Considering those stories of outrageous Data Roaming charges, it is really important that you understand “Data Roaming” and how to Enable or Disable Data roaming on your iPhone or Android Phone.
What is Data Roaming?
Technically your iPhone or Android phone is said to be in Roaming Mode when it connects to cellular towers that are not owned or operated by your cellular service provider (Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, etc.).
In case this sounds scary, you can take solace from the fact that you won’t be incurring Data Roaming charges as long as you remain within the coverage area specified in your Cellular Plan.
Depending on your Cellphone plan, you may incur roaming charges when you travel to another area within the same country or travel outside the country. Hence, it is highly recommended that you carefully read the contract with your service provider to find out when Data Roaming charges come into play.
Data Roaming Charges Can Be Excessive
As you must be already aware, Data Roaming charges can quickly add up and shoot up your phone bill by hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Apart from voice calls, Roaming charges apply to text messages, uploading pictures, accessing the internet and any activity on your iPhone or Android Phone that makes it connect to a cellular network.
It is important to remember that you can accumulate Data Roaming Charges simply by leaving your iPhone or Android Phone turned on while you are travelling outside the Country. There are a number of apps on your smartphone that automatically connect to a network in the background and transmit information using your expensive Roaming Data.
To be really safe, you should consider turning off Cellular Data entirely on your iPhone while you are travelling abroad and make use of WiFi networks.
Disable Data Roaming on iPhone
Follow the steps below to Disable Data Roaming on your iPhone.
1. From the home screen of your iPhone, tap on Settings
2. Next, tap on Cellular
3. Disable Data Roaming on your iPhone by toggling Data Roaming to OFF (White) from its current ON (Green) setting (See image below).
Additionally, you should also consider disabling Cellular Data on your iPhone to make sure that all data usage on your iPhone is restricted to WiFi only and no Cellular Data is used by your Phone.
Note: Disabling Data Roaming will also disable international or out of area text messages on your iPhone.
Enable or Disable Data Roaming on Android Phone
1. Tap on the Settings App on your Android Phone.
2. Next, scroll down to Mobile Networks located under section Connections and tap on it.
3. On the Mobile Networks screen, make sure that Data Roaming is set to OFF Position (See image below).
With Data Roaming is Disabled, you can make use of apps like WhatsApp, Google Hangouts and Skype over a WiFi connection to stay in touch with your family and friends.
