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.
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:
| Network | International coverage |
|---|---|
| Light Speed | 180+ countries — best for international travel |
| Warp | 125+ countries |
| Dark Star | 110+ 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: Set your roaming destination (Dark Star only)
If your line is on Dark Star, you need to set your roaming destination in the app before you arrive. Warp and Light Speed don't require this step.
- Go to Lines and select your Dark Star line
- Under Line Settings, select Roaming Destination
- Search for your destination country and confirm
Step 6: Test before you board
Once all the above steps are done, test your connection:
- Turn airplane mode on, then off
- Confirm your line connects to a domestic network
- Make a quick test call or check data
If everything works at home, you're ready to go.
If you're traveling to multiple countries, you only need to update the roaming destination in the Dark Star app when you move between a data-only country and a full-service (talk, text, and data) country. Within the same coverage tier, your line adjusts automatically.
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