When you’re traveling, your iPhone can send messages in different ways.
Setting up iMessage and FaceTime properly helps make sure your messages use data instead of SMS, so you can stay in touch without worrying about roaming charges.
Why This Matters
The difference matters because SMS messages can trigger roaming charges, while iMessage does not.
As long as iMessage is set up correctly, your messages will send over Wi-Fi or your Simify eSIM, helping you stay in touch without surprise fees.
Good to Know:
You can still receive iMessages linked to their phone number. However, to avoid messages being sent as SMS while overseas, we recommend turning your Primary SIM OFF during your trip.
If you keep your Primary SIM active, double-check that your messages are sending as iMessage (blue bubbles) rather than SMS (green bubbles), which may incur roaming charges.
How iMessage Works While You’re Traveling
When you send a message from your iPhone, it tries to use iMessage first.
- If iMessage is available, your message is sent using data.
- If it isn’t, your iPhone may fall back to SMS.
That fallback is what can lead to roaming charges when you’re abroad.
Message vs SMS
- Blue messages are sent using iMessage
- Green messages are sent as SMS
While traveling, green messages are the ones to watch out for.
A quick note on group chats
Group chats can switch to SMS if one person isn’t using an Apple device. When that happens, the entire conversation may turn green.
This is normal, but it’s helpful to know before you travel.
What we need to do
We’ll review the Messages settings to confirm that iMessage is sending messages using your phone number, not SMS.
We’ll check a couple of options to make sure everything is set up correctly before you travel.
Set up iMessage on your iPhone
Let’s make sure iMessage is turned on.
- Open phone Settings
- Tap Apps
- Tap Messages
- Turn iMessage On
- Tap Send & Receive
- Choose the phone number and/or email address you want to use for iMessage
Your iPhone may take a moment to activate iMessage. That’s normal.
If you prefer, you can also deselect your phone number so that iMessages are sent and received using your email address only.
This helps make sure messages are sent using iMessage tied to your phone number, rather than falling back to SMS.
Why This Matters
Simify eSIMs are data-only and do not come with a phone number.
Using your email address for iMessage and FaceTime ensures you can continue sending and receiving messages over data while traveling.
It also helps ensure your messaging account remains linked to your Apple ID email, making it easier to access or recover your account if needed.
Prevent messages from switching to SMS
By default, your iPhone may send an SMS if iMessage can’t be delivered right away. To avoid that while traveling:
- Go back one screen to Messages settings
- Turn Send as SMS Off
This helps prevent messages from quietly switching to SMS if data is briefly unavailable.
Check FaceTime
FaceTime also uses data, so it’s a good idea to make sure it’s ready.
- Go to phone Settings
- Tap Apps
- Tap FaceTime
- Turn FaceTime On
- Confirm your phone number or email is selected
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