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How to set up and use a second line on an iPhone with an eSIM

Jesse Hollington

Whether you’re traveling abroad and trying to avoid roaming charges or simply looking for a better way to manage your work-life balance, setting up a second line on your iPhone is a great way to help you keep everything separate.

How to obtain an eSIM for your iPhone

How to set up a second line with an esim qr code, how to identify incoming calls, how to choose a line for outgoing calls, how to assign a contact to a specific line, how to choose a line for text messages, how to disable a line temporarily, how to remove your second line permanently, how to move your physical sim to an esim, what you need.

An iPhone XS /XR or newer

iOS 13 or newer

A carrier that supports eSIM

An eSIM code from your carrier (QR code or text code)

This capability first arrived with the iPhone XS and iPhone XR in 2018, although it wasn’t obvious since, unless you lived in China, the iPhone didn’t offer another slot for an extra SIM card. Instead, you had to set up the second line using an eSIM . While eSIM technology isn’t entirely new — Apple has been using it with the iPad since 2016 — it’s taken mobile carriers a bit more time to catch up.

The good news, however, is that now you can get an eSIM from just about any carrier in North America — and quite a few elsewhere in the world, too. In fact, eSIM support is now so widespread across the U.S. that it's allowed Apple to ditch the physical SIM card slot entirely on the iPhone 14 lineup . Instead, iPhone 14 models offer two built-in eSIM cards.

Whether you're using a shiny new iPhone 14 Pro Max or a 4-year-old iPhone XR , it's a cinch to get a second line on your iPhone, whether that's just temporarily for a short trip or setting up a second line for business purposes.

Getting an eSIM provides the most integrated way to add a second line to your iPhone since this can provide not only voice services but cellular data too. However, it’s not the only way to go. If you simply want an extra number for voice calls, several apps are available that are easy to get started with. Just be aware that these all require a data connection, either over Wi-Fi or your existing cellular plan. These are basically VoIP services rather than an actual second line.

The first thing you’ll need to do is confirm that the carrier you want to set up a second line with supports eSIM technology. Apple offers a helpful list , but it’s always a good idea to call your mobile provider’s customer service department to be sure.

Even though an eSIM doesn’t require a physical SIM card, you’ll still need some information from the mobile operator you want to get set up on. This is usually a QR code you can scan with your iPhone camera, but sadly, many carriers still provide this code on paper. If that’s the case, you may still need to visit a retail store or wait for it to arrive in the mail.

The good news is that this is quickly changing as eSIM technology becomes more widespread. Verizon can now activate an eSIM for you over the phone, while T-Mobile goes so far as to offer an app to provide a hassle-free way for prepaid customers to activate an eSIM.

If you’re setting up an eSIM account online, your carrier will likely ask you to provide a few pieces of information from your iPhone, including the IMEI2 and EID numbers. Here’s how to find them.

Step 1: On your iPhone, open the Settings app.

Step 2: Select General .

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Step 3: Select About . Your EID can be found in the section that includes your Wi-Fi address and Bluetooth address. Your IMEI2 will be further down, below the information for your current carrier.

Step 4: You can copy either of these numbers to the clipboard to allow you to easily paste them into an email, text message, or online form. To do this, select and hold on the field until the Copy button appears, and select it.

Once you’ve set up your eSIM account with your carrier, they should provide you with a QR code that you can scan to add the new line to your iPhone. Note if you’ve received your eSIM QR code electronically, you’ll need a second screen, such as your Mac, PC, or tablet, to display it on, as it has to be scanned with your iPhone camera. Here’s where to go to do that:

Step 2: Select Cellular . You’ll see your cellular data settings for your current plan.

Step 3: Select the Add eSIM button below this. Note that this option may be labeled Add cellular plan on older versions of iOS.

Step 4: If you're running iOS 16 or newer, you'll see a Set Up Cellular screen appear. Select Use QR code . On older versions of iOS, you'll be taken directly to the next screen.

Step 5: The iPhone camera will activate. Position your QR code in the frame and hold it there for a second or two. Once your iPhone detects the QR code, it should automatically continue to the next screen, informing you that a new cellular plan from your carrier is ready to be added to your iPhone.

If you were given a series of written codes instead of a QR code, you can also select Enter details manually at the bottom of the screen to key in this information.

Step 6: On the "Activate eSIM" screen, select Continue to confirm that you want to activate the plan associated with the QR code that you just scanned. This may also read Add cellular plan on versions prior to iOS 16.

Step 7: Select Done when you see "Cellular setup complete".

Step 8: On the next screen, you’ll be asked to choose labels for each of your plans. This is how you will distinguish them from each other when calls come in or for selecting a specific line for placing calls or sending text messages.

Your current number will automatically be labeled "Primary," but you can change this if it makes more sense to use a different labeling system, such as Personal and Business . Don’t worry if you’re not sure yet which labels you want to use here, as you can easily change them later.

Step 9: Select the label you would like to change, and select one of the predefined labels or choose Custom label and enter your own.

Step 10: After picking a label, select Done in the top-left corner.

Step 11: Repeat steps 9 and 10 if you would like to change the label for the other line. When you’re satisfied with your choices, select Continue to proceed.

Step 12: On the next screen, you’ll be asked to pick which of your two lines will be used for outgoing calls and messages. While you’ll be able to select a specific line on a per-call or per-contact basis, the one you select here will be what gets used by default.

Choose the line you would like to use as your default line, and then select Continue .

Step 13: You’ll next need to select the numbers you want to use for iMessage and FaceTime. Note that this doesn’t affect which line your iPhone uses to actually send and receive data for these services; just like any other service on your iPhone, it still uses Wi-Fi or your default cellular data plan (which you’ll choose in the next step). All you’re doing here is deciding which of your numbers others will be able to reach you at over iMessage or FaceTime.

Choose one or both lines, and select Continue when you’re ready to proceed.

Step 14: The last step is to pick which plan you want to use for cellular data. The best choice to make here will depend on things like data rates, allocations, and coverage. Like everything else in these steps, you can change this later, which you may need to do if you’re setting up a second line to avoid roaming charges while traveling. Pick whatever plan is best for your present circumstances.

It’s also possible to use both plans for cellular data by flipping on the toggle beside Allow cellular data switching . In this case, your iPhone will use whichever plan provides the best performance at any given time. However, this can make it tricky to manage your data usage, so we don’t recommend doing this unless you have high data caps on both plans.

Step 15: Once you’re happy with your Cellular Data selections, select Done to finish setting up your second eSIM line.

You’ll be returned to your cellular settings screen, which will now look a bit different:

  • Instead of a toggle, the Cellular Data option at the top will now show the label of the plan that’s currently being used.
  • A new Default Voice Line option appears to let you choose which line your iPhone normally uses for outgoing calls and text messages.
  • A new SIMs section shows both of your individual lines. Selecting these will take you to the settings for each plan, such as cellular data options for 5G and roaming, Wi-Fi calling, and voice and data.
  • You may also notice that the cellular signal strength indicator in the status bar has changed slightly — it’s now split into two sections to let you see the signal strength for both of your lines at a glance. You can see more details by swiping down from the top-right to bring up the Control Center, which will show both of your lines with their carrier tags and network status.

Once your second line is up and running, you’ll be able to receive incoming calls on either line. Your iPhone will tag these with a small icon to let you know which line they’re coming in on.

This will normally be only the first letter of the label, such as “P” for Primary, “S” for Secondary, or "B" for Business. However, to avoid ambiguity between similar labels (e.g., "Primary" and "Personal"), your iPhone may use up to four letters for each. Beyond that, it will assign a number instead.

These icons will be shown not only on the incoming call screen but also in the Recents and Voicemail lists in the Phone app.

Unless you specify otherwise, your default line will be used for outgoing calls, whether that’s to one of your contacts or you’re manually placing a call from the iPhone keypad. Here’s how to select your other line for an individual call:

Step 1: Open the Phone app.

Step 2: At the bottom, select Keypad .

Step 3: You should see the label for your default line at the top of the screen. Select it.

Step 4: From the pop-up menu that appears, choose the other line.

Step 5: Place your call normally. It will go out on the second line.

Unfortunately, you can’t do this on the fly when placing a call to a contact. You’ll either have to dial their number manually or change the line that you’ve assigned to them. We'll explain how to do that next.

By default, calls to any of your contacts will use whichever line was most recently used with that contact. If you haven’t yet placed a call to them or received a call from them, the default line will be used instead.

However, you can also assign a specific line to any of your contacts. Once set, that line will always be used for outgoing calls to that person. This can be a handy way to separate lines for personal and business use. Here’s how to do this:

Step 2: Select the Contacts button at the bottom of the screen.

Step 3: Locate and select a contact you would like to assign to a specific line.

Step 4: The current line will be shown beneath the contact’s name, with a prefix that indicates whether it’s the default line or the last-used line.

Step 5: Select this line to bring up the Preferred line selection.

Step 6: Last used should be selected by default. If you would like to change this, choose the line that you want to assign to this contact. If you’ve previously assigned a default line, you can also choose Last used to set it back to the default behavior.

Step 7: Select Done when finished.

Note that this doesn't just affect the line used for placing phone calls to this contact; the selected number will also be used for sending text messages, starting iMessage conversations, and placing FaceTime calls to this person. To avoid confusion, existing conversations in the Messages app will continue using the number they started with unless you specifically change them to a different one.

When starting a new text message or iMessage conversation with one of your contacts, your iPhone will use the line assigned to that contact, as outlined in the previous section. However, you can also change this at any time — even for conversations that are already in progress. Here’s how:

Step 1: Open the Messages app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Select the New message button in the top-right corner to open the New Message screen.

Step 3: Type in the contact name or phone number of the person you want to send a message to, then select Return on the keyboard.

Step 4: A "From" line will appear below the address, showing the line that will be used to send the message. Select this line.

Step 5: Choose the other line from the pop-up menu that appears.

Step 6: Proceed to send your message as you normally would.

Step 7: A few things to note:

  • You can use this method to change your number for conversations that are already in progress. Follow the steps above and enter the contact name or number for the existing conversation. You’ll see the conversation thread appear after selecting Return , but you’ll still be able to select an alternate line to continue the conversation.
  • A much easier way to change your line for a conversation in progress is to select the Person’s name at the top of the conversation and select your alternate line from the Conversation line button.
  • When switching numbers in a conversation, a note will be posted to indicate the change.
  • If you haven’t enabled iMessage on your second line, switching to that line will also switch your conversation to using green-bubbled SMS text messages. You can enable iMessage on your second line by going to Messages > Send and receive in the iPhone Settings app.

Just because you’ve added a second line doesn’t mean you always need to keep it active. The iPhone lets you switch off either of your lines whenever you like with a quick trip into the Settings app. This can be useful if you have a line you only need while traveling or if you’d simply like to avoid being interrupted by business calls during your downtime. Sadly, Apple's Focus modes still don't allow you to block or allow calls on a per-line basis.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Select Cellular .

