International Plan Not Working in France

Hello: I moved to France for six months and bought the monthly international plan to use on my iPhone XS Max. For the first couple of months the data roaming usually worked OK, but for the past month it has almost never worked at all, though oddly it suddenly worked for about two days last week before quitting again. I can access WiFi with the phone just fine. It's the roaming that won't work. Cellular roaming is definitely turned on. I have powered down and restarted the phone multiple times. The phone shows no needed updates. Can anyone offer advice? I'm in a large city in the south of France, not out in the middle of nowhere. I'm paying a lot of money for data roaming and feeling very very frustrated by the situation. Thanks for any advice you can offer!

Accepted answers

Dan_VZ

Verizon is aware of an international third-party communications provider having issues with voice and data connections with U.S. based customers traveling overseas. They are actively working on fixing these issues.

We recommend using Wi-Fi when available. If you had previously activated Wi-Fi Calling back in the United States, that feature can be used as well in the meantime: https://www.verizon.com/support/wifi-calling-faqs/

We appreciate your patience and understanding, and thank you for using Community Forums to lift your feedback and experiences.

All comments

Andrew1000

I’m not seeing a reply from Verizon.. Same problem, same location. I guess our concerns aren’t valid enough??

Dan_VZ

We appreciate your patience and understanding, and thank you for using Community Forums to lift your feedback and experiences.

HLH2

This is not a reasonable solution. What are we supposed to do when we cannot use wifi calling. Also I have no internet access when I am not on wifi. I'm essentially traveling with no phone, even though I paid $100 for the monthly international plan.

klgilgenast

Has this been resolved? I paid for the International Plan and I am currently in Paris with no connection or access to data whatsoever.

UPV

I found a solution that worked for me. My partner passed the tip along from a clerk at a Verizon store he visited in the US to help me troubleshoot.

Go to Settings on your phone, and then General, and then Transfer or Reset iPhone.

Hit Reset and then Reset Network Settings.

Enter your passcode and then again hit Reset Network Settings. Let the phone do its thing. It won't take long. Don't panic. It won't erase your whole phone or anything dire like that.

I think the phone powers down and you'll need to turn it back on yourself.

Go back to Settings and then Cellular. Under Cellular Data Options, turn Roaming back on, as it will get turned off during the reset.

I don't know if this fix will work for you, but it did for me. The downside is that your phone will lose memory of any wifi networks to which it has been connected, so you'll have to reenter the passwords next time you want to log onto Wifi anywhere. But for me the hassle was worth it to have roaming data when out and about.

Also, if it does work for you, be aware that you might need to do it more than once, esp. if you log onto a Wifi network in, say, your hotel. But usually I would go several weeks at a time with my phone working before it would glitch and I'd have to do the reset process again.

Good luck.

MNscot

Very disappointed that Verizon has not fixed this. Spent an hour with the help line with no success.

Troy4mcfadd3n

Same exact issue and also in Paris. Wife's phone on Verizon has no issue.

MNscot

I found another solution when I was having trouble in Paris, France and then again in Chamonix. I was having the same problem of being connected to a cellular network but not with 4G/5G data. I found that you can go into the settings for your phone and manually select a different carrier like you can connect to a different WiFi network. The solution I found was for an Apple phone but I have an Android. I figured Android has similar settings. You can Google how to find them for your specific phone. Below is what it looked like on my Samsung phone. Turn off the "Select Automatically" and try another network in the list. It worked like a charm for me.

Screenshot_20240820_202137_Call settings.jpg

Jad4guit

We recently had the same problem with the Verizon international plan. It did not work in France for the newer Iphone 15. It worked for my iPhone 13:

derekashmore

I'm in France now. Both me and my companion have the same issue with service drops. "Sometimes", turning airplane mode on and then off seems to fix it. Not a 100% solution. Verizon needs to fix this

JBCali69

Happening to my daughter who ‘s in Paris now using a fully updated iPhone 15. Worked fine in London but now crapped out in Paris. Apparently Verizon still hasn’t fixed this known issue even though an entire year has passed. So happy I’m paying a fortune for sub-par service. Haven’t tried UPV’s suggestion but hopeful (fingers crossed) viable workaround.

JBCali69

[reposting at bottom of thread]. Happening to my daughter who ‘s in Paris now using a fully updated iPhone 15. Worked fine in London but now crapped out in Paris. Apparently Verizon still hasn’t fixed this known issue even though an entire year has passed. So happy I’m paying a fortune for sub-par service. Haven’t tried UPV’s suggestion but hopeful (fingers crossed) viable workaround. Did try toggling Airplane Mode on/off but sadly didn’t help.

bh123456

Same. My daughter is in Lyon and she can only use WIFI. We have the International plan and already called Verizon, yet they said it should be working. We get good coverage when in Canada, so was expecting to have decent coverage in France. Frustrating that if there was an emergency, she can't call us.

