Traveling internationally and finding that your phone's roaming service isn't working can be frustrating. Whether you’re on a business trip or vacation, staying connected is crucial. Here’s a guide to help you understand why your international roaming might not be working, how to debug the issue, and explore some alternatives.
Common Reasons Why International Roaming Might Not Work
By understanding some of the common reasons why international roaming might not work, you will be able to better troubleshoot your international roaming issues.
- Roaming not enabled for your plan: One of the most common reasons why your international roaming isn’t working is because it was never enabled. It could be that your plan with your carrier does not include roaming capabilities, or that your home provider had not enabled international roaming. Or perhaps, you might have previously requested for international roaming to be disabled so that you do not accidentally incur data roaming charges.
- Data roaming not enabled on your phone settings: Another possible reason why your roaming services isn’t working is because you have not enabled data roaming on your phone settings. Check your device settings to confirm that data roaming has been turned on.
- Carrier restrictions and coverages: To facilitate international roaming, your home carrier will need to have agreements in place with international carriers. If you are unable to roam in a certain country, it could be that your carrier’s international roaming agreements and plans do not cover that destination. Remember to check the international roaming coverage before you travel.
- Network Compatibility: Different countries use different frequency bands and technologies. Your phone needs to be able to compatible with the specific frequency band in order for it to work in that destination. While most modern phones are compatible with the different frequencies worldwide, it is important to just double check that your phone can be used in your destination before you travel.
How to Troubleshoot International Roaming Issues
There are a few things you could do to troubleshoot your international roaming issues.
The first thing you probably want to confirm is that your home plan supports international roaming, and that your home telco provides international roaming coverage for the destination that you are at.
Once you have confirmed that you actually can use international roaming, check your device settings to make sure that you have enabled data roaming. This can usually be found under Settings > Mobile Networks or Connections.
- iPhone: Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Data Roaming
- Android: Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks > Data Roaming
Double-check also that airplane mode for your device has been turned off. You can also try to restart your phone.
If it still doesn’t work, you can attempt doing a manual network selection instead of having your phone select the network automatically.
As a last resort, try reaching out to your home carrier for help.
Get an eSIM as an alternative to International Roaming
It can be frustrating trying to troubleshoot your international roaming while you are traveling. Instead of trying to troubleshoot your international roaming, why not consider getting a travel eSIM to help you stay connected instead? A travel eSIM is a convenient and much more cost-effective alternative to international roaming - well, that is if your phone is eSIM compatible and you can use a travel eSIM.
Travel eSIMs can be easily purchased online, and you will often receive the QR code or installation kit within minutes of successful purchase. You will be able to install and activate your eSIM in a few taps of your device, saving you the hassle of having to look for a local store that you can purchase a local SIM card from.
Of course, you do need to have a stable internet connection to complete this purchase and installation, so it is recommended that you complete the process at the airport or in the hotel where you have a good WiFi connection.
Get a Nomad eSIM to stay connected hassle-free when traveling
Nomad offers data plans in over 170 countries, and you can be sure to find one that is suitable for your travel needs. And if you will be traveling across multiple countries, there are also regional plans available so you can stay seamlessly connected as you hop between countries. Data plans are available from as low as $1.10/GB.
The networks that Nomad's eSIMs use for each plan are stated on the plan details on the web store and apps, so you can check which networks are supported before buying your plan. Data sharing and tethering is also supported on Nomad's eSIM plans.
If you share your Nomad referral code with your friends, your friend will stand to enjoy 25% off their first purchase of a Nomad eSIM of plans that are USD 5 and above. You will also receive a 25% off coupon that you can use for your next purchase!
