How do I add international calling or roaming on an iPhone that has no service?
Answer
You usually cannot add international features from the phone itself when it has no cellular service. Confirm roaming or international options on the carrier account from Wi-Fi or another device, then turn on Data Roaming and try selecting a local network manually on the iPhone.
Follow these steps
Restart the iPhone
Turn the iPhone fully off, wait about 30 seconds, then turn it back on and check whether any carrier name or signal bars appear.
You should see: The phone finishes restarting and either shows a carrier or still shows No Service after a short wait.
Add international service on the carrier account
On Wi-Fi or another device, sign in to the official carrier account for this number and look for international calling, travel, or roaming add-ons. Enable the option that matches the country you need.
You should see: The carrier account shows international or roaming service as active, or clearly says the line is not eligible.
Turn on Data Roaming
On the iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options and turn Data Roaming on.
You should see: Data Roaming is enabled and the phone can attempt to use a local network for data.
Choose a local network manually
Go to Settings > Cellular > Network Selection, turn Automatic off, wait for the list of nearby carriers, then select a local carrier that appears.
You should see: A local carrier name appears in the status bar, or you get a clear message that registration failed.
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Extra tips
What to look for: Whether the status bar shows No Service, and whether Settings > Cellular shows Data Roaming and Network Selection options.
Before you change anything: Confirm which carrier account owns the daughter's phone number and that you are allowed to change the plan. Use the carrier's official website or app over Wi-Fi, not an unexpected popup or text link. Note whether the phone is unlocked and whether the plan allows international roaming. Never share account passwords or one-time codes with unexpected callers.