Step 3: Under Cellular plans , select the line you would like to disable.

Step 4: Select the toggle beside Turn on this line to turn it off.

Once disabled, all references to that line will be hidden from your iPhone. You’ll no longer see separate signal strength indicators, and even the line indicator icons beside your recent calls will vanish until you turn the line back on. Calls will still go to your voice mailbox if you have one, but they won’t get through to your iPhone. Disabling a line is the equivalent of removing the SIM card from your iPhone entirely.

Note that this isn’t confined only to your secondary eSIM line. If you prefer, you can disable your primary line and use only your secondary one. In fact, you can even disable both lines, in which case your iPhone will simply behave as it if it has no SIM card installed — right down to showing “No SIM” in the status bar.

If you no longer need your secondary line, you can remove it from your iPhone in a few quick steps. Be aware, however, that this will not cancel your line with your carrier — you’ll still have to call them to do that, the same as you normally would.

Step 3: Under Cellular plans , choose the line you would like to remove. Note that you can only remove an eSIM-provisioned line from here. To remove a line assigned to a physical SIM card, you simply need to take the SIM card out of your iPhone.

Step 4: Scroll down to the bottom of the settings and select Delete eSIM . This may also be shown as Remove cellular plan on older versions of iOS.

Step 5: Select Delete eSIM to confirm. This may be labeled Remove [carrier name] plan on older versions of iOS.

The plan will be removed from your iPhone. Note that you may have to contact your carrier if you want to set it up again, so don’t remove your line unless you’re really certain that you’re done with it.

If you would like to get away from using a physical SIM card entirely, many carriers will let you transfer your physical SIM card over to use the eSIM built into your iPhone instead.

While there’s not usually a reason to worry about this, it’s a good way to free up your physical SIM card slot if you’re planning to travel to another country and you’re uncertain if the mobile operators there will be able to handle an eSIM.

Further, most iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 models support dual eSIM, allowing you to transfer your physical SIM card to an eSIM and still have another eSIM available for a second line.

Apple offers a simplified transfer process for folks on certain carriers. If this is available, a Convert to eSIM button should appear under Settings > Cellular . If this doesn’t show up, you may still be able to convert your physical SIM to an eSIM, but you’ll need to contact your carrier directly for instructions.

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Jesse Hollington

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Last fall, Apple unveiled the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro series, which generated a lot of excitement among consumers. However, some users who got their hands on the devices early on expressed dissatisfaction by taking to social media to complain about overheating issues.

Apple has just released a new security update, iOS 17.4.1. This comes a little over two weeks after iOS 17.4, which was a big update. iOS 17.4.1 doesn't add any new features, but it's still an important update you'll want to download as soon as you can.

With iOS 17.4.1, Apple states that the update “provides important bug fixes and security updates and is recommended for all users.” Apple doesn’t mention any specifics of these bug fixes, but more details on what this security update addresses may be revealed at a later date.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro (left) and iPhone 15 Pro Max Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

If you're reading this article, chances are you have an iPhone. It's also quite likely that your friends and family members also use an iPhone. The iPhone is the smartphone of choice for millions of people in the U.S., and now, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is suing Apple over the iPhone monopoly it has established over the years.

iGeeksBlog

How to use iPhone when traveling internationally

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.

Steps showing how to turn Roaming Data off on an iPhone

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.

Steps to check carrier lock status on an iPhone

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.

Steps to reset data usage statistics on an iPhone

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 …

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🗣️ Readers like you help support iGeeksBlog. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.  Read Disclaimer .

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I traveled using an eSIM for my iPhone — and here’s why you should too

After traveling with eSIMs for my iPhone and I can never go back to a regular SIM

Image of a hand holding a phone with an icon of a eSIM on the phone screen.

The freedom to be able to take your phone all over the world and not pop in another physical SIM card to stay tethered to the world is unparalleled. Thanks to eSIMs this reality has been around since 2017 on smartphones — but I only just discovered the joy of getting an eSIM connection on my iPhone when I recently traveled to Europe from the US. 

I have always faithfully relied on a good old physical SIM card for all my travels up until now. Enabling a physical SIM seemed easy enough, and I always carry a little pouch to store my original SIM so I don’t lose it. Simple, I thought.

But after my experience with eSIMs on my iPhone, I don’t think I can ever go back to a regular SIM card while traveling.

For the uninitiated, eSIM — that's short for embedded subscriber identity module — is basically a digital version of the SIM card which can be downloaded on a compatible phone and saves you the hassle of popping out the SIM card tray and popping in a tiny SIM card. 

Most recent phones, be they iPhone or Android device, come with eSIM compatibility. 

 Traveling with an eSIM 

Traveling with an eSIM was an easy-breezy affair. I was set to travel to France and Italy, and I had my trusty iPhone XR with me. 

There’s a nifty app that I discovered for downloading the eSIM on my iPhone XR. (More on the app later.) With a few swishes and taps, I was all set for my summer travel. As soon as I switched off airplane mode on my iPhone, the eSIM was enabled and I had a strong connection. Bonjour Paris! 

eSIM will save you the hassle of popping tiny nano SIM cards in and out on your flight, where you risk the possibility of losing the tiny things. It will also save you the stress of landing in a new country and buying one of those touristy SIM cards, which can prove to be quite costly in certain countries. 

It’s very easy to switch networks with an eSIM, and you can have more than one network including having voice and data on different plans. You can usually have up to 5 virtual SIMs, depending on the phone you use. 

I didn’t need that many. I bought two connections — one each for France and Italy.  

 eSIM on iPhone  

iPhone XR was one of the first iPhones to come enabled with eSIM, and using eSIM proved to be a delight. After purchasing my plan, I just had to enable everything under Settings > Mobile Data; under "Data Plans" I could toggle the plan I wanted, to be on or off. 

You can also label your plans with different options like "Business" or "Travel" and then choose which number to use for calls or messages and data too. I custom-labeled mine to know which one to use in which country. 

Screenshot of different eSIM connections on an iPhone

Now here’s the best part about getting an eSIM on your iPhone — you can opt to make one connection a primary one while turning another connection into your secondary one. This means that you can make calls from one number, which will be your default and use the secondary one just for cellular data. This is exactly what I did, with texts coming through my primary US number while I used the data from the eSIM I bought. 

Using iOS 13 and later, you can choose either or both numbers. In fact, with iPhone 13 Pro Max , iPhone 13 Pro , iPhone 13 , and iPhone 13 mini , you can use Dual SIM with two active eSIMs as well. 

Screenshot of different carrier lines on an iPhone screen

Dual SIM is there on models before the iPhone 13 family as well, but with one nano SIM and one eSIM. 

You can also choose to "Allow cellular data switching," which will then use cellular data from both plans, depending on coverage and availability.

Apple offers eSIM on all their models above iPhone XR and with iOS 12.1 or later. But you cannot use eSIM on an iPhone that is locked to a carrier.  (Perhaps a reason to consider one of the best unlocked phones .)

 Meet Airalo 

Airalo is the app that sprung up the eSIM connection on my iPhone almost instantly. It's a free download on iOS or Android that presents a list of countries and eSIM plans to choose from. 

Comparing a basic data plan I found on Airalo with some of the SIM card data plans in Paris, I found I had saved around $5 by taking the eSIM 7-day data plan on Airalo (although the SIM card plans did include talk time as well). 

Once I purchased the plan on Airalo, the app led me step-by-step on how to activate the eSIM. It was through the same steps mentioned above, and all I had to do to switch between my France and Italy plan was to tap on "Turn on this line" in the settings. 

Other apps, such as Holafly , offer eSim plans, too, if you prefer to shop around. 

Overall, I feel this is an underrated technology that is not spoken about enough. The ease of use of eSIMs and travel especially on an iPhone made me a total convert. 

In the future, all phones might just move to having no physical SIM cards leaving more space for other components, such as the battery. For now, iOS 16 is all set to make transferring eSIMs very easy , just through Bluetooth. Now that the iPhone 14 series is being sold in the US as eSIM-only models, here's a detailed guide on how to activate eSIM on your iPhone 14 .

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Sanjana Prakash

Sanjana loves all things tech. From the latest phones, to quirky gadgets and the best deals, she's in sync with it all. Based in Atlanta, she is the news editor at Tom's Guide. Previously, she produced India's top technology show for NDTV and has been a tech news reporter on TV. Outside work, you can find her on a tennis court or sipping her favorite latte in instagrammable coffee shops in the city. Her work has appeared on NDTV Gadgets 360 and CNBC.

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  • drdigital1 There is one area not addressed in the article: making/receiving phone calls and SMS. Specifically, there are 4 cases that need a solution: Making calls and sending SMS to USA Receiving calls and SMS from USA Making calls and sending SMS locally (in the country you’re visiting) Receiving calls and SMS sent locally (in the country you’re visiting) The article makes a passing reference about “texts coming through my primary US number“ . If the texts are iMessage or WhatsApp text messages, they work indeed through the eSIM data network. But regular phone calls and SMS to your US number will be sent to your phone. One can block data roaming but phone calls and SMS cannot be blocked. If you answer the incoming phone call/SMS, you’ll be charged international rates by your US carrier. There is a potential work around: using WiFi calling. Not clear to me but it might be possible that WiFi calling feature might also work when the Internet connectivity is provided by the eSIM data network, not by WiFi. If so, the first 2 cases listed above are covered. Reply
  • DaveAS A disadvantage of an Airalo eSIM (and maybe others too) is that it can only be used for data, not calls - there is no phone number. This was in Turkey and a local phone number was required for certain online services (travel card top-up for example). Reply
  • View All 2 Comments

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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:

airplane mode and wifi

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.

iPhone Settings

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)

imessage international

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. Meaning, that in your Settings —> Messages —> Send & Receive, you will see all 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.

As long as Airplane Mode is ON, or if your Cellular Data is OFF, you won’t be charged for using these services. 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, and hit the video icon in your options.

Alternatively, open your FaceTime app (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 and they should show up 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, you can look back in your texts. Anyone that you text with blue text bubbles has an iPhone, 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.

SIM card slot

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.

iphone abroad

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 .

international sim card for iphone

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.

pop socket review

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.

Hidden Credit Card iPhone Case

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).

unlimited global data

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.

SIM Card Dumbphone

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.

International WiFi

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!

Comments are closed.

13 essential iPhone tricks to use when you’re travelling

Turn your phone into the ultimate travel companion

13 essential iPhone tricks to use when you’re travelling

1. Sync before you go

Do it. Don’t question it, just do it. Plug your iPhone into your computer, fire up iTunes and back up your brick. Make sure you’ve got all your contacts, photos, settings and songs reassuringly saved before you start slinging your iPhone around a distant continent.

We’re not questioning your capacity to look after your stuff (we totally are), but if you’ve spent half an hour doing this before you leave your iPhone on the back seat of a sweaty tuk tuk, it’ll help take some of the sting out of the whole affair.

