Android Data Roaming Guide: How to Enable & Troubleshooting
Do you often visit distant places in your country or other countries for your business? If yes, this article is especially for you because travellers face network issues while travelling to multiple locations.
The cellular network provider companies are limited to geographical areas, so they never remain the same throughout your travelling journey. Data roaming converts your current mobile network into another one so you can seamlessly make calls and access the internet on your mobile.
This article will discuss how to enable data roaming on Android and save excessive data consumption.
1How to Enable Data Roaming for An Android Device?
1.1Samsung Device
- Step 1: Open the Settings app on your Samsung device.
- Step 2: Scroll down to tap ‘Connections’ and then select ‘Mobile Networks.’
- Step 3: You will see the first option, ‘Data Roaming,’ move the slider to enable it.
1.2Google Pixel Devices
Here are the steps to know how to enable data roaming on Android Google Pixel mobiles:
- Step 1: Open the quick panel by sliding two fingers from the top to the bottom of the screen and select the ‘Settings’ icon.
- Step 2: Find the ‘Network and Internet’ tab to select ‘Mobile Data.’
- Step 3: Move the slider after the ‘Data Roaming’ option to turn it on.
1.3Other Android Devices
- Step 1: Open the Settings app on your Android device and select ‘Mobile Network’.
- Step 2: Select the SIM card to enable data roaming if your phone has a dual SIM.
- Step 3: Turn the slider ‘ON’ for data roaming to enable it.
1.4Remote control
Large enterprises have representatives who attend meetings worldwide and present their organization. These corporate devices need continuous network access to share files, communicate with the managers, and access data online.
Admins can enable data roaming on corporate devices using the remote control feature of MDM solutions to ensure their employees are provided seamless internet access to make calls and browse the internet to connect with the team.
AirDroid Business MDM solution allows business admins to access devices remotely, which can remotely enable or disable Android data roaming on managed devices.
- It offers a security policy feature to configure network-related settings and apply them to multiple devices.
- It allows for remote monitoring and control with low delay.
2International Roaming Troubleshooting
Normally, the device is connected to a new local network within 10 minutes. So, it is appropriate to wait for ten to fifteen minutes. If the issues persist, you need to take action to enable data roaming.
Case 1: Data connection fails continuously because data roaming on the device is not enabled
- Solution: Go to device Settings and check if the data roaming feature is enabled. Turn it on to access a new network in another area.
Case 2: The data roaming is turned on, but still unable to make calls or access the internet
- Solution: Ensure the airplane mode is turned off on the device. Restart the device and check it again.
Case 3: The device setting is set to 'automatically select a network.'
- Solution: Although 'automatically connect to a network' is the most appropriate option recommended for every user. But sometimes, the device is automatically connected to an incompatible network. Try to connect to each available network manually one by one and find the one that allows you to make calls and browse the internet.
3Beware of Unexpected Mobile Data Roaming Charges
It is important to note that calling and internet charges may vary with the type of network chosen for data roaming. The prices of the new network are applied for data usage and calls.
So, it is necessary to continuously monitor roaming data usage and manage roaming settings on Android to manage costs. Individuals can check the data usage from the device Settings tab, while enterprises need to check the data usage of multiple devices regularly. They may need MDM solution to remotely monitor the data usage of each device.
3.1For managed devices
Business administrators can track data usage with two methods using an MDM solution.
Method 1. After enrolling the devices into a system, admins can set alerts for a specific data usage limit. MDM will notify admins when managed devices' data exceeds that limit. They can remotely disable data roaming to save costs for excessive data consumption.
Method 2. Another way is to remotely monitor data usage of managed devices for MDM's interactive Dashboard. It will provide detailed insights into data usage, including the apps that consume more data.
3.2Check your roaming data usage on Settings
Individuals can check roaming data usage from the device Settings app anytime.
Open the Settings app and scroll down to find and select 'Network and Internet.' Then tap on the 'Data usage' or 'Mobile Network' option to see the current data usage of the device.
4How to Avoid Too Much Data Consumping?
- Check out the apps that consume more data. Prevent access to such devices when not needed.
- Schedule app and device updates when the device is connected to Wi-Fi only.
- Download videos and other documents when the device connects to a Wi-Fi. Avoid downloading when connected to a mobile network.
- Avoid watching online videos and unnecessary scrolling on social media platforms.
- Prioritize offline apps over online tools like Google Maps. Download an offline map of a specific area when the device connects to Wi-Fi and use it when required.
- Businesses can use MDM's app allowlist or blocklist feature to select specific apps run on managed devices or block unnecessary apps like social media that consume excessive data.
- Kiosk mode is another significant feature to control data consumption. If only one app is required to run for business operations, set the devices to single-app kiosk mode.
5How to Know If Your Network Provider Has Roaming Charges?
A straightforward way to know about roaming charges for your network providers is to contact the customer support team by calling their helpline, or you can also visit their official website to get relevant information.
Check out the service plan you have purchased. Read the services thoroughly to find data roaming policies and charges. You might find it in the terms and policy document or the plan's details. They might have highlighted the charges for international roaming.
Almost all network providers have launched mobile apps. With this app's help, users can easily contact the support team and check data usage and prices for data roaming.
Bloggers usually write blogs to inform readers of different mobile networks' policies, reviews, and prices. Visit such blogs and find out the pricing plans of your network providers.
6Conclusive Note
Data roaming is a network conversion feature that allows you to convert your current network into any other network available in another geographical region you have visited. This feature is built-in on almost all Android devices but disabled by default. Anyone who wants to travel has to enable it from the phone 'Settings' app and choose the option to connect to a network for seamless usage automatically. Enterprises can control data usage costs on multiple devices by enrolling them into an MDM admin console. It allows them to remotely monitor, track, and control data usage on bulk devices and send alerts when a device reaches a certain data limit.
FAQs about Data Roaming Settings
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