Keep your home number for texts and bank codes
Keep your home line on for calls and texts, put data on RoamClean, and turn data roaming off on your home line.
iPhone with iOS 26
iOS 26 asks what to do with your lines when you land.
- 1
Tap “Turn On Travel eSIM”
When the prompt appears on arrival, choose Travel eSIM and Current eSIM. Your travel eSIM is used for data and your home line stays on. - 2
Turn off roaming on your home line
Settings > Cellular > tap your home line > turn Data Roaming off.
iPhone, any iOS version
- 1
Keep your home line on
Settings > Cellular: leave your home line switched on. - 2
Put data on RoamClean
Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data > choose RoamClean. - 3
Turn off data switching
Turn Allow Cellular Data Switching off, so your home line never uses data abroad. - 4
Turn off roaming on your home line
Tap your home line > turn Data Roaming off.
Google Pixel
- 1
Choose a SIM for each job
Settings > Network & internet > SIMs: set Calls and Texts to your home SIM and Mobile data to RoamClean. - 2
Turn off automatic data switching
Turn Automatic data switching off, so your home line never uses data abroad.
On Samsung and other Android phones the same settings live in your SIM settings (often called SIM manager). Set calls and texts to your home SIM and mobile data to RoamClean; menu names vary by model.
Will my home carrier charge me?
It can. Your home carrier may charge for calls or texts abroad, so check your plan before you travel. A few things we know:
- T-Mobile: texting is included abroad on most postpaid plans. Decline or silence calls on your home line; a call that goes to voicemail can be charged as one minute.
- Verizon: turn data roaming off on your Verizon line. Sending a text or answering a call can start a TravelPass day ($6 in Mexico and Canada, $12 elsewhere), unless your plan includes that country.
- AT&T: check with AT&T before you travel. Its International Day Pass is $12 a day.
Why not just turn my home line off?
Some guides tell you to switch your personal SIM off. That stops bank and WhatsApp verification texts from reaching you. Keeping the line on with data roaming off is the safer setup.
Picture messages and group texts
On iPhone, while your data comes from RoamClean, your home number may not receive picture messages (MMS) or group texts, and Visual Voicemail may pause. Normal texts still arrive.
Last updated September 29, 2026