  • If you're travelling on a budget, check out our picks for best travel backpacks
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2. Know how to turn off mobile data

Sure, data roaming charges aren’t as wallet-ruining as they used to be, but you can still save a decent amount of cash if you know how to turn off your data while travelling.

Open Settings and tap Mobile Data . Turn off Mobile Data , then tap Mobile Data Options and turn off Data Roaming . You’ll have to use wi-fi for any online browsing or retrieving iMessages, but heck, you’re on holiday, a little offline time might be good for the soul.

iphone travel line

3. Use a web browser compressor

If you know you won’t be able to go your whole holiday without going online at some point, you can save yourself some hefty fees by downloading a web browser that uses less data.

Apps like Opera Mini compress your web session, using less data than apps like Safari or Chrome. It also helps improve your browsing experience if you’re in an area with a slow connection.

4. Download your map before you go

Come on. You can do better than the crappy tourist map you get from the front desk of the hotel. Fire up Google Maps , search the city or area you’ll be headed off to and open ‘Offline Maps’ in the menu. Using the option ‘SELECT YOUR OWN MAP’ you’ll be able to drag a square around a region to download and keep offline; the bigger the region, the bigger the download.

Be sure to add pins for anything you’ll want to find offline as they’ll be saved too – hotels, bus routes, the spot the free walking tour sets off from (just us?).

iphone travel line

5. Download an Itinerary App

Have you bust a lung sprinting from the Heathrow Wetherspoons to your gate on more than one occasion? Do you always, always manage to forget when your return flight actually leaves? We’re with you.

Itinerary apps might feel painfully patronising, but they take the stress out of managing your trip details. An app like TripIt allows you to forward all confirmation emails of flights, hotels and transfers to their system, which will then centralise it in a master itinerary in within the app. You can then view all the details of your trip offline, removing the hassle of having to pay €20 for airport wifi just find out what your flight number is. Sorted.

iphone travel line

6. Save your boarding pass to Apple Wallet

Paper tickets are dead. The neat Apple Wallet cuts the faff of finding that one mate who still owns a printer to get a hard copy of your boarding pass.

Airlines will vary on how they present you with your boarding pass – either as an email attachment or within a web browser, but when viewing your boarding pass and its QR code, make sure you tap ‘Add to Apple Wallet’ when it pops up. This will allow you to download your boarding pass as on offline file.

Just remember to keep your phone powered up when you’re heading to the airport, yeah?

7. Turn off Fetch New Data

Your iPhone loves data. Bloody mad for it. If you’re happy with your roaming charges, but don’t fancy wasting precious data updating your work inbox or calendar, you should consider turning off your ‘Fetch New Data’ setting.

Head to Settings and go to Accounts & Passwords . Under ‘Fetch New Data’ you’ll have a variety of options as to when you want your iPhone to grab new data for your iCloud and personal accounts. If you turn off ‘Push’ and change your Fetch setting to ‘Manual’ , your iPhone will only go digging for new emails and updates when you open an app, rather than doing it in the background.

iphone travel line

8. Buy a good portable battery

No, not that crummy promotional battery pack you got at a summer festival. A proper power bank. The best, most reliable name out there is Anker, who make mini chargers that’ll resupply your iPhone 6 with one full charge, or larger devices that’ll juice it up multiple times. It’s worth the investment.

  • Check out our best iPhone XS cases to keep your phone safe on your journey

9. Get a proper weather app

Your holiday deserves a better, more accurate forecast than the one you’re currently getting from your iPhone’s pre-packed weather system. Download AccuWeather for a seriously accurate report on what’s going on in your local area, with a two-hour forecast updated every minute. It will also supply you with a spread of additional features like ‘RealFeel Temperature’, indicating just how sweaty 33 degrees in 80% humidity will be.

10. Clear out your photos before you travel

Be honest, when did you look at those photos you took last autumn of your sub-par attempt at a cottage pie? Chances are you’ve got stacks of photos knocking about on your iPhone taking up valuable space – fine now, but extremely annoying when you’re lining up that perfect sunset shot only to be interrupted by a message saying you’re out of storage.

Before you go, have a fiddle about with your iCloud Photo Library. Head to ‘Settings’ and tap on your Apple ID. Scroll down to ‘iCloud’ and tap on the ‘Photos’ app and make sure your ‘iCloud Photo Library’ is turned on , uploading your photos and videos to cloud storage.

With all your images safely floating about in the cloud, you can set about cleaning up your phone – a proper cathartic deletion session – to ensure you’ve got as much room as possible for those questionable holiday pool that you’re never going to look at ever again.

11. Download a language app

We live in the future. Really. Get Google Translate , download the language of the country you’ll be heading to (it’s got over 100 available) and prepare to be amazed.

The standard feature allows you to input a phrase or word and receive an immediate translation that the app can read aloud for you. But for 37 of the app’s languages, you can use your iPhone’s camera to look at a menu or sign and watch the app recognise the text and translate it for you. The Conversation mode allows you to pass your phone back and forth between speakers, translating the conversation on the fly. It makes you wonder why you wasted your childhood conjugating French verbs.

iphone travel line

12. Get a proper camera app

Your iPhone camera can do a lot more than you’re currently using it for. The standard camera app is great for simple point-and-shoot stuff, but if you want to get shots that’ll provoke cries of rage from your office-bound Instagram followers, download the Camera+ 2 app before you fly.

The Camera+ 2 app lets you control a whole heap of standard photography settings – white balance, shutter speed, ISO – as well as giving you some neat features like smile detection and a handy stabiliser. There’s also a built-in ‘Lightbox’, that lets you tweak your shots to obsessive perfection. It’s worth the £2.99 price tag.

13. Use Apple Pay abroad

Don’t want to travel with a heap of plastic in your wallet? Apple Pay is now accepted in a heap of countries (you can see the full list here ). Load up your iPhone with your credit and debit cards before you travel and you’ll be able to tap-and-pay with ease. The amount your bank will charge you for international transactions will vary, so it pays to shop around to see who offers the best travel scheme.

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What To Do With My iPhone When Traveling Internationally?

iphone travel line

Well, first thing first, eliminate Roaming by downloading Roamless app. Available in App Stores.

When preparing for your exciting upcoming adventure, it's essential to consider all aspects, including your electronic devices. If you own an iPhone, there are a few important steps to take before traveling abroad to ensure your safety, connectivity, and peace of mind.

Unexpected situations can arise during your adventures. To ensure they are pleasant surprises, here are the key actions to take with your iPhone when traveling internationally.

6 Things You Need To Do With Your iPhone Before Traveling Internationally

If you're getting ready for a vacation or trip overseas, it's natural to want to bring your trusty iPhone with you. However, just like you, your iPhone requires some preparations to ensure a smooth experience. Here are our top six recommendations for what you should do to your iPhone before embarking on your international journey.

1 - Ensure Your iPhone is Unlocked

When you travel abroad, it's important to have an unlocked iPhone. Locked phones limit your options by preventing you from using local SIM cards or eSIM services. If your phone is locked, you'll be restricted from using Wi-Fi or facing expensive international roaming charges. To unlock your iPhone, contact your carrier and explain that you'll be traveling. If they refuse, there are third-party options available.

‍ 2 - Learn about Wi-Fi-Based Services

Familiarize yourself with Wi-Fi-based services, which allow your iPhone to function over the internet instead of using cellular data. Native Apple apps like iMessage and FaceTime work over Wi-Fi, and standalone apps like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Telegram, or Line can also be used for texts and calls. Utilizing Wi-Fi-based services can help minimize your data usage, even if you have a local SIM card or eSIM data plan.

3 - Disable Data Roaming

Always turn off data roaming to avoid unexpected charges. Disable cellular data entirely while in transit for added security, but remember to keep it on if you have an eSIM data plan. To turn off data roaming, go to "Settings," select "Cellular," and disable "Data Roaming" and "Cellular Data."

4 - Consider an eSIM Data Plan

An eSIM data plan allows you to access local data at affordable prices directly from your phone. Purchase an eSIM plan in advance and activate it upon arrival at your destination. While it doesn't provide a local phone number, it enables you to use your phone with full functionality and avoid expensive data roaming packages.

5 - Reset Your Usage Statistics

Resetting your data usage statistics is a helpful way to monitor your data usage while traveling and identify data-intensive apps. To reset statistics, go to "Settings," select "Cellular," and choose "Reset Statistics." This allows you to have a clear view of your data usage during your trip.

6 - Update Multi-Factor Authentication Steps

Ensure that your multi-factor authentication (2FA) methods are accessible while abroad. If 2FA relies on text messages, consider alternative options like using a backup email, obtaining a Google Voice number, or switching to an app-based authenticator like Google Authenticator or LastPass Authenticator. This way, you can maintain access to your important accounts even without phone service.

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What should I do when travel internationally with iPhone?

Two female friends Traveling internationally with iphone and smiling while using iPhone

Traveling abroad for holidays is a highly anticipated event for many people. In today’s digital age, having a smartphone has become crucial for travelers. From booking plane tickets and accommodation to finding directions and checking the weather, smartphones have become an essential tool for travelers. 

Among smartphones, the iPhone is one of the most widely used and loved devices, especially by those who enjoy taking aesthetic pictures. However, travel internationally with iPhone requires some preparation to ensure a smooth and safe experience. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive guide on what you should do with your iPhone when traveling internationally.

Hands trying to use iPhone while traveling internationally

What should I do for travel internationally with iPhone?

