so as long as they listen to your sage advice, they won’t need to worry about that. 

Our phones are amazing tools that help us connect with people, navigate the world, and learn new things. If you’re ready to go abroad, you’re going to need to get that baby ready, too! Sift through all those pesky Android or iPhone settings for international travel, call your carrier, and get your show on the road.

For more tips and tricks on how to save and raise money for your adventures abroad, go to our homepage and sign up for the FundMyTravel Newsletter !

This article was written by Rebekah Glebe .

Comments (4)

very good advice, well written and most useful for Novice/s who need to learn fast. Thanks.

wow.. it’s just fantastic ideas to avoid data charges via international calling. Using these tricks, we can do internationally calls without any data roaming. I will surely try these tricks. Keep sharing your ideas!

Hi there this is a very helpful article for me Thanks

Thank you for this. One less stress to worry about especially in this time of financial challenges.

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How and when to use Airplane Mode on iPhone

Using Airplane Mode on your iPhone isn't reserved just for flights.

Airplane Mode is more than just a way to comply with flight attendants' requests to disable your device during a flight. It can actually be used as a preventative measure while roaming, or a way to let your child safely play a game on your iPhone , as well as a means to help you save battery life.

Enable Airplane Mode

With iOS 7, Apple introduced Control Center, putting device settings such as Airplane Mode a swipe away. From any screen on your iPhone, swipe up from the bottom to reveal Control Center and tap the airplane icon. Doing so will turn off all wireless connections -- Wi-Fi, cellular and Bluetooth -- on your iPhone. Meaning, text messages, phone calls, emails and even your Apple Watch will stop receiving notifications until Airplane Mode is turned off.

Besides the obvious scenario, there are other situations when Airplane Mode is useful.

1. Time to unplug

As we just discussed, when Airplane Mode is turned on, all connections to your iPhone are turned off. This is a great way to unplug, to spend some time with your family, or just to take a break from the beeps that seem to control our lives sometimes. With the demand of constantly being connected, it's easy to get in the habit of checking your email with every ding .

Putting your iPhone in Airplane Mode puts you back in control. You may be surprised how quickly you forget that your connection is turned off, and how peaceful your night can be. This is also a great way to silence your phone during important meetings. Don't worry, all of your messages will be waiting when you turn Airplane Mode off.

2. While traveling internationally

Traveling across borders can be an expensive affair for you and your wireless carrier; international roaming charges aren't cheap. One way to help avoid the extra roaming fees is to activate airplane mode on your iPhone and only use Wi-Fi hot spots while you travel.

You won't receive text messages or phone calls, but you will still be able to check your email, use messaging apps, and browse the Internet over a Wi-Fi-only connection.

3. While your kids play games or watch movies

If you have kids, you likely are thankful for the distraction the iPhone can provide. You also probably know that kids will start pushing and tapping on anything they see on the screen, including accidentally dialing phone numbers.

If you are going to let your kids play games or watch a movie on your iPhone, turn on Airplane Mode before you hand your iPhone over to them. This not only prevents them from calling anyone, but it also stops push alerts from interrupting their gameplay or movie.

4. Save battery

We have all been in a situation where we suddenly have a low battery and no opportunity to recharge. One way to help slow down battery drain is to turn Airplane Mode on.

When your iPhone is on, even with the screen off, it is constantly searching for and monitoring data connections. Turning those connections off through Airplane Mode will save battery, allowing you to make calls when you absolutely need to.

5. Prevent a message mishap

Ever hit the Send button in the Messages app, only to realize there's an embarrassing typo or you're sending a personal message to the wrong contact? The next time it happens, enable Airplane Mode as quickly as possible. If you catch it in time, the message will fail to deliver.

Editors' Note: This article was originally published in 2011, and has since been updated to reflect new features.

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There is a sure fire way to avoid international data charges -- and it isn't Airplane Mode

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- You know to put your phone on Airplane Mode when you get on a plane. But when you are traveling internationally, keeping Airplane Mode on is not always the best solution to avoid mobile data charges.

"It's very easy to accidentally turn off the Airplane Mode icon," said Jessica Dolcourt, CNET Section Editor.

RELATED: San Jose family billed $13,470 by T-Mobile for half-hour of iPhone internet

Dolcourt said that Airplane Mode is just a temporary solution while you are on a plane for several hours. For international trips, she recommends a better way that will avoid mistakes that could result in expensive international data roaming charges.

