How to Turn Off Data Roaming in the Telstra App

To turn off data roaming in the Telstra app, open the My Telstra app, tap on the 'Services' tab, select your mobile service, and toggle the 'International Roaming' switch to off. To ensure you aren't charged a cent, you must also disable 'Data Roaming' in your phone's cellular settings before you leave Australia or New Zealand. By doing both, you effectively lock out Telstra's expensive daily roaming fees while keeping your device ready for a local data solution.\n\n## Why You Need to Kill Roaming Before You Fly\n\nLet’s be real: the Telstra International Day Pass is a bit of a stitch-up for the modern traveler. Whether you are heading to the beaches of Bali or the neon streets of Tokyo, paying ten bucks a day just to access your own data is a quick way to blow your holiday budget. The moment your phone pings a tower in a foreign country, Telstra triggers that daily charge. Even if you only receive one background notification from a group chat, you’re on the hook for the full daily rate. For a two-week trip to Japan (dest:jp), that is an extra $140 you could have spent on world-class ramen or a TeamLab Borderless vs Planets ticket.\n\nTurning off roaming in the app is your first line of defense. It tells Telstra’s billing system that you aren't interested in their global packages. However, the app can sometimes be slow to sync, or a software update might reset your preferences. That is why we recommend a double-tap approach: kill it in the app, then kill it in your phone’s hardware settings. This ensures that when you land in Thailand (dest:th) or the United Kingdom (dest:gb), your Aussie SIM stays silent while your AussieRoam eSIM does the heavy lifting.\n\n## Step-by-Step: Turning Off Roaming in the My Telstra App\n\nNavigating the My Telstra app can feel like a maze when you’re in a rush at Sydney or Auckland airport. Follow these steps to shut down roaming properly:\n\n1. Open the My Telstra App: Make sure you are logged in using your Telstra ID.\n2. Navigate to Services: Look for the 'Services' icon at the bottom of the screen. This lists all your active mobile and internet plans.\n3. Select Your Mobile Plan: Tap on the specific mobile number you’ll be taking overseas.\n4. Find International Roaming: Scroll down until you see the 'International Roaming' section. It is usually tucked away under the 'Extras' or 'Manage' category.\n5. Toggle the Switch: If the switch is green or says 'On', tap it to turn it off. You might receive a confirmation pop-up; hit 'Confirm'.\n\nOnce this is done, Telstra should not automatically activate the Day Pass. But don't stop there. The app controls the billing side, but your phone hardware still wants to find a signal. To be safe, you need to adjust your device settings.\n\n## Hard-Locking Your Phone Settings\n\nEven with the Telstra app set to 'Off', your phone might try to hunt for data the second you touch down in Denpasar. To stop this, you need to disable data roaming at the system level. This is crucial if you want to use a travel eSIM for data while keeping your Aussie SIM active only for emergency calls or text messages (which are often free to receive, but check your specific plan).\n\n### For iPhone Users\n- Go to Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Data).\n- Tap on your Primary (Telstra) SIM.\n- Toggle Data Roaming to OFF.\n- While you're there, ensure your 'Cellular Data' is set to your AussieRoam eSIM if you've already installed it.\n\n### For Android Users\n- Go to Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks.\n- Find the toggle for Data Roaming and switch it to OFF.\n- If you have a dual-SIM setup, make sure the data preference is set to your travel eSIM.\n\nBefore you head out, it is a smart move to check if your device is unlocked and compatible with eSIM technology. Most modern phones from the last few years are ready to go, allowing you to run two SIMs simultaneously.\n\n## The Telstra Day Pass vs. AussieRoam eSIM\n\nWhy go through the effort of disabling Telstra’s roaming? It comes down to value and control. Telstra’s roaming often uses 'preferred partners' which might not always be the best network in the area. When you use a local eSIM, you are connecting directly to tier-1 carriers like XL Axiata in Indonesia or SoftBank in Japan.\n\n| Feature | Telstra International Day Pass | AussieRoam Travel eSIM |\n| :--- | :--- | :--- |\n| Daily Cost | High fixed daily fee | Zero (prepaid once) |\n| Data Limit | Usually capped per day | Large bulk data buckets |\n| Network Quality | Roaming partner (can be throttled) | Local Tier-1 Networks |\n| Setup | Automatic (and expensive) | Simple installation process |\n| Number | Keeps Aussie number | Data only (no local number) |\n\n## Coverage Realities: Bali, Japan, and Europe\n\nWhen you land in Bali, the last thing you want is to be stuck at the airport trying to find the 'Blue Bird' taxi app without data. Telstra’s roaming partners in Indonesia are decent in Kuta, but if you are looking for Canggu to Ubud transport options, you’ll find that local networks like Telkomsel or XL Axiata offer much better coverage in the rice paddies and rural highlands. An AussieRoam eSIM connects you to these local powerhouses instantly.\n\nIn Europe (dest:eu-42), the situation is even more complex. If you leave Telstra roaming on while crossing borders—say, from London to Paris—you might find the 'Day Pass' triggers multiple times or fails to switch networks smoothly. With a regional Europe eSIM, you get seamless data across 40+ countries without ever touching the Telstra app again. Whether you are navigating the London Underground or finding a hidden tapas bar in Madrid, having local data is a game-changer.\n\n## How to Install Your eSIM at the Airport\n\nDon't wait until you land to figure out your connectivity. The best time to set up your AussieRoam eSIM is while you are waiting for your flight at the gate in Sydney, Melbourne, or Auckland. Use the airport Wi-Fi to download the eSIM profile. \n\n1. Buy your plan: Pick your destination (like Japan or Bali) on AussieRoam.\n2. Scan the QR Code: You’ll get this in your email immediately.\n3. Label your SIMs: Call your Telstra SIM 'Home' and your AussieRoam SIM 'Travel'.\n4. Set Data to Travel: In your settings, ensure 'Cellular Data' uses the 'Travel' line.\n5. Turn off Roaming on Home: As we discussed, ensure the Telstra line has data roaming toggled off.\n\nWhen the plane wheels touch the tarmac in Tokyo or Bangkok, just turn off Airplane Mode. Your phone will ignore the Telstra tower and lock onto the local carrier. You’ll have maps, WhatsApp, and Uber ready to go before you even hit immigration.\n\n## Data Needs by Activity\n\nNot sure how much data to get once you've ditched Telstra? Here’s a rough guide for a typical adventurous Aussie traveler:\n\n- Google Maps: 5MB per hour of active navigation. Essential for not getting lost in Shinjuku Station.\n- Instagram/TikTok: 1GB to 2GB per hour of scrolling. Uploading those Bali sunset reels eats data fast!\n- WhatsApp Calls: Around 1MB per minute. Great for checking in with home without using Telstra's voice roaming.\n- Netflix/YouTube: 3GB per hour for HD. Save this for the hotel Wi-Fi.\n\nSince AussieRoam plans are data only, you won't get a local phone number. This is actually a blessing—no spam calls from local telemarketers. You can still use WhatsApp, iMessage, and Messenger to stay in touch with everyone using your existing Aussie identity.\n\n## The bottom line\n\nTurning off data roaming in the Telstra app is the first step to a stress-free holiday. It stops the automated 'Day Pass' from draining your bank account. By combining this with an AussieRoam eSIM, you get the best of both worlds: you keep your Aussie number for important texts while enjoying fast, affordable local data everywhere from the shrines of Kyoto to the pubs of London. Setup takes five minutes, and the savings are massive. Stay adventurous, stay connected, and stop paying the roaming tax.