Before you leave for your trip, it is essential to take some steps to ensure that you can use your iPhone safely and conveniently while abroad. Here is a list of actions that you should consider doing:

For using iPhone abroad securely

  • Check iOS, apps, browsers are up to date & Backed up all data & Empty storage Before traveling internationally, make sure to update your iOS, Apps, and Browsers to ensure the best performance and security of your device. You can check and update the iOS version by going to [Settings] – [General] – [Software Update]. To update your apps, go to [App store] – [Updates] and select the apps that you need to update. It is also essential to backup all your data to avoid losing any important information during your trip. Additionally, freeing up storage space on your device will help prevent performance issues. You can free up some spaces by deleting apps that you don’t use or backuping pictures to clouds or external storages. To check your iPhone’s storage, go to [Settings] – [General] – [iPhone Storage]. By checking and emptying the storage, you surely prevent the full-storage caution message, especially if you love to take pictures abroad.
  • Learn about data roaming & how to prevent unintentional roaming charges Data roaming allows your iPhone to connect to a mobile network with your domestic carrier line while abroad, but it can also result in high roaming charges. To prevent unintentional roaming charges, it is best to turn off data roaming and use Wi-Fi hotspots or a local SIM card instead. You can go to [Settings] – [Cellular], choose your domestic line and then toggle off the [Data roaming]. Also if you are using dual SIM and want to avoid unintentional cellular line switching, please go to [Settings] – [Cellular]– [Cellular Data] and make sure that you select “Secondary line” for cellular data and then toggle off [Allow Cellular Data Switching]. It is recommended to purchase a data roaming plan before you leave, which can be an affordable option for short trips.
  • Turn off useless notifications and cellular data usage to save your data When traveling internationally, it is crucial to save data usage to avoid unexpected data charges. Turning off notifications and disabling cellular data usage for apps that you do not need will help save your data. You can also turn on Wi-Fi assist to automatically switch to Wi-Fi when a mobile network is weak. You can go to [Settings] – [Notification] to manage all your app’s notification options. Also you can go to [Settings] – [Cellular] and then scroll down to control cellular data usage of all applications on your iPhone. If you don’t want to use a certain app with your cellular data while traveling abroad, you can turn off the toggle next to the application’s name to avoid using cellular data with the app.
  • Set “Find My iPhone feature” and learn how to use it The Find My iPhone feature is a useful tool that helps you locate your device if it is lost or stolen. Before leaving for your trip, make sure to set up this feature and learn how to use it. To use this iPhone-only feature, connect your Apple ID to your device first. Then, go to [Settings] and click your name at the top, and click [Find My]. By tapping and turning on [Find My iPhone], you can enable Find My iPhone feature. Under [Find My iPhone], you can also turn on [Find My network] in case your iPhone is offline and [Send Last Location] in case your iPhone battery is barely left. If you have another iOS device, consider connecting them with your iPhone just in case you need to find your device easily when you lose it.
  • Update Multi-Factor Authentication Steps To prevent unauthorized access to your device, it is crucial to update your Multi-Factor Authentication steps before leaving for your trip. For instance, using your backup email and OTP via phone number for logging in will greatly help you to protect your accounts safely. This will help ensure that only you can access your device and its data.
  • Make note of a list of emergency contacts Before traveling abroad, make a list of emergency contacts that you can reach out to in case of an emergency. It is essential to include your home country’s embassy or consulate’s contact information and your emergency contacts’ phone numbers. Also, be sure to save address and contact information of your accommodation, in case you need help from them while traveling. Since accommodation can be greatly helpful for you during travel, such as recommendation or finding a route, making a note ahead about contact information might be useful. 

For using iPhone abroad conveniently

In addition to securing and saving data usage on your iPhone, you may also want to use your device conveniently while traveling abroad. Here are some tips to help you use your iPhone conveniently while abroad:

  • Check if your iPhone is unlocked To use data abroad, it is necessary to have an unlocked iPhone. Some carriers might lock your phone to avoid using another network carrier other than their own. If your device is locked (not unlocked), you can contact your carrier to request an unlock. Alternatively, you can purchase a new iPhone that is unlocked or ask your domestic carrier to unlock it. To check if your iPhone is unlocked, go to [Settings] – [General] – [About] and scroll down to see if you can see  “No SIM restrictions.” Once your iPhone is unlocked, you can use a local SIM card or eSIM from providers like eSIM USA to access data abroad.
  • Utilize your international travel plans There are various options available for accessing data while traveling abroad, including purchasing a local SIM card, using Wi-Fi hotspots, or using a data roaming plan from your carrier. However, using eSIM from providers like eSIM USA can be a more affordable and convenient option for staying connected while abroad. eSIMs can be easily purchased and activated online, and you can use them in multiple countries without having to switch SIM cards. By using eSIM, you can avoid the hassle of purchasing a local SIM card or relying on Wi-Fi hotspots. By following these tips, you can use your iPhone conveniently and affordably while traveling abroad. Whether you need to access data for work or stay connected with friends and family, having a reliable and convenient way to use your iPhone internationally can make all the difference in your travels.

For using iPhone abroad entertainingly

Apart from using your iPhone for essential tasks, you can also use it for entertainment while traveling abroad. Here are some things you can do to keep yourself entertained during your trip:

  • Learn how to use Facetime and iMessage with data Facetime and iMessage are two of the most popular features of the iPhone. To use these features while traveling abroad, make sure to enable them with data. You can also use messaging apps like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger to communicate with your friends and family back home.
  • Download necessary Apps (Maps, Taxi, Delivery etc.) and be familiar with WiFi-based Apps Before leaving for your trip, make sure to download necessary apps like Maps, Taxi, Delivery, and Translation apps that can be helpful while traveling abroad. Also, most maps will let you use it by downloading certain areas or places while staying in offline mode. So if you want to save your data, be prepared by downloading locations and places to use it offline. Additionally, be familiar with Wi-Fi-based apps that can be used offline to avoid using data.
  • Pre-download your favorite music, shows, or movies Especially if you have a long flight or layover, pre-downloading your favorite music, shows, or movies can be a great way to stay entertained while traveling abroad. You can use apps like Apple Music, Netflix, or Amazon Prime Video to download your favorite content for offline viewing.

Final Thoughts

Being prepared ahead of time can make all the difference when using your iPhone internationally. Taking the necessary steps to secure your device, save data usage, and unlock your iPhone will help you have a smooth and safe experience while traveling abroad. Additionally, using eSIM from providers like eSIM USA can be an affordable and convenient option for staying connected while abroad. By following the tips outlined in this article, you can have a worry-free experience using your iPhone internationally, and enjoy all that your destination has to offer.

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Attention, Travelers: Now Is the Best Time to Switch to eSIM

The digital version of the SIM card, included on many newer phones, is set to become prevalent. It also offers affordable cellular data abroad.

iphone travel line

By Brian X. Chen

Brian X. Chen is The Times’s lead consumer technology writer and the author of Tech Fix , a column about the social implications of the tech we use.

As vacation season looms, now is as good a time as ever to bite the bullet and become familiar with a smartphone feature that many of us have ignored for years: the eSIM, the digital version of the SIM card that carries your phone number.

Among many benefits, eSIM technology is a boon for travelers, and pretty soon we will all be using it because the physical SIM card will be no more. Let me explain.

Last year, Apple eliminated the SIM card tray from the iPhone 14 to free up space. That means the SIM card, which acts as a key that connects your phone with cellular networks, is being phased out for Apple phones.

Where Apple leads, others typically follow, so you can expect handset makers like Samsung and Google to also go all-in on eSIM — a digitized SIM card embedded into the phone’s computer chip that you can activate with any cellular network’s service plan.

“Whether we like it or not, it’s coming,” Roger Entner, a telecom expert and founder of the research firm Recon Analytics, said about eSIM technology.

But this move isn’t really all about Apple. The Federal Communications Commission also favors eSIM technology , because it makes it easier for people to switch to a different carrier by using software instead of going to a store for a physical SIM card. And the technology has security benefits: If your phone is stolen, thieves can’t remove an eSIM to hijack your phone number and commit identity theft, as they could with a physical SIM card.

Most important, the experience of using eSIM data plans for travel has greatly improved. About five years ago, eSIM data plans for international roaming were overpriced, and cell service was sometimes unreliable. But in the last year, I’ve tested a few eSIM services when I left the country and found them to be cost-effective and zippy.

As is always the case with new technology, there are downsides. Activating a data plan on a foreign network with an eSIM is not as straightforward as sticking a different SIM card into your phone. The process is especially challenging for those who are less familiar with technology, putting the onus on more tech savvy companions to help them make the switch.

There are also privacy concerns. Many eSIM service providers offer apps that collect your data for tracking purposes.

You can use my experience as a template for navigating the inevitable transition to eSIM. Recently, I tried eSIM data plans when traveling with several members of my family and acted as their tech sherpa through the switch.

Step 1: Pick an eSIM

The main reason to use eSIM services for travel is to save money. The big U.S. carriers, like AT&T and Verizon, offer international roaming options, including $10 day passes for using your phone in foreign countries. The costs quickly add up for a two-week trip with family.

In contrast, an eSIM data package that can be used for the entirety of your trip costs a few dollars. The tricky part is choosing an eSIM service provider because there are many, and most are unfamiliar brands like Airalo, GigSky and Flexiroam. (Apple provides a list of eSIM service providers on its website.)

For a recent weeklong trip to Montreal, I researched travel blogs and picked Nomad , which offered a gigabyte of data that could be used for seven days in Canada for $7. I had the option to activate the plan with Nomad’s app or by following setup instructions on the company’s website. The app had high reviews in the App Store, so I clicked the download button.

Step 2: Activate the eSIM Service

A nice thing about eSIM is that you can buy a plan and set up the service on your phone well in advance of a trip, then activate it when you arrive at your destination. After you buy a plan, the eSIM service provider sends you a list of instructions.

The Nomad app showed a list of steps. In the iPhone’s settings app, I clicked on the cellular menu, clicked “Add eSIM” and typed in an activation code. As I crossed the border into Canada, I went back into the cellular settings, selected the Nomad phone line and toggled on the option for “Turn on this line.”

(If you still use a physical SIM card for your domestic phone line, you need not remove it. In the phone’s cellular settings, you just switch off the service for your primary line to avoid roaming charges.)

After I picked this eSIM plan, I shared the Nomad app with my wife and brother-in-law, who each followed the instructions to set it up by themselves. I didn’t know how to advise my mother-in-law, who never downloads apps, how to set up the plan, so I did it for her.

Herein lies the real problem: Less tech-inclined folks are probably not going to know how to use eSIM services. When my mother-in-law went on a trip to Hong Kong alone and I wasn’t nearby to set up the service for her, I told her to pay for AT&T’s international roaming plan and find a store later to buy a SIM card from a Hong Kong phone carrier.

Terry Guo, a chief product officer of LotusFlare, the company that developed Nomad, agreed that the main demographic of travelers using eSIM service plans comprised younger, more tech-savvy people.

“We are doing a lot of work in the app to make this simpler,” he said.

Optional (but Important) Step: Protect Your Privacy

Another downside to eSIM services is privacy-related. All the eSIM service providers I researched in Apple’s App Store said in their app descriptions that they did some tracking of users across different apps and websites.

Toni Toikka, the chief executive of Alekstra, a company that helps businesses reduce their wireless bills, underlined the importance of safeguarding personal information from eSIM providers. He said many of these companies, known as mobile virtual network operators, had struggled to generate profit.

“One way they think they’ll make money is selling your information,” Mr. Toikka said. “That’s why you should always opt out of any tracking. You shouldn’t sell yourself for pennies on a dollar.”

Mr. Guo said that the Nomad app contained Google’s analytics technology to see how people were using the app, and that people who logged into the app with their Facebook accounts could also be tracked by Facebook.

A simple workaround to data collection is to avoid logging into an app with third-party sites like Facebook and Google. Apple users can also click “Ask app not to track” when opening an eSIM app for the first time.

Android users don’t have the option to ask apps not to track them, so their best option is to buy the eSIM plan from the company’s website and set up the service without downloading the app.

Bottom Line

Overall, the pros of eSIM outweigh the cons. Traveling with a smartphone with SIM cards wasn’t relaxing because you needed to carry a pin to eject the card tray; plus you had to make sure not to lose the tiny SIM card.

When returning from a trip using eSIM services, all you have to do is go back into the phone’s settings app and switch your domestic phone line back on. That simplicity and peace of mind make eSIM worth the hassle.