"A safer bet if you know you don't want to use any data at all while you are traveling, to go into the settings and to turn off your cellular data and/or your international roaming data," said Dolcourt.

On an iPhone, you can turn off cellular data by selecting the Settings app and clicking on the Cellular icon. There you can turn off Cellular Data, or click on Cellular Data Options to only turn off voice or data roaming.

For Android phones, go to Settings, select Connections and then click on Data Usage. You can then turn off Mobile Data.

On both systems, you should turn on WiFi to restore internet access and receive emails when connected to a WiFi network.

Both operating systems also allow you to check the data usage of each app. If you want to keep your phone from using data while you are not using an app, it is recommended you turn off background data usage.

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Travel with these tech gadgets to have a smoother trip

By KCAL News Staff

Updated on: May 14, 2024 / 12:55 PM PDT / KCAL News

From "smart" luggage and compact chargers to tech that helps you find lost items, the world of travel tech is vast and ever-evolving. Tech expert Jessica Naziri has the top travel gadgets to help make traveling a lot smoother.

1.  Satechi 145W Travel GaN Charger ,  $119.99

From smartphones to laptops, our devices keep us connected, informed, and entertained as we traverse the globe. But what happens when our trusty gadgets run out of juice in the midst of our escapades? Enter the Satechi 145W Travel GaN Charger – a powerful and versatile solution that ensures your devices stay powered up and ready for action wherever your travels take you.

With the latest Power Delivery 3.1 protocol and a travel-friendly design that includes four travel adapters, this charger keeps your devices powered up and ready at all times. The 145W GaN Travel Charger is compact, lightweight, and actively prevents heat from reaching the exterior while still delivering a powerful charge. It can fuel even the most high-powered devices, including the 16-inch MacBook Pro® and the Lenovo Legion™ Slim 7i and Legion 7i along with additional Apple® and Windows® devices, power banks, peripherals, and more, as it's universally compatible with USB-C PD devices.

And thanks to its smart power distribution technology, the charger automatically adjusts wattage when new devices are detected, ensuring optimal charging performance without the risk of overloading or damaging your devices.

The sleek, lightweight profile, four interchangeable international adapters (EU/AU/UK/US), and mesh carrying bag make Satechi's newest charger the ultimate traveling convenience.

2. MeeAudio Connect Air In-Flight Wireless Audio Adapter ,  $49.99

There's nothing worse than getting onto an airplane and your wireless headphones not connecting to the seatback entertainment system. That issue is easily averted with the MEE Audio Connect Air in-flight wireless audio transmitter and adapter. The small device pairs to your headphones via Bluetooth and then plugs into the tiny TV on the airplane so you're never without entertainment on any flight. It plugs into any 3.5mm jack and pairs to your Apple AirPods or other Bluetooth headphones/speakers, delivering wireless audio where you couldn't before.

I like to keep this gadget in my pre-packed go-bag, then charge it the night before I fly so I know it's fully charged before heading to the airport. It has a battery life of up to 20 hrs.Even better is that the device can pair with two sets of headphones, so if I'm traveling with my son or husband we can both watch the same movie at the same time.

The Connect Air works with any 3.5mm audio jack and can also be used for treadmills/cardio equipment at the gym, laptops and iPads, Nintendo Switch, XBox/Playstation Controllers, portable DVD players, and TVs.

3. Tile Pro Life360's flagship Bluetooth tracker ,  $34.99

There's nothing worse than misplacing something or finding out that your luggage got lost in transit on the way to your hotel or Airbnb. With a Tile tracker, you can have constant eyes on your belongings, even if they aren't technically with you. Tile Pro is Life360's flagship Bluetooth tracker, compatible with both iOS and Android, it has a range of up to 400 ft and a replaceable battery for extended use. With its powerful features, including a loud ring and seamless integration with both the Life360 app and the Tile App, Tile Pro ensures you never lose track of your most important items. Tile also has an Anti-Theft Mode,  which allows the tracker to remain hidden from potential thieves -- making it the best choice for guarding against pesky pickpockets and reclaiming stolen items.

The tiny device pairs with your phone and uses geolocation to let you know where your belongings are. I like that I can check on the location of my luggage, purse, or whatever else I've dropped a Tile into with the app. This is especially helpful after a plane lands and I want to be sure my luggage made it to my final destination.