Verizon_Support

Hi bh123456, thanks for bringing this to our attention. We're going to send you a private note to assist further. Please engage with us there. -Red

HiFromNice

Is there a solution for this, Verizon? In Nice, France and cannot use data. Please respond for all the users struggling with the service while paying for Ultimate Unlimited.

Verizon_Support

Hey HiFromNice, we know having service when you need it is important. We are sending a private message on our end so we can look into this further.

-Rosie

HMONTEZ2003

Same issues here in Paris as of 8/21/25. Data will work for a bit, I put my phone in my pocket and after 5 minutes, stops working. I have to basically turn off/on my phone to get the data to work again, but it’s not always foolproof.

Verizon_Support

We are here to help with your service. I'll be sending you a Private Message, so we can further assist you.

~Maria

FlyGirl26

I travel back and forth between Paris and the US and have been having this issue all summer. Today (8/25/25) restarting my phone doesn’t even work.

mistylees

I am traveling in Paris and have called customer service twice and spent about an hour with them. Still a problem. So upset!

Verizon_Support

Hello and thank you for bringing this concern to our attention. It's always our priority that you are provided with the best possible service. Im sending you a private note in order to better assist you with your cellular issue.

-Will

Jb077

I was in France for 2 weeks. I bought a new phone specifically for this trip and asked if I would have any issues with data. I was told to get the ultimate unlimited plan as it comes with international data. My data would be completed disabled every 10-15 minutes. I then would have to airplane mode the phone 4-5 times or restart to get data back. This made working and driving with maps a waste. I'm not sure why if this is a known issue you haven't disclosed it to people traveling abroad. Please step up your game and fix it. I was traveling with four others all with the same plan and had the same issues.

thedavesnow

In Lyon and having the same issue. So frustrating. Get it together, Verizon. I’m ready to switch companies.

Verizon_Support

We wish you safe travels and want to ensure you can use your services while traveling, mistylees. Please tell us more about what's going on with your service when trying to use the phone for calls, text, and data. What steps have you taken so far? Is the issue consistent or sporadic?

-Danielle

Verizon_Support

So sorry to hear you ran into this abroad. That sounds super frustrating. A quick tip for next time: try manually choosing a different local carrier in your settings, or resetting your network settings. We'd be happy to take a closer look at your account and plan to see what went wrong and make sure you're set up for a smoother experience next time.

-Dee

UPV

I'm the person who started this thread and am appalled that well over a year after I originally posted about the problem that Verizon is still selling customers roaming data plans for use in France that it has ample reason to know do not work. If anyone wants to explore filing a class action lawsuit, I'd be game. The company never offered to reimburse me for the period of time when I was paying for a service that wasn't working, nor for the time and effort that my partner and I put into trying to troubleshoot the situation (nor for all the times when my temporary fix stopped working and I was caught by surprise, for instance when trying to board the tram in Montpellier and pay for my ticket using the only option available: the online app. I would end up having to walk long distances or else risk riding the tram w/o a ticket, which results in a very hefty fine if you are caught). With each subsequent customer who faces the same experience, Verizon is digging itself a deeper hole. This thread, which I have of course taken screen shots of, provides ample evidence that the company is knowingly defrauding its customers by selling us a service that it knows does not work.

The original belated response to me--to try to use WiFi when possible--when I was paying all that extra money so that I wouldn't be limited to locations where I could connect to WiFi--was insulting, to put it mildly. Risible.

Verizon_Support

Hey there thedavesnow, we know how important it is to keep in touch while abroad! We'll be reaching out via Private Message to further assist you.

-Lauren

TSC19

Currently having the same issue everyone else has been having for a year now while I’m in Paris. Quite irritating that we pay for an international plan and can’t use it when abroad. Cellular data randomly dropping off during directions or when I’m texting friends about where I’m at. My phone is updated, powered down multiple times, network reset, and on airplane mode a ton.

Efb0427

In France currently and having the same problem! Why am I paying for International service that does not work?? Very frustrating!

Verizon_Support

We hope despite the trouble you're having a great trip! We'll be sending a private message your way to help.

-Cait

Jb077

Dee, you are either a bot or new employee. Please read the thread. Multiple people with the same issue. I just explained the plan. I've done everything except a factory reset on my phone, which I shouldn't have to do considering I just purchased it. Verizon has a problem on their end. I would like some type of refund for at least the two weeks I was in France and could barely utilize the data plan. Thank you.

Verizon_Support

We know how important it is to have a reliable phone. Sending you a Private Message now.

-Cryssie

Schells1

Same problem here in Aix in southern France. I can’t believe this has been a known issue for over a year now!
I see that Verizon has responded a few times with a note that they will send someone a “private r message”. Can I get that from Verizon please?

Verizon_Support

We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused and we want to get this checked out. We'll be sending a private message. ~Peter

Verizon_Support

Hi, we want to help and make sure you can use all your services. We will be sending you a Private Note to further assist you.

~Gina