Brian X. Chen is the lead consumer technology writer for The Times. He reviews products and writes Tech Fix , a column about the social implications of the tech we use. Before joining The Times in 2011, he reported on Apple and the wireless industry for Wired. More about Brian X. Chen

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Many default settings make us share superfluous amounts of data with tech companies. Here’s how to shut those off .

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A beginner’s guide to travel eSIMs: How to use eSIMs for travel

Table of contents, what is a travel esim, and why do i need one.

One of the latest innovations in travel tech, eSIMs are digital SIM cards embedded directly into the processors of mobile devices. Compatible devices come pre-equipped with an eSIM, so there’s no need to buy and install a card manually.

While eSIMs can be used at home, there are notable advantages to using eSIMs for travel. It’s super easy to switch between carriers and plans, which minimizes service interruptions while you’re globetrotting.

Additionally, there’s no need to visit a store in person to get a new SIM card or buy online and wait for it to be shipped to your home. eSIM cards can be purchased online and activated immediately using a QR from your carrier. Plus, there’s a huge range of plans offered by many different providers, giving you plenty of control over how much you pay based on the travel data you think you’ll need.

Are there any drawbacks to using an eSIM for travel?

Not all carriers support eSIMs, and not all devices are eSIM compatible. However, eSIM usage is growing dramatically, so mobile users can expect to see these limitations decline in the coming years.

Where can I buy a travel eSIM?

  • Airalo (200+ countries, regional plans available)
  • Flexiroam (200+ countries and territories, regional plans available)
  • Nomad (165+ countries, regional plans available)
  • GlobaleSIM (150+ countries, regional plans available)
  • Ubigi (200+ countries)
  • Maya Mobile (190+ countries, regional plans available)
  • BNESIM (200+ countries, regional plans available)
  • eSIM2Fly (100+ countries, regional plans available)
  • GigSky (190+ countries, regional plans available)
  • RedteaGO (100+ countries, regional plans available)

How to deactivate your regular SIM and activate your eSIM for travel

Before activating your new eSIM card, deactivate your regular SIM card. This will protect your personal data and help you avoid getting hit with unnecessary roaming charges.

Deactivating a SIM card is pretty easy. Here’s how it works:

  • Back up your phone, including contacts, messages, and any other data.
  • Notify your mobile carrier about your travel plans and ask that your SIM card be temporarily deactivated. Your carrier will guide you through the process.
  • Once deactivated, remove your SIM card from your phone and store it in a safe place.

Activating an eSIM for travel is even easier than activating/deactivating a physical SIM card. Usually, you’ll need to contact your travel plan carrier and get a QR code. Scan this into your phone to activate the eSIM.

The following tips may help if you’re having trouble knowing how to use an eSIM when traveling:

  • Make sure your device is eSIM compatible
  • Check your wireless connection. Restart your phone if necessary.
  • Re-scan your carrier’s QR code
  • Contacting your carrier for help

Check your network coverage and device compatibility

With travel eSIMs, you can stay connected almost anywhere in the world. Many new cell phone models are eSIM compatible. If you have an old phone, you may need to upgrade to a newer model to begin using eSIMs for travel. Check out a list of eSIM-compatible devices here .

eSIM plans piggyback on domestic carriers’ networks. To find out where you can get service in a given country, visit the network provider’s website or contact the network provider directly. If you’ve already landed, apps like OpenSignal (Android and iOS), LTE Discovery (Android), and Network Cell Info Lite (Android) provide info on network strength in your area and surrounding areas.

How much travel data do I need?

To get the most out of your travel eSIM, you’ll want to strategically plan your data usage. Up to 5GB of data is good if you don’t use your device often, while moderate users might want to be safe and go for a 10GB travel data plan. Look for higher data plans if you’re an active online gamer or stream a lot of high-quality videos.

Here are a few tips for minimizing your data usage while traveling:

  • Connect to Wi-Fi whenever possible (airports, hotels, cafes, etc.). But consider using a VPN to prevent unauthorized access to your device and data.
  • Disable automatic device updates and limit the number of apps that run in the background. Many phones make it easy to do this with data-saving mode.
  • Don’t stream much music or video, or download files in advance to avoid streaming while you travel.
  • Use data compression apps to reduce the size of web pages and images.
  • Disable data roaming to avoid automatically using foreign networks.
  • Go on airplane mode when you’re not using your device.

How to stay safe when using a travel eSIM

Compared to physical SIM cards, eSIM cards are much harder to hack because you can’t simply remove the card from a device.

Even though eSIMs reduce the risk of your SIM card getting lost or stolen, it’s still important to safeguard your personal data while abroad. One of the best ways to protect your personal data while using Wi-Fi is with a virtual private network (VPN). VPNs create a tunnel of sorts through which you can access the internet without your personal data being visible to others using the same Wi-Fi network.

Another great way to stay safe while using public Wi-Fi is to disable file sharing and AirDrop. Doing so makes it harder for nearby devices to access your files. Also, avoid accessing non-secured websites. Look for “https://” in the URL, which indicates that data is encrypted when being transferred between your device and the server.

Can I use an eSIM internationally?

Yes. Some eSIM plans offer service in multiple countries or regions (USA & Canada, Europe, Asia-Pacific, etc.). Others are country specific. Before you buy an eSIM, make sure it supports your destination country.

Can I get a global eSIM?

You can’t buy an eSIM card that works in every country, but you can buy an eSIM that offers service in multiple countries or regions. If you’re planning a trip around the world (sounds exciting!), you might need to get multiple eSIM plans and activate them separately as you travel.

Can I get a travel data plan on an eSIM card?

Yes, it’s possible to buy and activate a data-only eSIM travel plan on your phone. Although, if you want to do more than just access the internet on your device, you’ll need a full-service eSIM plan that also lets you text and make calls.

Why settle with a physical SIM card, when you can get a digital SIM card that you don’t have to stand in line at a store to buy and that you can activate and manage remotely? Use an eSIM to avoid the hassle of interrupted mobile service when traveling internationally.

You can’t yet use a travel eSIM with all phones and providers. But more and more eSIM options are popping up on the market, so stay ahead of the trends and start riding the wave.

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Use This 1-Step iPhone Hack Next Time You Travel (You'll Thank Us Later)

A quick way to track flight info.

Author image: about face matte fluid eye paint review chelsea candelario

If you're part of the iPhone squad, then you know there are a ton of  neat tricks  to make life a little bit easier. A great example is this travel hack that's going viral on TikTok, and trust us, the next time you're heading to your flight, you're going to want to try it out. Essentially, it allows you to easily track your flight information, so you can see at a glance if you're on time or delayed—and what terminal you should be heading to—all with a simple text message.

Here's How It Works:

  • Copy your flight number. You can find this unique six-digit code in your email or app once you book your flight.
  • Send flight number through iMessage. Paste the code to your friends and family members.
  • Click on the flight number. The code will automatically be underlined (like a link). Once they can click on it, a pop-up will offer two options: preview flight or copy flight code.
  • Discover flight tracking information. After clicking preview flight, you can see a map of the flight, current status, departing/arriving terminal, departing/arriving time, duration and even baggage claim.

A Few Things You Should Know

Good news! If you have an Android phone, you can still try out this hack. As one commenter said, "I'm pretty sure it does this with any phone. I've sent my mom my flight number and it was underlined and she doesn't have an iPhone."

Also, this hack might not work for every airline. So far, it works best for Delta, Alaska, Spirit, American Airlines, Southwest, Frontier and JetBlue. Oh, and it can only work on the actual day of the flight—I tried looking up my own flight happening in a couple of weeks and it didn't work.

Other than that, have fun trying out this super helpful hack yourself. It's good to know there's a quick way to find flight information and keep others updated on your trip.

Going on an Intergenerational Trip? Here Are 5 Rules to Keep Everybody Happy

about face matte fluid eye paint review chelsea candelario

Associate Editor, Ultimate Fangirl, Aspiring Beauty Guru

iphone travel line

This iPhone travel hack lets you track your flight in real time

  • iOS has a hidden feature called Preview Flight for quick flight status updates.
  • Access Preview Flight by texting yourself the airline code and flight number.
  • Use Spotlight Search on iPhone for quick flight data, including gate info and airport maps.
  • You can also text your flight info to yourself and access Preview Flight in Messages.

Few things start a trip off on the wrong foot like running to the boarding area only to find the gate number has changed. But one former airline employee's viral TikTok is unearthing a hidden iOS feature that quickly delivers flight status without downloading a separate app. Called Preview Flight , the feature is hidden inside iOS native apps as a quick hack to get all the information from the boarding screens onto your iPhone screen -- but what is it and how does it work?

This app is my travel hack for booking the cheapest flights online

The feature isn't new, but its location is buried, making it a relatively unknown hack. The Preview Flight hack is gaining new recognition, thanks to a video by TikToker Darby Maloney Durbinmalonster, where she shares her favorite flight hack for quickly viewing flight updates on an iPhone. In the video, she explains how simply texting yourself the flight number allows for easy access to travel data. However, while the video focuses on Flight Tracker within Messages, iPhone users can also access the tool using an even simpler option: The search bar.

While there are numerous apps designed for flight tracking, Preview Flight is integrated into iOS, meaning there's no need for an extra app. Indeed, there are various methods to check your flight status on your iPhone, but perhaps none are as quick or as straightforward. In addition to gate and departure times, you can also click a shortcut to view a map of the airport or even download an airport map for offline use, allowing you to view the landing airport while in flight. If you're aware of your airline code and flight number, accessing the information takes just a few seconds. Here's how.

Spotlight is the best feature of macOS: Here's everything you need to know and the best tips

How to track a flight using spotlight search, pull down the home screen on iphone and enter your flight number.

Using Apple's Spotlight Search, finding quick flight data takes just a few seconds. All you need is an iPhone and the flight number with the airline code. Alternatively, this method also works with the Spotlight Search tool on an iPad or a Mac. Here's how.

  • Open a Spotlight Search. On an iPhone, pull up the search bar by swiping down from the middle of the home screen (avoid swiping from the very top, or you'll access your notifications). You might also find a search icon on the first page of your home screen above the dock that contains your essential apps like phone, email, Safari, and text messages.
  • Type in the airline identifier followed by the flight number. For example, Flight 341 from United Airlines would be UA341.
  • Tap on the blue flight data result next to the airline icon -- it usually appears right at the top of the search results.
  • On this screen, you can now view essential flight data, including departure and arrival times, the terminal and gate to head to, and even the baggage claim area to find your luggage after landing. At the bottom of the screen, you'll find shortcuts to the airline's webpage and one-tap access to view or download a map of the airport terminals in Maps.
  • iOS will save your search results, so when you need to check if the flight is on time or if the gate has changed, pull down from the middle of the home screen again and tap on the flight number listed in your recent searches for quick access.

How to recover deleted messages on iPhone

How to track a flight in messages or mail, text or email your flight number, and it'll be made into a link.