4.  July Charging Carry-On , $295

Are you tired of lugging around heavy, outdated luggage that just doesn't keep up with your on-the-go lifestyle? Say goodbye to the frantic search for an available power outlet at the airport or train station. The July suitcase it's cleverly designed with an ejectable battery featuring standard USB and USB-C docks, you can charge your phone and even your laptop on the go, anywhere. Plus, rest assured that both the Carry On and power bank are approved for any flight in the world, ensuring seamless travel experiences wherever your adventures take you.

Thanks to its SilentMove 360° spinner wheels, these wheels are not only whisper-quiet but also robust enough to handle the cobblestones of Europe, making them the perfect companion for any traveler seeking versatility and durability. And with a lifetime guarantee, you can trust that these wheels will stand the test of time, trip after trip.

Crafted from 100% aerospace-grade German polycarbonate, the July Suitcase is not only lightweight but also incredibly resilient. Its unique curved eggshell design not only minimizes damage but also optimizes functionality, providing ample space for all your essentials while maintaining a sleek and stylish silhouette. Plus, with anodized aluminum bumpers for extra protection on hard drops, you can travel with peace of mind knowing that your belongings are safe and secure.

The KCAL News Staff is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on KCALNews.com.

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Meta Quest’s new Travel Mode will put more glassholes on your next flight

Another vision pro feature comes to quest headsets..

By Wes Davis , a weekend editor who covers the latest in tech and entertainment. He has written news, reviews, and more as a tech journalist since 2020.

Share this story

Meta Quest headsets are ready to go on flights with you as Meta has announced a new Travel Mode. The company is rolling out the experimental feature to Quest 2 and 3 headsets running Quest software version 65 or later, allowing owners to use the headset in passthrough on a flight without windows drifting away from them.

To try it, opt in under Settings > Experimental features . Then the new mode will live in the Quick settings panel, where you can toggle it from the Quest’s universal menu. Travel Mode isn’t without limitations — it’s not designed to account for the motion of a car or train, for instance; Meta says support for other transportation methods is coming. Also, if a game or app requires an internet connection, your plane will still need to offer Wi-Fi.

Quest headsets could already be used on flights, but doing it required turning off positional tracking, which also disables passthrough, as UploadVR notes .

• Meta’s Quest headsets add spatial video and pinch controls to compete with Vision Pro

The new mode seems aimed straight at Apple’s Vision Pro , which launched with a similar travel mode (and similar caveats). I’ve tried the headset in a car — as a passenger, of course; I’m not a monster — and it still mostly worked as long as the car wasn’t stopping and going a lot, and tracking failed if I looked out the side windows. Depending on how the Meta Quest’s new mode works, that could be the case for it as well, or it could be that it simply refuses to work if it doesn’t think you’re on a plane.

The new Travel Mode joins a growing list of Vision Pro-style features that Meta has added to its headset that debuted on Apple’s $3,500 headset earlier this year. This includes more expansive pinch controls as well as the ability to use it lying down and play back spatial videos recorded on an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max.

Update May 13th, 12:54PM ET: Added videos posted by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and CTO Andrew Bosworth.

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Meta Quest 3

Meta quest gets ‘travel mode’ in beta for use on airplanes.

Meta Quest 2 and Quest 3 headsets are picking up a useful new Travel Mode which makes the VR experience easier to use in moving vehicles including on an airplane.

Announced on Meta’s blog and through Mark Zuckerberg’s Instagram account, Quest 2 and Quest 3 are today getting a beta version of “Travel Mode,” a new option on the headset which optimizes the experience for use on moving vehicles. The new mode, which is currently specifically optimized for airplanes, makes it easier to use the headset while traveling by ensuring the motion of the aircraft doesn’t affect your use of the headset.

Meta explains:

We specially tuned our algorithms to account for the motion of an airplane, so you’ll have a stable and consistent experience in Travel Mode—even when looking out the window. 👀 Travel Mode is optimized for use on planes to start, and we plan to add support for other modes of transportation like trains in the future.

Previously, one of the headaches in using Quest on a flight was that the movement of the plane could result in the headset thinking you’d walked away from the UI itself.

Meta Quest 2 and Quest 3 owners can opt into Travel Mode by checking the “Experimental features” menu in the Settings app. Once enabled, Travel Mode is accessible through the Quick Settings for easy access.

