Guide To Travelling With Your iPhone/iPad/iPad mini

• Check you have set up any required VPN configurations and/or email accounts.
• Check that the area/cities/towns you are visiting have mobile network coverage by your carrier especially the 3G/4G service if you are going to use the internet/data heavily. You can usually find a map of this on your carrier's website.
• Don't forget to take your charger and charging/USB cable.
• Get a protective case for your iPad like Apple's Smart Cover.
• Get a protective case for your iPhone.
• Check your (travel) insurance policy carefully to make sure your device is covered for accidental damage and/or theft.
• Set a passcode (Settings > General > Passcode Lock).
• Enable Apple's find my device service via iCloud (includes tracking/remote wipe facilities).
• Find My iPad
• Find My iPhone
• Find My iPod touch

• Don't forget to take your charger and charging/USB cable
• Make sure you have the correct adaptor/plug for the electrical sockets used in the foreign country you are visiting.
Apple's World Travel Adapter Kit (part code = MD837AM/A no USB cable/charger)
• 
Apple's World Travel Adapter Kit (part code = MB974ZM/B with USB 30-pin cable/charger)
• Buy it now in the UK at
• Buy it now in the USA at
• Make sure your iPhone/iPad model supports the mobile frequencies used by the mobile provider(s)/carrier(s) in the foreign country you are visiting.
• See this MacStrategy article for mobile frequencies supported by the iPhone.
• See this MacStrategy article for mobile frequencies supported by the iPad / iPad mini.
• Check that the countries/cities/towns you are visiting have mobile network coverage especially the 3G service if you are going to use the internet/data heavily. You can usually find a coverage map on the carrier's website.

• Make sure "roaming" is enabled on your account/SIM/carrier contract, what the costs are and what if any data "caps" may be in place – contact your carrier/mobile provider.
• If your home country/carrier is in the European Union there are strict rules on roaming and data caps. If you intend to use a lot of data you may need to select a different cut-off limit if offered by your carrier or opt out of the bill shock safeguard entirely.
• Reset your cellular data usage statistics - go to Settings > General > Usage > Cellular Usage and tap "Reset Statistics".

• If you want to use your iPhone/iPad on a network with a local SIM your device must be unlocked.
• All iPads are unlocked.
• Apple sells unlocked iPhones only in some countries e.g. Apple UK SIM-free.
• If you bought your iPhone from an Apple approved carrier you could try checking this official Apple chart of carriers to see if your iPhone is locked or unlocked.
• If you are still not sure whether your iPhone is unlocked or locked try getting a free pay-as-you-go (PAYG) SIM from a different carrier in your own country and trying it in your iPhone. If it works your iPhone is likely to be unlocked. If it doesn't work (No service message in the top left) then your iPhone is probably locked.
• If your iPhone is locked you can usually use a SIM from the same network provider in a different country e.g. if your phone is locked to O2 in the UK you may be able to use a Czech Republic O2 SIM.
• If your iPhone is locked you might be able to get your carrier to unlock it for you - check the "Carrier offers authorized unlocking" column on this official Apple chart of carriers. If you are in the United Kingdom and have a UK iPhone you may be able to get it unlocked (albeit in some cases with a small fee):
  • O2 UK are happy to unlock your iPhone using a simple web form request (takes up to 10 days).
  • Vodafone UK may unlock your iPhone using a simple web form request (takes 24-72 hours) - more information.
  • Everything Everywhere UK (previously known as T-Mobile or Orange) may unlock your iPhone using a simple web form request (takes up to 3 days).
  • 3 (Three) UK may unlock your iPhone by contacting customer services to request an unlock (takes up to 7 days) - more information.
If your need to get a local SIM check what local carriers are available on Apple's official chart of carriers for the countries that you are going to visit.
When using a local SIM with an iPad some local providers may only accept payment using a credit card registered in that country. You should check whether this is the case with the local provider before obtaining the SIM.

• If you are going to roam using cellular data/a mobile network
• Check your cellular/mobile data settings - go to Settings > Mobile Data > You can…
• Assign which (e)SIM is used for your primary Mobile Data
• Assign which (e)SIM is used for your Default Voice Line
• Get and reset mobile data/roaming statistics - if you reset it before leaving regularly check your mobile data usage to see how much you are using against the costs for the service
• Set which apps can use mobile data
• Your iPhone/iPad uses the cellular network for various types of connectivity not just when you are browsing the web or checking email so if you don't need/use the following services you might want to consider turning them off while you are abroad:
• iCloud = Settings > iCloud account (at the top of the list) > adjust individual options as required e.g. you want "Find My iPhone/iPad/iPod" but not other features
• Date & Time (automated setting) = Settings > General > Date & Time > turn OFF "Set Automatically" (obviously this will turn this feature off but will save network data)
• Siri = Settings > Siri & Search > turn OFF "Siri" (obviously this will turn this feature off but will save network data)
• Location Services = Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > turn OFF "Location Services" (or adjust individual application options as required e.g. you might want Maps but not other apps to use it)
• Automatic Downloads = Settings > App Store > turn OFF "Mobile Data" or configure "AUTOMATIC DOWNLOADS" as required
• Mail = Settings > Mail > turn OFF "Mobile Data" or configure the push settings for your email accounts
• Voice Memos = Settings > Voice Memos > turn OFF "Mobile Data"
• News = Settings > News > turn OFF "Mobile Data"
• Stocks = Settings > Stocks > turn OFF "Mobile Data"
• Weather = Settings > Weather > turn OFF "Mobile Data" (although you might want to keep this on if you are travelling!)
• Translate = Settings > Weather > turn OFF "Mobile Data" (although you might want to keep this on if you are travelling!)
• Maps = Settings > Weather > turn OFF "Mobile Data" (although you might want to keep this on if you are travelling!)
• Music = Settings > Music > turn OFF "Mobile Data"
• TV = Settings > TV > turn OFF "Mobile Data"
• Books = Settings > Books > turn OFF "Mobile Data"
• Podcasts = Settings > Podcasts > turn OFF "Mobile Data"
• ~third party apps~ = Settings > ~third party app~ > turn OFF "Mobile Data"

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