Texting the flight number to a friend will allow them to tap on the link to easily see if the flight has been delayed -- a helpful tool when a friend is picking you up from the airport. However, you can also just type the number to yourself for quick access. This works with emails as well, so you could also send yourself the same information, open the email, and tap on the link, just like with a text message.

  • Open the Messages app and start a new text to yourself . (Yes, you can text yourself; just start typing your name or phone number in a new text message.) Alternatively, start a new email .
  • Send yourself a text with the airline identifier followed by the flight number . For example, United Airlines Flight 341 would be UA341. Or, you can send it in an email. Both options will create a link . Hit send .
  • iOS will automatically convert that flight number into a link . Tap on that link .
  • Tap on " Preview Flight " from the pop-up menu.
  • That's it -- you'll now see the flight data , including whether the flight is delayed, what the gates are, where the plane is on its route, where to find your luggage, and quick links to a map of the airport.

How to hide iPhone messages without deleting them

Q. can you track flights on android.

The Preview Flight tool detailed above is a tool that's for Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, and Mac. If you want to quickly save your flight on an Android device, type the airline identifier with the flight number into a Google search . Google will display a similar info card with flight details, including whether the flight is on time or not. You can copy and paste this link into a text message, or simply leave the Google page open and hit refresh when you need to double-check the status.

Q. Is there a way to track a flight?

There are a number of different ways to track a flight. If you don't want to go through the hassle of downloading an app, you can simply use the iOS Preview Flight tool detailed above. Or, type the flight number into Google to quickly see if the flight is on time or not using Google Flights .

What other travel tricks are hiding on iOS?

Other relatively hidden iPhone travel hacks include saving your boarding pass to Apple Wallet. Also, Apple Maps has directions for walking inside of major airports, not just driving directions to get there.

This iPhone travel hack lets you track your flight in real time

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Why does my Cellular Data show “Travel”?

I got a new iphone 14 and would like to know Why does my Cellular Data show “Travel.”?

Posted on Dec 22, 2022 3:28 PM

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Dec 22, 2022 3:46 PM in response to JCAppleQuest

JCAppleQuest wrote:

Start by asking your cellular data provider.

Going: Find Flight Deals 4+

Cheap air travel for trips, scott's cheap flights, inc. dba going.

  • #21 in Travel
  • 4.7 • 60 Ratings
  • Offers In-App Purchases

iPhone Screenshots

Description.

Reimagine your vacation travel with the easiest way to find cheap flights. Get Going towards your next destination, whether it’s a quick trip or dream getaway. With affordable flights to over 900 travel destinations around the world, the possibilities are endless! Search for plane tickets worry-free with Going. Stay up to date with real-time alert notifications for the best deals on flights. Find cheap plane tickets with discounts from 40-90% off on air travel from the best airlines. HOW GOING WORKS: 1. Start with your airport - choose any US airport for your departure 2. Watch the deals roll in - keep a close eye on plane tickets and price drops 3. Gather flight details - access booking links and timeline estimates 4. Secure your air travel deal and get Going! GOING FEATURES FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS EASILY - Going brings you the latest deals on flights so you can save on your next getaway - Search for the cheapest flights seamlessly with our interactive globe - Intuitively find affordable flights on Going AFFORDABLE FLIGHTS TO TOP DESTINATIONS - Find air travel to hundreds of destinations on Going - Get cheap flights with top airlines - Discover flights from any US airport Trial Going at no cost to you to start saving hundreds on airfare. Never overpay for air travel again. Download now and get Going with cheap flights to your next dream destination! Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Version 2.0.0

- Search and settings enhancements - Minor bug fixes

Ratings and Reviews

Addicted to the globe.

Using the globe to find places I’d like to travel around the world is really fun. It also helps me explore places I might not have thought to travel to previously. It’s almost like letting the flight deal guide my next vacation for my family!

Great app for the cheapest flights

I highly recommend this to anyone looking for amazing high quality deals. App is super easy to use and gives you what you want to see. Also, the deals itself are amazing and honestly surprised me. 5 stars highly recommended.

Best app ever!

I’ve been a fan since it was called Scott’s Cheap Flights, and I always figured what Going could really use is an app. And they did it! Such a fun and easy way to browse flights wherever. Definitely recommend!

App Privacy

The developer, Scott's Cheap Flights, Inc. DBA Going , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Used to Track You

The following data may be used to track you across apps and websites owned by other companies:

  • Identifiers

Data Linked to You

The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:

  • Contact Info
  • Diagnostics

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

  • Premium - Annual $49 $49.00
  • Elite - Annual $199 $199.00
  • Developer Website
  • App Support
  • Privacy Policy

iphone travel line

Twelve South ButterFly 2‑in‑1 USB‑C MagSafe Charger

Twelve South ButterFly 2-in-1 USB-C MagSafe Charger, with iPhone charging on left and Apple Watch charging on right.

Product Information

Charge your iPhone and Apple Watch together with ButterFly, the world’s smallest 2-in-1 USB-C MagSafe charger. Similar in size to an AirPods Pro Case, this ultra-compact dual charger was designed with travel in mind. A durable aluminum shell unfolds to reveal a MagSafe charger for your iPhone and a magnetic fast charger for your Apple Watch. More than just a charger, ButterFly morphs into a display stand that supports StandBy mode on iPhone or Nightstand mode on Apple Watch. ButterFly also includes a 30W Power Adapter with four international Plug Adapters so that you can stay charged anywhere in the world.

Compact design ready to travel the world.

Folded to go, ButterFly takes up minimal space in your backpack, purse, briefcase, or carryon so you can take this tiny dual iPhone and Watch charger anywhere you roam. Unfolded, a vegan leather band tethers the magnetic chargers on ButterFly together. One included cable is all it takes to charge your iPhone and Watch.

Charges and displays iPhone in Standby mode.

ButterFly quickly charges any iPhone with MagSafe nearly anywhere in the world. While you’re working at your hotel desk, you can fold ButterFly in half, and the little aluminum disk serves as a hands-free viewing stand so you can join a video meeting, stream shows, or FaceTime with your family.

Charges Apple Watch flat or in Nightstand Mode.

The magnetic Watch Charging disc on ButterFly tilts, so you can lay your Watch flat or upright in Nightstand Mode. When you’re only charging your Watch, you can fold ButterFly to create a beautiful little pedestal.

Charges AirPods too.

Yes, ButterFly can charge your wireless AirPods. Lay your AirPods Pro charging case on top of the ButterFly charger to power up your favorite earbuds.

World’s smallest 2-in-1 USB-C MagSafe charger.

Wirelessly charges your iPhone and Apple Watch at the same time, nearly anywhere in the world.

Ultra-compact & travel-friendly size that, when folded, is just 2.4 inches wide by .9 inches high.

Can be used as a hands-free display stand for iPhone or a charging pedestal for Apple Watch.

Beautiful anodized aluminum shell matches silver MacBooks.

Includes 30W USB-C Power Adapter, four International plug adapters (US, UK, EU, AU) and a travel bag to keep it all together.

What’s in the Box

Twelve South ButterFly 2-in-1 USB-C MagSafe charger

USB-C to USB-C power cord

30W USB-C power adapter with US, UK, EU and AU plug adapters

Owner's guide

Other Features: Charging, Dock

Cable Length: 39.4 in. / 1 m

Connections: USB-C

Power Source: AC, USB

Height: 0.9 in. / 2.6 cm

Length: 2.4 in. / 6 cm

Width: 2.4 in. / 6 cm

Weight: 4.2 oz. / 119 g

Manufacturer Information

Part number.

Mfr. Part Number: TS-2304

UPC or EAN No.: 811370025018

Note: Products sold through this website that do not bear the Apple brand name are serviced and supported exclusively by their manufacturers in accordance with terms and conditions packaged with the products. Apple’s Limited Warranty does not apply to products that are not Apple branded, even if packaged or sold with Apple products. Please contact the manufacturer directly for technical support and customer service.

Warranty: One year

Compatibility

Iphone models.

  • iPhone 15 Pro
  • iPhone 15 Pro Max
  • iPhone 15 Plus
  • iPhone 14 Pro
  • iPhone 14 Pro Max
  • iPhone 14 Plus
  • iPhone 13 Pro
  • iPhone 13 Pro Max
  • iPhone 13 mini
  • iPhone 12 Pro
  • iPhone 12 Pro Max
  • iPhone 12 mini

Apple Watch Models

  • Apple Watch Ultra 2
  • Apple Watch Series 9
  • Apple Watch SE
  • Apple Watch Ultra
  • Apple Watch Series 8
  • Apple Watch Series 7
  • Apple Watch Series 6
  • Apple Watch Series 5
  • Apple Watch Series 4
  • Apple Watch Series 3
  • Apple Watch Series 2
  • Apple Watch Series 1
  • Apple Watch 1st generation

AirPods Models

  • AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C)
  • MagSafe Charging Case (USB‑C) for AirPods Pro (2nd generation)
  • AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with MagSafe Lightning Charging Case
  • AirPods Pro (1st generation) with MagSafe Lightning Charging Case
  • AirPods (3rd generation) with MagSafe Charging Case
  • AirPods with Wireless Charging Case (2nd generation)
  • Wireless Charging Case for AirPods

More From Forbes

Poster house: manhattan’s new blockbuster of a museum.

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By nature, posters are largely ephemeral items, meant as not much more than quotidian commercial promotions. But very often, in fact, they rise to superb works of art. How gorgeous are those enormous vintage, and now-pricey, advertisements for Dubonnet aperitif or Pernod absinthe. What stunning hand-drawn illustrations promoted mid-century’s glamorous new ski resorts or the chic and exotic destinations that airlines like Air France or Air India promised.

French Line poster from circa 1920 from the exhibit Wonder City of the World: New York City Travel ... [+] Posters.

And now, works like all those have thankfully been made a bit more permanent as a proper artistic genre at the Poster House , a new powerhouse of a museum on Manhattan’s West 23rd Street.

If mid-2019 proved to be not the most auspicious of times to open, expect the institution with some 10,000 historic posters in its collection to stop flying under the radar as word soon spreads. If it were located in a second-tier city, the bright and spacious Poster House might well be the local cultural highlight.

So far, the Poster House has paid tribute to artists that range from the great Czech Art Nouveau master Alphonse Mucha with his famous images of his muse, 19th-century actress Sarah Bernhardt, to the mod, mod ’60s and ’70s psychedelic musings of Peter Max. Just wrapped up as well, Art Deco: Commercializing the Avant-Garde presented works that highlighted what the museum called the “first global art movement.”

With other recent exhibits including Baptized By Beefcake: The Golden Age of Hand-Painted Movie Posters from Ghana , or The Sleeping Giant: Posters & The Chinese Economy , and You Won't Bleed Me: How Blaxploitation Posters Defined Cool & Delivered Profits, the Poster House’s show titles are as colorful as the works on its walls.

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of 2024

Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024.

The Silence of the Lambs, 1991 Gift of Dawn Baillie Poster House Permanent Collection. From The ... [+] Anatomy of a Movie Poster: The Work of Dawn Baillie.