Beyond that, Meta says it has worked with Lufthansa on a new partnership which will see the airline using Quest headsets for travelers in the Lufthansa Allegris Business Class Suite for in-flight entertainment.

Meta Quest 3 is available now for $499 while Quest 2 is available for as low as $199 at some retailers .

More on Quest:

• Meta pushes Google to bring the Play Store to Quest’s ‘Horizon OS’ ahead of expansion
• Meta Quest 3 seems to be removing Chromecast support for mirroring VR to your TV
• Xbox Cloud Gaming is now available on Meta Quest 3, Quest 2, & Quest Pro [Video]

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Meta introduces new Travel Mode for Quest headsets

M eta is rolling out its new Travel Mode to Quest 2 and 3 headsets running software version 65 or later. The Meta Quest 3 airplane Travel Mode lets you watch movies on a massive virtual screen, lose yourself in a relaxing virtual vacation, or even get work done in a distraction-free environment.

To try the feature, go to Settings > Experimental features. Once enabled, it becomes readily accessible from the Quest’s universal menu in the Quick Settings panel.

While Travel Mode is currently optimized for airplanes, it’s not yet suitable for bumpy rides like cars or trains. However, Meta assures us that support for more transportation methods is coming soon. Additionally, in-flight gaming sessions or movie streaming will still rely on your airplane’s Wi-Fi capabilities.

Meta Quest 3 Travel Mode: a game changer for VR travel, but with concerns

The introduction of Travel Mode positions Meta as a strong contender in the growing market for advanced VR features. This functionality echoes similar advancements in Apple ‘s recently released Vision Pro headset , which starts at a hefty $3,500. Meta Quest 3 airplane Travel Mode joins other features bridging the gap for Meta, including more precise pinch controls, comfortable use while lying down, and compatibility with spatial videos captured on the latest iPhones.

However, critics warn that Travel Mode could create a world of oblivious passengers. With the outside world completely shut out, concerns arise about potential safety hazards. Meta acknowledges these concerns, highlighting built-in safety features that allow users to see their real surroundings with a tap – a crucial safeguard for responsible VR use.

Ultimately, the success of VR travel hinges on a delicate balance between user responsibility and clear airline communication. Users need to be mindful of their surroundings and fellow passengers, remaining aware of announcements and flight attendant instructions even while immersed in VR. Airlines, for their part, must establish clear guidelines and pre-flight instructions on VR etiquette. This can help ensure a smooth flight for everyone.

The post Meta introduces new Travel Mode for Quest headsets appeared first on Android Headlines .

This article may contain affiliate links that Microsoft and/or the publisher may receive a commission from if you buy a product or service through those links.

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Travel Mode is the Latest Vision Pro Feature to Come to Quest 2 & 3

Meta is finally rolling out the long-awaited travel mode for Quest 2 and Quest 3, ostensibly hacking away another unique feature from Apple Vision Pro.

Update (May 13th, 2024) :  Meta says the new Quest 2/3 Travel Mode was specially tuned to account for the motion of an airplane, even when it comes to looking out the window. The company says in a blog post it will be updating Travel Mode in the future to work with other modes of transportation, such as trains. It’s being pitched as an experimental feature for now, so to activate Travel Mode you’ll need to select it in the Experimental section of the Settings menu, which will then let you toggle Travel Mode on and off from Quick Settings. The original article announcing Travel Mode follows below:

Original Article (January 25th, 2024) : Airplanes seem like an ideal place to dive into VR, as you can switch out the cramped environment of the cabin for a giant movie theater, or whittle away the hours browsing the web on a massive screen — something that shouldn’t bother your seat mates too much. Although Quest’s tracking is one of the most reliable out there, it still has trouble in moving vehicles like airplanes and cars. Meta is apparently working to fix that.

For anyone who’s tried to use Quest on an airplane, it’s basically only usable when you’ve reached a consistent altitude and direction. When you’re taxiing, banking, taking-off or landing, you’ll quickly find yourself being unwittingly jostled around in VR, making it distractingly unusable. Gain attitude, and you might find yourself falling through the virtual floor.

Responding to X (formerly Twitter) user Andrew Fox, Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth says the company is working on a way to make Quest work better for in-flight entertainment.

