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Preparing your line for international travel

Most international roaming failures happen because a setup step was skipped before departure — not because of a problem with the plan itself. Complete the steps below while you're still in the US, before you board.

All steps must be done on a domestic US connection

Roaming can only be turned on while your line is connected to a US network. Once you're abroad, it's too late to complete these steps. Do not skip them.

Pre-departure checklist​

Complete each step before you leave. Skipping any of these is the most common cause of roaming problems.

Step 1: Confirm your plan includes roaming​

Check your plan details in the app to confirm international roaming is included or that you've purchased a roaming add-on. If you're unsure, go to your line's page in the dashboard and look for the roaming status under your plan details.

Step 2: Turn on roaming on your line​

Follow the steps in our roaming guide to turn on data roaming in your phone settings. Do this while connected to a US network at home.

Step 3: Turn on VoLTE on your device​

VoLTE must be turned on before you leave. Without it, voice calls may not work abroad even when data does.

  • iPhone: Go to Settings → Cellular → Cellular Data Options → Voice & Data and select LTE or 5G (not CDMA-only)
  • Android: Go to Settings → Connections → Mobile Networks and turn on VoLTE Calls

Step 4: Confirm your network covers your destination​

Coverage varies by network:

NetworkInternational coverage
Light Speed180+ countries — best for international travel
Warp125+ countries
Dark Star110+ countries (30 are data-only)

If your destination isn't covered by your current network, consider switching networks or purchasing an international data eSIM before you leave. View international coverage options for more details.

Step 5: Test before you board​

Once all the above steps are done, test your connection:

  1. Turn airplane mode on, then off
  2. Confirm your line connects to a domestic network
  3. Make a quick test call or check data

If everything works at home, you're ready to go.

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