Just opened, 80 works make up the show Wonder City of the World: New York City Travel Posters that depict the Big Apple long before Milton Glaser’s wonderful “I love NY” image became ubiquitous (through September 8). “Wonder City” was a long forgotten NYC marketing label designed to drum up visitors to the iconic landmarks people have been flocking to see for much of a century, from the Statue of Liberty to Rockefeller Center (an Abrams art book accompanies the show).

Of course, film studios too have always turned to powerful visuals to promote the opening of their latest works. The Anatomy of a Movie Poster: The Work of Dawn Baillie highlights three dozen famous movies whose posters graphic artist Dawn Baillie was commissioned to design (through September 8). While the general public may not know her name, they know nearly every one of the titles in the show, from “Dirty Dancing” and “Silence of the Lambs” to “The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie,” “Little Miss Sunshine” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel.”

The Anatomy of a Movie Poster: The Work of Dawn Baillie

While most visitors have likely never had reason to give much thought to the origins of posters, the short answer is that the mass production of them can be traced to the emergence of lithography in late 18th century Bavaria. The World Wars saw an explosion in posters as governments cranked out millions of them to aid in recruitment and rationing and instill patriotism.

It might take a moment for long-time New Yorker residents visiting the Poster House to realize just what space they are wandering through. But many will fondly remember the 119 West 23rd Street building for the ground floor Tekserve repair shop that with the air of a crusty car mechanic shop served clients from the pre-Apple Store late-80s until just a few years ago.

According to the Poster House online history narrative, the ten-story building dates from the early 20th century and first housed The National Cloak Company and later the George Routledge & Sons publishing company, before finally giving way to novelty manufacturers in the 1950s.

While respecting the historic exposed brick walls, barrel vaults and cast-iron columns, LTL Architects turned two floors into 15,000 square feet of exhibit space. The logical design conceit is that the museum is “intended for the street, and uses the length of the space to evoke a sidewalk.”

Wonder City of the World: New York City Travel Posters

Up until just a few years ago, streets in cities like New York would be filled with a far greater number of hoardings than today, not to mention the once ubiquitous small nightclub fliers found in shops and passed out on the street (a loss that is a plus for the environment). With the birth of Instagram, TikTok and other social media, posters have seemingly gone the way of vinyl album covers.

It’s a pity for young ones today who won’t ever know the anticipation of sending away for on snail mail and having to wait weeks to finally plaster their teen teenage bedroom walls with blacklight and “Star Wars” posters or the blockbuster Farrah Fawcett swimsuit image before graduating on to Klimt’s ubiquitous The Kiss .

The Poster House shop has a large selection of books on advertising, typography, and graphic design, and other fun items. If you recall from your school French what an affiche is, no explanation is necessary for the meaning behind the name of the museum’s Café des Affiches. Poster House has free admission and extended hours on the first Friday of every month.

John Oseid

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6 reasons why Apple’s entry-level iPhone 14s are great for travelers

Zach Griff

In what seems to have become an annual tradition, the spring season will begin with a new iPhone.

No, it's not an all-new model, but it's a fresh seasonal color — yellow — that's sure to grab your attention.

Available across the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus lineup, this new yellow finish just hit shelves this week. Prior to the launch, I had the opportunity to spend some hands-on time with the iPhone 14 Plus in yellow.

iphone travel line

Not only have I warmed up to the bold new color, but I've also been impressed with the phone itself.

It may not be as powerful as the higher-end iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Still, it packs a lot into a lightweight and more affordable package (starting at $799) that should make it a hit with travelers.

iphone travel line

Here's why.

Best-ever battery life

If you're anything like me, you might be (a tiny bit) obsessed with making sure you don't run out of juice while on the road.

iphone travel line

Personally, that means scouting out power outlets at the airport or toting around an external battery pack to make sure my phone is always charged. As a last resort, I'll engage Apple's "Low Power Mode" on the iPhone, but this feature comes with degraded performance to minimize battery usage.

Fortunately, travelers won't need to worry about that with the larger iPhone 14 Plus. Apple says this model packs the longest-ever battery life of any iPhone, and this claim is very much substantiated in my experience.

I've had no problem achieving nearly a day and a half of pretty consistent usage across productivity, social media, travel and camera apps without needing to recharge.

That's pretty impressive and perhaps reason enough for some road warriors to opt for the iPhone 14 Plus over any other model.

If you opt for the entry-level iPhone 14, you can expect up to 20 hours of battery life which should still help most travelers get through their journey.

Bigger, better screens

"Plus" doesn't just refer to a larger battery. It also means the device has a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display, giving you even more room to enjoy content when you're on the go.

Whether you use the extra screen real estate to immerse yourself in a game or peruse the inflight entertainment programming, it won't take long to appreciate the larger display.

iphone travel line

Better yet, I found the bigger phone doesn't actually feel much bulkier. It weighs just 7.16 ounces, and it fits perfectly in my hand. I don't mind sacrificing a bit of portability for a larger display and longer battery life, but that's a personal decision every traveler will need to make.

The 6.1-inch iPhone 14 also features a crisp Super Retina XDR display.

One feature from Apple's higher-end iPhones you won't find on the standard 14 and 14 Plus models is a ProMotion display. This allows content to scroll more smoothly between pages. Another downside is that the display brightness on the entry-level models isn't as high as on the more expensive Pro devices — a difference that's immediately noticeable when the sun is shining outdoors.

iphone travel line

For most casual travelers, however, these two features alone are not worth the $200 upgrade to a Pro model.

Impressive performance

I recently attended a gaming showcase where some iOS developers showed off their latest games.

iphone travel line

While I'm not a serious gamer myself, I left the showcase most impressed by how well Apple's entry-level iPhone 14 models rendered the games. When playing around with "Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile," the iPhone 14 had no problem keeping up with the millions of internal computations needed to display the game without lag or overheating.

This performance is powered by Apple's proprietary A15 Bionic chip — the same pro-level silicon that powered last year's iPhone 13 Pro.

iphone travel line

For the average user, A15 is plenty powerful. It takes just seconds to make batch edits and render videos in iMovie — two advanced tasks that most casual travelers will have no trouble performing on these devices.

Emergency SOS

Knock on wood, Emergency SOS via satellite is a feature you'll hopefully never need to use. However, the feature could save your life if you, unfortunately, need it.

This feature lets you connect with emergency services using satellites, even if you're far off the grid without cellular or Wi-Fi service.

Every iPhone 14, including the entry-level models, has built-in satellite connectivity — a game-changer for those who are often trekking or adventuring off the beaten path.

iphone travel line

Even if you purchase your iPhone in the U.S., you can engage Emergency SOS via satellite in 6 countries with 6 more coming later this month — including Canada and many of the largest countries in Europe. This makes it a great insurance policy for your summer vacation.

Even if you don't need emergency assistance, you can use satellite connectivity to send your location to loved ones back home through the Find My app.

Although you won't be able to call or text them, being able to send your location should help reassure your family and friends that you're doing well on your camping trip.

iphone travel line

For more about using Emergency SOS via satellite, be sure to check out TPG's dedicated guide .

No more physical SIM cards

For the past 15 years, every iPhone model has shipped with a physical SIM (short for subscriber identity module) card slot.

These tiny chips contain the information needed to connect to the cellular network. However, they've become a pain to manage — especially when you're traveling abroad and fumbling around with multiple nano-size SIM cards during your journey.

iphone travel line

Plus, physical SIMs are less secure. If your phone gets lost or stolen, someone could remove your SIM card to start making calls and texts (and receiving two-factor authentication codes) with your phone number.

This year, every iPhone 14 sold in the U.S. is dropping the physical SIM slot in favor of the new eSIM (or embedded SIM) standard.

iphone travel line

With this innovation, you can store at least eight digital SIM cards directly on your phone. This means you won't have to shuffle around with multiple 9-millimeter-by-12-millimeter chips.

You can switch between phone numbers directly in iOS, and you can even download cheap international plans through apps like Airalo , Truphone and GigSky .

iphone travel line

In fact, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus both support dual SIM, meaning you can connect to two mobile networks simultaneously. This is a key feature to avoiding the pesky $10-a-day roaming charges with AT&T and Verizon.

Crash detection

In recent years, Apple's been busy building health- and safety-focused features across its entire phone and watch lineup.

With the introduction of Crash Detection in the iPhone 14 family, you'll be reassured that your smartphone can detect a severe car crash and automatically dial emergency services if necessary.

iphone travel line

Just like Emergency SOS via satellite, this is a feature you hope never to use. Still, it can bring travelers extra peace of mind when hitting the road.

Bottom line

Apple's iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus are phenomenal smartphones for the everyday traveler — and they now come in a bold new yellow color.

They both pack many must-have features, including the introduction of eSIM-only cellular connectivity. The real star of the show is the Plus model, which is Apple's first entry-level model to offer a 6.7-inch touchscreen.

It also packs the longest-ever battery life in an iPhone, making it a great option for travelers who are frequently on the go.

iphone travel line

Emergency SOS via satellite and built-in crash detection are two critical safety-related features that can be particularly comforting to solo travelers or those heading to remote destinations.

Of course, some heavy smartphone users and creatives might want to splurge for the top-of-the-line Pro models . However, unless you need the camera and display improvements, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus should fit the bill quite well.

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About cellular data roaming options for your iPhone and iPad

Turn data roaming on or off, prepare for international trips, and more.

Turn off Data Roaming or prepare for a trip

Need to avoid roaming charges because you arrived at your destination without an international data plan? Check your Cellular Data options and turn off Data Roaming.

In the Settings app, tap Cellular or Cellular Data. Then:

If your device has a single SIM card or eSIM, turn on Cellular Data, then tap Cellular Data Options.

If your device uses Dual SIM or Dual eSIM, turn on Cellular Data, tap the number you want to modify, then tap Cellular Data Options.

Turn off Data Roaming. 1,2

Still planning your trip? Here are three other ways to prepare:

Shop roaming plans with your carrier

Before you go: To avoid fees and higher rates, contact your carrier by phone or online to shop international roaming plans.

After arrival: Open Settings. Tap Cellular or Cellular Data. Then:

If your device has a single SIM card or eSIM, turn on Cellular Data, then tap Cellular Data Options, and turn on Data Roaming and other settings suggested by your carrier.

If your device uses Dual SIM or Dual eSIM, turn on Cellular Data, tap the number you want to modify, then tap Cellular Data Options, and turn on Data Roaming and other settings suggested by your carrier.

Shop roaming plans with eSIM

Before you go: If you have an iPad with an eSIM 3 , you can browse cellular data plans from select carriers in more than 90 countries, regions, and territories.

After arrival: Go to Settings > Cellular Data and buy a roaming plan that fits your needs.

Beginning October 1, 2022, Apple SIM technology will no longer be available for activating new cellular data plans on iPad. If you're not sure if your iPad uses Apple SIM, find your iPad model and click the link for its tech specs.

