What Is Data Roaming?

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.

1. 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.
2. Read the order email. If it instructs Data Roaming for the travel eSIM, follow that instruction. On Galaxy, stop and ask support if the available control does not clearly identify the line.
3. Check the Australian line separately and keep its Data Roaming off unless intentionally using home roaming.
4. If no service follows, use non-destructive checks and contact support with screenshots instead of toggling unknown settings repeatedly.

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.

• Do not assume roaming is always required or always charged on a travel eSIM.
• Do not turn on Australian roaming as a troubleshooting step.

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.

Switching off Australian-line Data Roaming controls mobile data. It doesn’t block ordinary calls, voicemail or every other roaming charge. Check the home carrier’s rules for those separately; turn that line off if you don’t need its number.

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