What does current period roaming on iPhone mean?
Travelling is all about the experiences — the pictures you take, the food you taste, the adventures you discover. To share them with the world, you need access to the internet, which may require using more data while abroad. Luckily, your phone’s option to use data roaming allows you to access the internet even beyond the reach of your local data provider. But what is current period roaming? And why should you know about it?
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What is current period roaming?
Current period roaming data shows how much data your phone has used while connected to other networks than your own (this process is also known as roaming). In places where your typical cell service is not available (for example, in other countries) roaming can use more data and have additional fees. Therefore, it’s important to know how to track and limit your data roaming.
Current period roaming vs. current period
The difference between current period roaming and current period data is basically the number of gigabytes presented in each of the two categories. Since the current period data shows the total amount of roaming and domestic data you have used while on your phone (including the data from your home network), the numbers can contain hundreds of gigabytes or even a few terabytes. Depending on the carrier, this number may represent data usage for the entire billing cycle or since the last manual reset of the data statistics.
Current period roaming, on the other hand, shows only the roaming data used when connected to networks other than your home network. Tracking it helps manage the amount of data consumed during travel and avoid potential extra charges associated with roaming. In other words, current period shows the total usage of data while roaming and using domestic networks, while current period roaming helps you evaluate the internet data usage outside your home network only.
Here are a few more key differences between the two statistics.
Current period roaming | Current period | |
|---|---|---|
Data statistics | Shows the specific amount of data used while roaming on networks outside of your home network (for example, when traveling). | Shows the total amount of data used on your device, both while connected to your home network and while roaming. |
Tracking | Only tracks data usage that occurs when the device is connected to a roaming cellular network. | Tracks all data usage on the device, including data used on the home network and data used while roaming. |
Benefits | Particularly important for users who travel frequently and need to monitor their roaming data usage to avoid excessive charges. | Useful for monitoring overall data consumption to ensure you stay within your data plan limits and manage data usage effectively. |
Billing impact | Roaming data usage can often incur additional charges or be subject to different billing rates compared to data used on the home network. | Represents the total data usage that contributes to your monthly data cap or billing cycle, including any roaming data. |
Reset function | Users may need to manually reset this statistic at the start of a new billing cycle or after a trip to keep track of roaming data separately. | Typically reset at the start of a new billing cycle to track data usage for the current period accurately. |
How to check your current period roaming
Checking your current period roaming statistics on your Iphone is super easy. All you have to do is to open your phone’s settings. From there:
Find the “Mobile service” option on the settings list and tap it.
Scroll down to find the “Mobile data” headline in which you’ll find “Current period roaming.”
How to check your current period
Finding your current period statistics is identical to finding the current period roaming. In your iPhone’s settings, tap on “Mobile service” and scroll down until you see “Current period.”
How to reset cellular data on your iPhone
Resetting cellular data on your iPhone is as easy as finding your current period statistics. The only difference is that when trying to reset cellular data statistics you need to scroll further down the “Mobile service” menu until you find the “Mobile data usage statistics” headline.
After that, you can then either disable the collection of data (by toggling the slide) or reset the statistics by tapping “Reset statistics.” If you choose to reset cellular data statistics the system will erase current period and current period roaming data, beginning the collection process from zero.
Current period
Resetting mobile data usage statistics automatically resets current period data. It can be useful to reset your current period before traveling abroad so you’ll know the exact amount of data you’ve used and can avoid higher data fees.
Current period roaming
Like current period, current period roaming statistics are also reset when user resets their mobile data usage data.
Tips for data roaming when traveling abroad
Using the internet while traveling is almost inseparable from our travel experience. However, just like packing your bags, setting up your data roaming limits should be an important step in planning your journey. To protect yourself from unexpected data roaming fees, experts recommend following a few simple but effective tips.
Keep an eye on both "Current period" and "Current period roaming" sections on your iPhone.
Reset both statistics at the start of each billing cycle for precise tracking.
Use offline maps or apps.
In high-charge areas, consider disabling data roaming to avoid extra costs. You can do so by finding the “Mobile data options” page in your iPhone (go to “Settings,” navigate to “Mobile service,” then “Mobile data options,” and toggle the slide).
Reduce data roaming fees with Saily
While traveling, the constant need to check your roaming data can be exhausting. For simpler and cheaper browsing, consider using the Saily eSIM data service. Saily uses your phone’s eSIM service to provide you with different data packages (from 1GB to 20GB) for your needs in more than 150 countries worldwide. In addition, you will receive 24/7 live-chat support, reduce cybersecurity risks, and simply acquire reasonably priced data plans wherever you go.
Lukas is the mental prisoner of the song "Orinoco Flow," which plays in his head every time he hears the word "Saily." However, that doesn't stop him from wanting to share his knowledge about connecting to the internet via eSIM — even if his current phone doesn't support it.