Buy or rent local SIM cards

Before you go: You can usually 4 buy or rent a SIM card for a specific country or region. Learn more from travel guides and websites related to the country or region.

After arrival: Replace your current iPhone SIM card or iPad SIM card with the new one. You'll need the original when you return home, so put your original in a safe place.

If your iPhone uses eSIM, you can purchase an eSIM when you travel. Learn how to use an eSIM while you travel abroad .

When you turn off Cellular Data and Data Roaming, the cellular data icon shouldn't appear in the status bar. Learn more about cellular data settings and usage .

Apple Watch Series 4 doesn't support data roaming. While using data roaming on your iPhone, your Apple Watch Series 4 will only be able to use Wi-Fi or your iPhone cellular connection.

To use eSIM with your iPad in China mainland, you need an iPad (10th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, model number A3162. All other iPad models, including those purchased outside of China mainland, are unable to install an eSIM profile from carriers in China mainland. Learn more about using eSIM with your iPad in China mainland .

To use bought or rented SIM cards, you need an iPad (Wi-Fi + Cellular), unlocked iPhone, or SIM-free iPhone.

Check your data usage

If you exceed the data-usage limits of your international data plan, you might run out of data or notice slower network speeds. To check data usage, open Settings and tap Cellular or Cellular Data. Then look under the Cellular Data heading.

ios-17-iphone-14-pro-settings-cellular-cellular-data

Learn more about cellular data usage .

If you have roaming issues during international travel

If the date and time are wrong after you arrive, go to Settings > General > Date & Time. Make sure that Set Automatically is turned on.

Turn on Airplane Mode for about 30 seconds. Then turn it off again and let your iPhone automatically select the best network.

If you see No Service or SOS only in the status bar of your iPhone, open Settings and tap Cellular or Cellular Data. Then:

If your device has a single SIM card or eSIM, turn on Cellular Data, then tap Cellular Data Options, and make sure Data Roaming is on.

If your device uses Dual SIM or Dual eSIM, turn on Cellular Data, tap the number you want to modify, then tap Cellular Data Options, and make sure Data Roaming is on.

If you still need help, try a different SIM card or contact your carrier for more information.

If you use an iPhone with an eSIM, learn more about your travel options for eSIM .

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COMMENTS

  1. Choose iPhone settings for travel

    Choose iPhone settings for travel. When you travel with iPhone, choose settings that comply with airline requirements. Some airlines let you keep your iPhone turned on if you switch to airplane mode. By default, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® are disabled in airplane mode—you can't make calls, but you can listen to music, play games, watch videos ...

  2. Use eSIM while traveling internationally with your iPhone

    To choose your data line, go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data. You can continue to use FaceTime, iMessage, and other apps to make VoIP calls or send messages while you're traveling. You can also turn data roaming on and off on your home line in Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data. Carrier fees might apply.

  3. How to set up and use a second line on an iPhone with an eSIM

    Here's how: Step 1: Open the Messages app on your iPhone. Step 2: Select the New message button in the top-right corner to open the New Message screen. Step 3: Type in the contact name or phone ...

  4. How to Use Dual SIM and eSIM on Your iPhone

    Here's how to install dual SIM on your iPhone. Insert a paper clip or SIM eject tool into the small hole of the SIM card tray. Remove your SIM tray. Look for the notch in one corner of the new SIM card. Place the new SIM card into the bottom of the tray. Because of the notch, it will fit only one way.

  5. How to use iPhone when traveling internationally

    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.

  6. I traveled using an eSIM for my iPhone

    (Image credit: Apple) Dual SIM is there on models before the iPhone 13 family as well, but with one nano SIM and one eSIM. You can also choose to "Allow cellular data switching," which will then ...

  7. WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH PRIMARY, SECONDARY,…

    This appears to be a big issue, other members of my household with iPhones have the same problem. Apple ought to release a fix ASAP i have rebooted, removed the SIM but nothing is working. 3 years ago 187 3. Caller ID function no longer exists Settings>Phone>Show my Caller ID This function DOES NOT EXIST on my brand new iphone 12 pro max currently.

  8. A Complete Guide to Using Your iPhone Abroad: For Dummies

    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.

  9. The 6 best eSIMs for international travel in 2024

    Saily. Saily. Saily — developed by the team behind NordVPN — offers some of the cheapest eSIM data plans we've found. For example, 1GB of data that's valid for 7 days is just $2.49 in the ...

  10. 13 essential iPhone tricks to use when you're travelling

    Turn your phone into the ultimate travel companion. 1. Sync before you go. Do it. Don't question it, just do it. Plug your iPhone into your computer, fire up iTunes and back up your brick. Make sure you've got all your contacts, photos, settings and songs reassuringly saved before you start slinging your iPhone around a distant continent ...

  11. What To Do With My iPhone When Traveling Internationally?

    3 - Disable Data Roaming. Always turn off data roaming to avoid unexpected charges. Disable cellular data entirely while in transit for added security, but remember to keep it on if you have an eSIM data plan. To turn off data roaming, go to "Settings," select "Cellular," and disable "Data Roaming" and "Cellular Data."

  12. What should I do when travel internationally with iPhone?

    To check if your iPhone is unlocked, go to [Settings] - [General] - [About] and scroll down to see if you can see "No SIM restrictions.". Once your iPhone is unlocked, you can use a local SIM card or eSIM from providers like eSIM USA to access data abroad. Utilize your international travel plans.

  13. How to Set Up and Use an eSIM for International Travel

    Step 1: Pick an eSIM. The main reason to use eSIM services for travel is to save money. The big U.S. carriers, like AT&T and Verizon, offer international roaming options, including $10 day passes ...

  14. Apple's new iPhone 15 family brings big upgrades to the travel

    Check-in lets my friends and family set automatic geofences to alert me when they get home, and sharing AirTags means that multiple people can track the same suitcase or backpack during the journey. Bottom line. Smartphones have become an essential part of travel, and Apple's brand-new iPhone 15 family takes this experience to the next level.

  15. A beginner's guide to travel eSIMs: How to use eSIMs for travel

    Notify your mobile carrier about your travel plans and ask that your SIM card be temporarily deactivated. Your carrier will guide you through the process. Once deactivated, remove your SIM card from your phone and store it in a safe place. Activating an eSIM for travel is even easier than activating/deactivating a physical SIM card. Usually ...

  16. How I use a dual-SIM phone to save on international roaming

    He writes travel and product reviews, deep dives into loyalty programs, news about the airline industry and more. ... Personally, I've been using Apple's top-of-the-line iPhone, the 14 Pro Max, since it launched in mid-September. While the iPhone 14 lineup ditches the physical SIM card slot, it supports easy activation with a new-ish standard ...

  17. 9 travel features I'm most excited about with Apple's new iPhone 15

    Hello USB-C. APPLE. This long-awaited upgrade is finally here: The iPhone has an all-new data and charging connector that'll undoubtedly change how we travel. Every new iPhone 15 model is equipped with a USB-C charging port, replacing the proprietary Lightning port that's been a staple of the iPhone experience since 2012.

  18. How to track a flight with your iPhone

    This hidden iPhone feature is a game changer for air travel. ... you can simply tap on it in-line and then hit preview flight. From there, a splash screen will show a flight map showing the ...

  19. Using Dual SIM with an eSIM

    Add a local data plan when you travel outside of the country or region. ... SMS, and MMS. 2 Your iPhone can use one cellular data network at a time. If you want to use 5G with Dual SIM on iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, ... Your data line switches automatically for the duration of your call. This cellular-data switching won't work if you're ...

  20. Changing between primary and secondary li…

    Use Secondary as your default line: If you select this option, Secondary will be used for voice, SMS, Data, iMessage, and FaceTime. Primary will be available just for voice and SMS. Use Secondary for cellular data only: You might want to select this option if you're traveling internationally and you want to keep Primary for voice, SMS, iMessage ...

  21. The 1-Step iPhone Travel Hack You Should Know

    Copy your flight number. You can find this unique six-digit code in your email or app once you book your flight. Send flight number through iMessage. Paste the code to your friends and family members. Click on the flight number. The code will automatically be underlined (like a link). Once they can click on it, a pop-up will offer two options ...

  22. This iPhone travel hack lets you track your flight in real time

    Pull down the home screen on iPhone and enter your flight number. Using Apple's Spotlight Search, finding quick flight data takes just a few seconds. All you need is an iPhone and the flight ...

  23. Why does my Cellular Data show "Travel"?

    iPhone settings - cellular vs mobile data Between iphone SE2 and iphone 11, with the same ios version and esims from the same carrier, we are seeing two different options: iphone SE2 shows "cellular" and iphone 11 shows "mobile data" in settings. What could be the reason? [Re-Titled by Moderator] cellular data Why does my iphone 6 doesn ...

  24. Going: Find Flight Deals 4+

    Download Going: Find Flight Deals and enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. ‎Reimagine your vacation travel with the easiest way to find cheap flights. Get Going towards your next destination, whether it's a quick trip or dream getaway. With affordable flights to over 900 travel destinations around the world, the possibilities are ...

  25. Twelve South ButterFly 2‑in‑1 USB‑C MagSafe Charger

    Highlights. World's smallest 2-in-1 USB-C MagSafe charger. Wirelessly charges your iPhone and Apple Watch at the same time, nearly anywhere in the world. Ultra-compact & travel-friendly size that, when folded, is just 2.4 inches wide by .9 inches high. Can be used as a hands-free display stand for iPhone or a charging pedestal for Apple Watch.

  26. Poster House: Manhattan's New Blockbuster Of A Museum

    French Line, c. 1920 Richard Rummell (1848-1924) Private Collection, New York Image Courtesy of Poster House. And now, works like all those have thankfully been made a bit more permanent as a ...

  27. Use Dual SIM on iPhone

    Set up Dual SIM. Go to Settings > Cellular, then make sure you have at least two lines (below SIMs). To add a line, see Set up cellular service on iPhone. Turn on two lines—tap a line, then tap Turn On this Line. You can also change settings such as Cellular Plan Label, Wi-Fi Calling (if available from your carrier), Calls on Other Devices ...

  28. The 6 best laptop backpacks for work, travel and everything else

    Herschel Classic Backpack XL 26L. The best laptop backpack that's basic in a good way. Molly Flores/CNN Underscored. Herschel's nearly ubiquitous Classic XL bag sports a clean design, but its ...

  29. Why Apple's entry-level iPhone 14s are great for travelers

    Bottom line. Apple's iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus are phenomenal smartphones for the everyday traveler — and they now come in a bold new yellow color. ... The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why ...

  30. About cellular data roaming options for your iPhone and iPad

    After arrival: Open Settings. Tap Cellular or Cellular Data. Then: If your device has a single SIM card or eSIM, turn on Cellular Data, then tap Cellular Data Options, and turn on Data Roaming and other settings suggested by your carrier. If your device uses Dual SIM or Dual eSIM, turn on Cellular Data, tap the number you want to modify, then ...