Using your phone abroad

Your plan travels well. Mexico and Canada are essentially home turf, and most of the rest of the world is covered for the basics — here's what to expect and the one switch to flip before you fly.

Before you leave: turn on Data Roaming

On iPhone: Settings, then Cellular, then Cellular Data Options, then Data Roaming. On Android: Settings, then Network & Internet, then your SIM, then Roaming. Without it, your phone will stay politely silent the moment you cross a border.

Mexico and Canada

Included with your plan, no add-on needed:

• Unlimited calling and texting
• 5GB of high-speed LTE data, then basic speeds after

For most trips that's maps, messages, photos, and calls without thinking about it.

Everywhere else (215+ countries)

Also included: unlimited texting and basic-speed data in more than 215 countries. Basic speed is enough for messages, email, and getting your map to load — it is not enough for video streaming, so set expectations accordingly (and download your maps and playlists on Wi-Fi first).

Heavy data needs abroad? The hotspot add-on upgrades your international roaming and adds 30GB of high-speed hotspot — or ask us before you go and we'll tell you honestly what your destination looks like.

Good to know

• Calling from the US to other countries is a different thing — that's international calling, with its own add-on.
• Wi-Fi is your friend abroad — calls over Wi-Fi and messaging apps skip roaming limits entirely.
• Tell us where you're headed if you want a coverage double-check — takes us a minute and saves surprises.