Is it really not possible to use Quest 3 in passthrough mode on a plane? pic.twitter.com/aIBB0s2MT5 — Andrew Fox (@afoxdesign) January 24, 2024

Here’s Bosworth’s response:

“No, we use an IMU to keep objects localized relative to your headset motion so moving vehicles represent a challenge (when they accelerate in any direction). We also use the cameras, of course, they work together as the IMU is higher frequency but lower accuracy. Working on it!”

The issue is basically the same for any optically-tracked VR headset on the market at this point. However, this hasn’t stopped companies from thinking of clever ways around it. Holoride , an Audi co-founded startup, partnered with HTC to hook its standalone Vive Flow headset into cars using a retrofitting device which accounts for the vehicle’s relative motion, letting users engage with a handful of licensed apps .

In 2021, Meta announced it was attempting something similar in  a partnership with BMW , which would more accurately anchor virtual objects by hooking Quest’s tracking system into the car itself. Although the company issued an update on the research project in mid-2023, it’s still unclear when we’ll see it in the company’s consumer VR headsets.

Undoubtedly one of the biggest names to promise a solution to travel woes lately is Apple, as the company announced its $3,500 Vision Pro headset would include a ‘Travel’ mode , which Apple says can be used to “stabilize visuals for use on planes.” How this works is still a mystery at this point, although it’s possible the headset switches to a special tracking mode based purely on visual sensors while ignoring IMUs entirely. It would lead to less accurate tracking overall, but at least be useable in an airplane.

Could Meta be up to something similar? It’s likely. If the company wants to keep core feature parity with Vision Pro, which launches February 2nd, we may see something sooner rather than later. Of course, there’s no timeline on Meta’s efforts just yet, so we’ll be keeping an eye on Bosworth’s Instagram , as he regularly does Q&As there.

Airplane mode was datamined back in August already in v57.

There was recent news that, when a door plug was ripped out of an Alaska Airlines Boing 737 Max mid-flight, luckily only non-human objects were sucked outside. One of them was an iPhone currently plugged in for charging. The cable was ripped off, with the plug still stuck in the phone while it tumbled 16,000ft/4.9km down towards earth.

To everyone’s surprise it survived, landed by the side of a road where someone on a walk found it. And since it was still running and had no screen lock on, he could find out who it belonged to, and determine that it contained travel information and a baggage claim for the flight Alaska 1282 with the missing door.

This led to some interesting discussions about the terminal velocity of small object and the usefulness of protective cases. What stuck most with me was a comment that the phone obviously only survived because it was in Airplane mode, otherwise it would have fallen to the ground like a rock and smashed into a thousand pieces. This highly scientific argument got me thinking that what we need on our still very front heavy HMDs aren’t Airplane Travel modes, but actual Airplane modes, or maybe Air Ballon modes, to compensate for all the weight and make XR a more uplifting experience.

This incident also shows that Apple’s plugs are more durable than Boeing’s …

I’ve binge watched “American Gods” on an international flight without a problem, or at least much of one. You have to turn tracking off.

The only real frustration was not being able to use pass through mode. That would be fantastic if they can support that. There were a few times I didn’t know a flight attendant was there, especially as I had to use isolating headphones.

The headset wasn’t really loud enough with the native speakers.

So full support, and support of pass through would be fantastic.

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Use Apple Vision Pro on an airplane with Travel Mode

With Travel Mode, Apple Vision Pro adapts to give you the best experience while traveling on an airplane.

Apple Vision Pro uses an array of sensors to see the environment around you and keep the items in your view stable. If Apple Vision Pro senses that you're on an airplane, it asks if you want to turn on Travel Mode to adapt to the unique motion and environment of commercial air travel.

You can turn on Travel Mode when Apple Vision Pro suggests it, or any time in Control Center.

In some situations, Apple Vision Pro may think you're on an airplane when you're not, and prompt you to turn on Travel Mode. Remember to never use Travel Mode if you're not on an airplane.

How to turn Travel Mode on or off from Control Center

Tap Turn On Travel Mode to confirm.

To exit Travel Mode, go back to Control Center, then tap Turn Off.

Travel Mode is for use only when you're a passenger on an airplane. Never use Apple Vision Pro while operating a moving vehicle, bicycle, heavy machinery, or in any other situations requiring attention to safety. Get more tips for using your Vision Pro safely .

