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Browse destinationsWhat data roaming is
Data roaming is a mobile line using data on a network outside its home network. Your Australian line can incur its carrier’s overseas charges when it roams, while a travel eSIM uses the allowances and terms of the travel plan you bought. A travel eSIM can also use roaming to reach a supported local network, so follow the setup email for the travel line and keep Data Roaming off on the Australian line unless you deliberately choose home-carrier roaming.
Keep the travel line and Australian line separate
After landing, use airport Wi-Fi only after you can sign in and open a normal webpage. If that does not work, use hotel Wi-Fi or another steady trusted connection. Then install the travel eSIM and make it the mobile-data line. A travel eSIM and your Australian SIM can have different jobs, so check the data line, roaming setting and automatic switching separately instead of assuming one change controls all three.
Set the travel line for data on your phone
Choose your phone
iPhone
Open Settings > Mobile Service, Cellular or Mobile Data. Choose Mobile Data, select the travel eSIM, then open that travel line’s options only if the order email says it needs Data Roaming. Keep the Australian line’s Data Roaming off unless you deliberately use home-carrier roaming.
Samsung Galaxy
Open Settings > Connections > SIM card manager. Under Primary SIM or Preferred SIM card, select the travel eSIM for mobile data and switch Auto data switching off unless support says otherwise. The roaming control can vary by Galaxy model, so use it only when the order email identifies the travel line.
Google Pixel
Open Settings > Network & internet > SIMs. Under Your primary SIMs, choose the travel eSIM for Mobile data and keep Automatic data switching off unless support has advised otherwise. Follow the order email for the travel line’s roaming setting.
Other Android
Search Settings for SIM, mobile network or mobile data. Select the travel eSIM for data, keep automatic data switching off if the phone offers it, and use only the roaming or APN instructions supplied for your own order.
What the phone should show now
If the step above does not work as expected, stop here. Keep a cropped screenshot of the setting or error, then contact us before changing other settings. Do not include QR or activation details unless we ask.
Keep these cost and line-selection boundaries in place
- Do not assume roaming is always required or always charged on a travel eSIM.
- Do not turn on Australian roaming as a troubleshooting step.
If the data line still looks wrong
Email hello@thesimshop.com.au with the order number, exact phone model and a screenshot of the SIM or Mobile Data screen with QR and activation details hidden. Say which line is currently selected for data and whether the Australian line’s roaming is off.
Sources and checks
Information checked: 19 July 2026.
These links support the phone menus and safe setup checks used in this guide. Phone labels can vary by model and software version, so follow the screen on your own device and the instructions in your order email.
- Apple Support AU: About mobile data roaming options for your iPhone and iPad
- Google Pixel Help: Connect to mobile networks on a Pixel phone
- Samsung Support: Manage data usage on your Galaxy phone
- eSIM Access: APN settings
- Apple: set up eSIM on iPhone
- Google Pixel: set up a new eSIM
- Samsung: use eSIM with Galaxy
