Why is my data roaming not working

If you're traveling abroad and find you have no signal or are getting an error message, we can help! Use this information to troubleshoot service problems while roaming internationally or on a cruise ship.

General troubleshooting

Before getting into specifics, try these general steps to fix most issues. If you're not sure how to perform any of the specific actions listed on this page, check the how-to guides for your device on the page.

We all have problems with the signal during the holidays. It can be frustrating because many of us want to enjoy our vacation without any problems. Mobile operators can rarely help you in this situation as you cannot contact them. Many leisure centers, bars, restaurants, shopping centers, airports, almost everywhere where you now have access to Wi-Fi. Thanks to this, you will always have access to the Internet where you can find help. We've provided a step-by-step guide below to help you with signal problems while roaming.

1. Make sure that roaming is configured in your mobile plan

If you are abroad, there is no other option but to contact your supplier to obtain this information. Most bill payment plans have automatic roaming set up, however, if your plan isn't set up correctly you won't get a signal when you're abroad. To contact your mobile operator, try using their internet chat service, this is the best way and it's free. Providers will look at your contract to make sure everything is set up correctly or ask for any bugs to be fixed.

People who use Pay as you go SIM cards need to make sure they have credit. Log in to your mobile operator's app or website and make sure you have the balance to make the call.

2. Airplane Or Flight Mode

For starters, the first thing we should check is Airplane Mode or Flight Mode on our phone. It may seem funny and obvious, but when we go on a plane trip, we usually have this mode turned on, which prevents us from connecting and blocks the signal. Therefore, it is important to unlock this mode immediately after landing and not panic immediately, as this may be the cause of the disruption. Here's how to turn off Airplane Mode or Flight Mode. 

Swipe down from the top of your screen. Now find the Airplane icon and turn it off.

Go to Settings on your phone, then scroll down and find the Mobile network. Lastly, unmark Airplane mode. 

3. Turn off the device

This solution may seem quite ridiculous, but if it doesn't work, turn it off and then on again. Basically, after restarting the device, you are trying to give the device a second chance to connect to a foreign network. Your device may have an error and therefore cannot connect to the network. Restarting the device may fix the problem by itself. Sometimes the simplest methods are the best.

4. Software update‍

Do you want to make sure that your device has the latest software? Currently, many devices update automatically, however it is worth checking as your phone's software may be causing a connection problem. So how do we check if our software is up to date? Below are the steps to check. Remember, however, that you must be connected to Wi-Fi. Before updating the software, make sure that you have backed up your data on the device. If you do not know how to do this, please see our How to back up data on Android.

1.  At first, go to the Setting on your phone.

2. Now, scroll down and find the System & Updates option. 

Great, now select the Software update. 

The last step is to click the Check for updates button. If your phone is already up to date, then you will see the information above. 

5. Reset network settings‍

When we reset our network settings, we usually try to fix any errors in our connections. Resetting your network settings will restore your Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, VPN, and cellular connections to their factory condition. It's essential to bring these four calls back to the new phone. You won't lose any important data on your device after resetting your network settings, but remember that it's always a good idea to back up your data before performing any resets to stay safe.‍

What will you lose:

Automatic Wi-Fi connection, you need to reconnect to your home or work Wi-Fi connections and re-enter passwords.
Automatic connection for Bluetooth devices, you will need to pair the Bluetooth devices again.
The VPN settings will be deleted, you will have to re-enter the VPN settings.
A VPN doesn't apply to everyone because many people may not have a VPN set up.

We've outlined below how you can reset your network settings.

1. First, go to your phone's Settings.

2. Scroll down and find the System & Updates tab. Click on it.

3. Great, now find the Reset option in the list and enter it.

4. Select Reset network settings from the available options.

5.  The last step is to confirm the reset, to do so, click the Reset network settings button. A keyboard should now appear on the screen to enter your device PIN.

6. Remove the SIM card‍

Turn off the phone and remove the SIM card from the device. Wait 30 seconds. Put the SIM card back in and turn on the phone. This can fix any connection problems.

How to remove the SIM card if it does not want to leave the device?

You can use an earring for this if you have one. Might as well check the paper clip, which you can find in your hotel reception, for example.

7. Cellular Settings‍

If you are experiencing an issue where you cannot use your mobile data connection overseas, we need to make sure that data roaming is turned on. However, if you don't want to use your cellular data connection, you'll need to turn off mobile data and data roaming.

If this is an issue where you have no signal at all, you can:

Change the network mode

The network mode is usually set to 4G / 3G / 2G auto-connect. However, if there are problems with the 4G network, the phone may not connect to the 3G or 2G network. You can manually select these options in network mode.

Select a network manually via network operators

Please note that you can use all available networks while roaming. The network that you connect to automatically may not be working in your area. For example, if you have been to Spain and your phone connects to Orange ES, you can try connecting it to Vodafone ES as the Orange network may be having issues with the service. Learn how to turn on data roaming, change the network mode, and manually select a network below.

1. First, go to your phone's Settings.

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2. Now select the Mobile networks tab.

3. Click on Mobile data. 

4. Select Preferred network mode from the menu list.

5. Turn on Data Roaming if you are having issues with a mobile data connection. Click on Network Mode to change your mode to 3G or 2G only.

You can also change the position manually.

1. As before, go to Settings> Mobile network> Mobile data. Now select Carrier from the list.

2. To set the operator manually, deselect the Automatic option.

3. Now all you have to do is confirm by clicking Ok.

8. Use the application for WiFi connections

If you're still having problems after fully resolving the issue, try using the Wi-Fi connection app. There are many applications that can be downloaded for free from the Google Play store from which you can make calls.

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