Roaming in Europe: 7 tips to use less mobile data
Travelling in Europe? Discover 7 practical tips to keep your mobile data consumption under control while roaming and avoid unexpected charges on your phone bill.
Roaming in Europe is now regulated: since 2017, European operators (and Swiss operators within the limits of their agreements) can no longer charge excessive rates for using your plan abroad. However, your data allowance remains limited. Here is how to make the most of it.
1. Check your roaming plan before you travel
Before any trip, check what your MaxiConnect plan covers abroad:
- How much data is included in Europe?
- Are calls and SMS included?
- What is the rate beyond the included allowance?
Our team can answer your questions quickly and recommend the most suitable option for your trip.
2. Disable automatic updates
Apps update silently in the background and can consume several hundred megabytes without you noticing.
iPhone: Settings → App Store → disable “Automatic Downloads” over mobile data.
Android: Play Store → Settings → Auto-update apps → Over Wi-Fi only.
3. Limit cloud synchronisation
iCloud Photos, Google Photos, Dropbox, OneDrive… If automatic sync is enabled, every photo taken during your trip will be immediately uploaded to the cloud using your mobile data.
Disable automatic synchronisation over mobile data in the settings of each application.
4. Download before you leave
Before leaving Switzerland:
- Music: download your Spotify or Apple Music playlists for offline use
- Podcasts: download episodes to listen to
- Maps: Google Maps and Apple Maps allow you to download areas for offline use
- Series and films: Netflix, Disney+ and others allow downloading for offline viewing
5. Use Wi-Fi whenever possible
Hotels, restaurants, museums, airports — free Wi-Fi is widely available across Europe. Use it for data-intensive tasks (videos, updates, photo uploads).
Note: on public Wi-Fi networks, avoid sensitive sites (banking, email) without a VPN.
6. Monitor your consumption in real time
On iOS and Android, you can check your data consumption per app in the settings. Identify the most data-hungry applications and restrict their access to mobile data.
7. Enable “Low Data Mode” or “Data Saver”
iPhone: Settings → Mobile Data → Low Data Mode.
Android: Settings → Network → Data Saver.
These modes limit background data consumption by apps.
Questions about your roaming plan? Our team is available Monday to Friday from 7am to 9pm and on weekends from 9am to 6pm. 📞 +41 58 521 32 00 — 📧 hello@maxiconnect.ch