Three Data Roaming Not Working? (Easy Fix Guide)

Is your Three data roaming not working abroad? It’s frustrating getting this error!

Three’s Go Roam service allows you to use your data in 71 destinations without paying extra. If you’re unable to connect to the internet, there’s an issue with your account or phone settings that you need to fix.

To get your Three data roaming to work abroad, check your SIM and make sure you have enough credits on your account. Switching on data roaming on your phone also helps you connect.

It’s time to solve this!

Three Data Roaming Not Working – 10 Steps to Fix This Error

If you see a “No Service” or “Emergency Calls Only” message on your phone’s status bar, don’t panic. There are simple solutions to follow to fix your data roaming issues with Three.

Here are 10 proven solutions to work on:

#1: Perform Basic Troubleshooting Steps

There are a lot of quick troubleshooting steps here that you need to work on before going to more advanced ones.

If the cause of your issue is not that advanced, doing these should do the trick and restore your data roaming access.

1. Restart your phone to refresh its memory.
2. Switch Airplane Mode On, then turn it Off again to refresh its connection.
3. Check your phone’s signal strength and make sure it has at least two bars.

Note: If your phone is not receiving any signal, move to a different location to see if it connects to a partner network.

#2: Check your SIM Card

After working on a few quick solutions, the next thing you need to look at is the status of your SIM card.

It’s inside your phone, and you have no idea of its condition, so you want to ensure it’s fine so it works correctly.

1. Remove your SIM card and reinsert it into the slot.
2. Wipe your SIM card chip with a soft, clean cloth to remove any dust or dirt buildup.
3. Examine your SIM card for any signs of damage, like cracks and scratches.

Tip: If you see any signs of damage, you’re going to need to get your SIM replaced when you get back.

#3: Make Sure Data Roaming is Activated on Your Account

When your data roaming not working Three network, you could have forgotten to activate it on your account before you left. You can easily overlook this as you prepare to go on your trip.

You want to check if this is activated or not, here’s what you need to do:

1. Go to the Three website or open the Three app.
2. Sign in to your account.
3. Click on the My Account tab.
4. Go to Settings and select International Settings.
5. Navigate to Using Your Phone Abroad and Using Your Internet Abroad.
6. Toggle the switch to On to activate it.

Note: Even if you have not activated this before your trip, you should be able to switch this setting on as long as you have an internet connection.

#4: Check Your Phone’s Compatibility with Partner Networks Abroad 

One of the most important factors that affect your data roaming service is your phone’s compatibility with Three’s partner operators abroad.

If your phone is not compatible, it won’t be able to connect to the internet and make calls.

Here’s how to check your phone’s compatibility:

1. Go to the Three website.
2. Look for the list of Go Roam destinations.
3. Find the country you’re visiting.
4. Check the network frequency or technology it supports.
5. Look at your phone’s specifications.
6. Compare it with the network frequency from Three’s partners.

Note: If your phone does not support these, you’re going to need to change its network mode and use slower ones like 2G or 3G.

#5: Temporarily Deactivate Data Roaming on Your Phone

After checking your account and confirming your phone’s compatibility, your phone might be connecting to an operator that’s not a partner of Three.

To fix this, you want to refresh the connection by turning off data roaming and then activating it again.

Here’s how to do this:

On iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap on Cellular or Mobile Data.
3. Toggle off the Data Roaming switch.

On Android:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap on Network & Internet or Connections.
3. Tap on Mobile network or SIM & network.
4. Look for the Data roaming option and toggle it Off.

Note: After deactivating data roaming, we recommend that you restart your phone and turn it on again so it connects to a partner network.

#6: Confirm That You Have Enough Credit or Data Allowance

Now that all your data roaming Three Mobile settings are activated, but you’re still not able to connect to the internet, you want to check if you have run out of credit or data on your plan.

To check this, you need to follow these steps:

1. Go to the Three website to log in to your account.
2. Enter your Three phone number and password.
3. Select My Balance and check your credits and data allowance.
4. If you’re running low, go to the Top Up tab.
5. Select the amount you want to add.
6. Enter your payment details if you haven’t yet.

Tip: If you’re only running low on your data allowance, get their data add-ons instead.

#7: Connect to a Partner Operator Manually on Your Phone

There are instances when your phone gets confused and does not stick to one network to connect to.

You want to make sure that it connects to a partner network that works well in your current area. Manually selecting a partner operator should fix this.

Here’s how to do it:

On iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap on Cellular or Mobile Data.
3. Toggle on the Manual Network Selection switch.
4. Select the operator you want to use from the list of available operators.

On Android:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap on Network & Internet or Connections.
3. Tap on Mobile network or SIM & network.
4. Look for the Network operators option and tap on it.
5. Select the operator you want to use from the list of available operators.

Note: After selecting your operator of choice, you will need to restart your phone for the changes to take full effect.

#8: Reset Your Phone’s Network Settings

If none of the above solutions works, you will need to reset your phone’s network settings. Doing this will erase all network-related information on your phone.

This should solve any network-related issues that are preventing you from using data roaming.

To do this, follow these steps:

On iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to the General option.
3. Tap on Transfer or Reset iPhone.
4. Select Reset.
5. Tap on Reset Network Settings.

On Android:

1. Go to the Settings app on your phone.
2. Select System or Advanced.
3. Tap on Reset Options.
4. Choose Reset WiFi, Mobile, and Bluetooth.
5. Tap on Reset Settings.

Note: Doing this will erase all your saved WiFi, Bluetooth, Cellular, and VPN settings, so you’re going to need to enter those again. 

#9: Edit Your APN Settings 

There are cases when your APN settings might be incorrect or outdated, causing your data roaming not to work.

You want to make sure you’re using the most recent settings to connect to Three’s partner networks abroad.

To fix this, here’s how you need to do this:

On iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
2. Go to the Mobile Data option.
3. Tap on Mobile Data Network.
4. Select the APN field.
5. Enter these settings:
   • APN: three.co.uk
   • Username: Leave Blank
   • Password: Leave Blank
   • MMSC: http://mms.um.three.co.uk:10021/mmsc
   • MMS proxy: mms.three.co.uk
   • MMS port: 8799
6. Tap Save.

On Android:

1. Go to your phone’s Settings app.
2. Select Network and Internet.
3. Tap on Mobile Network.
4. Choose Advanced.
5. Select Access Point Names.
6. Tap on the APN settings for Three
7. Enter these settings:
   • APN: three.co.uk
   • Username: Not Set
   • Password: Not Set
   • Server: Not Set
   • MMSC: http://mms.um.three.co.uk:10021/mmsc
   • MMS port: 8799
   • MCC: 234
   • MNC: 20
8. Tap on Save.

#10: Get a Local SIM Card

If you’re still unable to fix your Three data roaming, getting a local SIM in the country you’re visiting is the way to go.

This will allow you to use the networks of local operators and avoid roaming charges or issues.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Make sure that your phone is unlocked to accept any SIM from any network.
2. Find a local operator that offers the best rates and coverage for your needs.
3. Get a SIM from your local operator of your choice.
4. Insert it into your phone.
5. Activate your SIM and set up your account.

Note: The downside to using this method is you will have a different number while using a local SIM.

Quick Recap

Your Three data roaming not working means there’s an issue with your phone settings. Make sure data roaming is activated on both your account and phone. Changing your network settings also helps you connect to a partner network.

If you run into more data roaming issues while you’re abroad, contact Three Support by calling or chatting to get help in resolving this issue as quickly as possible.

Read Next: Three SIM Activation Not Working? (Quick Fix Guide)