Keep these things in mind when using Travel Mode

Stay seated while using Travel Mode, and take off your Apple Vision Pro before you stand up.

Take off your Apple Vision Pro during taxiing, takeoff, and landing, and if the flight has turbulence.

Avoid looking out the airplane's windows, since this can affect your device's ability to track your surroundings.

Be aware of your surroundings. When you use Travel Mode, features that help you see and stay aware of your surroundings are turned off.

If content in Apple Vision Pro appears tilted or off-center, long-press the Digital Crown to re-center your view.

Restarting Apple Vision Pro turns off Travel Mode.

Availability of some Apple Vision Pro features in Travel Mode

If you have Pointer Control turned on and set to use your head as the pointer, you might not be able to turn on Travel Mode after the airplane begins moving. To use Travel Mode when your head is set as the pointer, turn on Travel Mode before you board the plane, or when you find your seat. Remove Apple Vision Pro for takeoff, then put it back on when it's safe to do so. Travel Mode will still be on and ready to use.

Persona isn't available when you're using Travel Mode.

You can’t set up your Apple Vision Pro while traveling on an airplane.

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Meta Quest’s new Travel Mode makes one overlooked Vision Pro feature even better

Meta's new feature could be bad news for the Vision Pro

Today Meta announced a new "Travel Mode" for the Quest 2 and Quest 3 headsets and it has a striking resemblance to a feature in Apple's visionOS. 

Meta's announcement comes hot on the heels of news of Apple's plans to start selling the Vision Pro worldwide and less than a month before Apple hosts WWDC 2024 in June, where we could see an update for visionOS. So, it's probably no coincidence that Meta's new feature resembles Apple's spatial computing platform. 

Whether you currently have a Quest headset or you want to try out spatial computing without paying $3,500 for a Vision Pro, here's everything you need to know about Meta's new Travel Mode. 

Meta announces "Travel Mode" for Quest headsets

On May 13, Meta announced an exciting update to its Quest 2 and Quest 3 mixed reality headsets: Travel Mode. This feature can detect airplane Wi-Fi and automatically launch in-flight entertainment options for you. It also adjusts performance to account for the movement of the screen so your virtual world remains stable even during bumpy rides. 

Travel Mode also enables video pass-through by default. So, you can look out the window or see when a flight attendant stops at your seat without taking off your headset. Meanwhile, you can watch a movie on a big screen or play an AR game. 

Right now, Travel Mode is mainly optimized for planes, but Meta plans to update it for other forms of transportation in the future. 

This feature strongly resembles the Travel Mode available on the Vision Pro , which also provides video stabilization. Both versions of Travel Mode work only on airplanes right now, although Meta's version will continue working when you look out the window, which isn't possible with Apple's Travel Mode. Meta also highlighted AR games played with hand controls, yet another reference to the Vision Pro. 

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While Travel Mode is a small-scale update for specific situations, it's the latest move in Meta's ongoing push to close the gap between its own headsets and the Apple Vision Pro. 

How to try out Travel Mode on your Quest headset

Travel Mode is available now on most Quest headsets and you can try it out for no extra cost with just a few clicks. 

Start by opening the Settings app on your headset. Scroll down to "Experimental Features" and look for Travel Mode in the list of available features. Tap the switch to turn it on and you are good to go. 

Keep in mind that Travel Mode might not turn on if it doesn't detect that you're on a plane. So, if you try it out in a car, bus, or other vehicle, it might not turn on automatically. It's also currently only optimized for air travel, so performance in other vehicles will vary until Meta updates it to include more forms of transportation.  

Even in its somewhat limited state, Meta's Travel Mode has one big advantage over Apple's — the ability to look out windows with video pass-through. It could be a deciding factor for those who have been waiting for a cheaper Apple headset to use on the plane. 

Why wait when Meta's more affordable Quest headsets now have a Travel Mode even better than what the Vision Pro offers? 

More from Laptop Mag

• Meta just took a bold step to try to beat Apple Vision Pro with Horizon OS
• AR Smart glasses are everything the Vision Pro should have been

Apple Vision Pro 2 may be years away — is Apple pinning its hopes on a cheaper option?

Stevie Bonifield is a freelance tech journalist specializing in keyboards, peripherals, gaming gear, and mobile tech. Outside of writing, Stevie loves indie games, photography, and building way too many custom keyboards

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