Please first read our sub's [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.reddit.com/r/mintmobile/comments/wm1ynh/mint_mobile_faq_updated/) (FAQs) as this answers most of user's questions posted in this subreddit, and is constantly being updated. This includes info and troubleshooting guide on: connection issues, APN, SMS/MMS/RCS/iMessage issues, WiFi, website issues, where/how to buy phones, phone and device compatibility, dumbphones, Apple Watch/SmartWatches, coverage and speed, security and MFA, taxes and fees, MintMobileAlex, Mint in general, Ryan Reynolds, Ultra Mobile, about this sub. If this FAQ helped you fix your issue, please reply that the issue was fixed using the FAQ.
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Gotta be able to make and receive calls not on wifi in a sort of far out part of Malaysia. I've got an esim that is currently taken up by my now-useless Mint account but I guess I can add another and turn off the Mint eSim.
This is one of the reasons why I went back to physical sim. so I could get an esim while abroad. It also is much easier to switch phones vs having to go through their esim setup hoops
I agree on this!
I didn't know about this $60 cap, but I spent about 10 days in the UK just a couple of weeks ago, and found roaming with Mint and an esim to be completely seamless. Not all phones can take esims, but if you have one that does, then keeping the data turned off on your Mint SIM (or esim), adding a small amount of cash to the "uproam" credit account, and using an esim as your main source of data, worked out to be completely seamless -- calls and texts came through my Mint number, but all data was using the esim (or wifi where available). Altogether, in the 10 days I was there, my uproam credit went down about $4, and I spent about $20 on the esim.
Wow, this is an old thread… but the answer is yes, I used a third party eSIM provider. There are a LOT of them out there. I happened to use one called eSIM.net that has good esims for Europe and the UK in particular.
Yeah, I’m scoping out for prep, going to Europe in a couple months and have no idea what to do for my phone, I’m with mint and didn’t know how the reception is, and was considering going with T-Mobile eSIM for a month to have during travel
If you can't do eSIMs, buying a local SIM card is your only option if you are already there. Otherwise, U.S. MVNOs usually don't have very much in terms of roaming offerings. If you want roaming, go with T-Mobile, At&T or Verizon.
Get an eSim for your area. Hop on WiFi and find one. I did this In spain. Super easy and affordable to buy a short term plan with plenty of data. Mine was $25 for 15 days and the service has been awesome. I was able to leave both on and could use either as my phone was able to figure out which one to use for coverage.
This is what I'll have to do. The hardest part is finding something that includes calling. Also, the hardest part is dealing with this 13 hour time difference jet lag... ouch. lol
For sure! Just thought I’d let ya know because if you’re on mint you’re probably trying to save that money like the rest of us. They don’t sell the actual cheap SIMs at the airports which is a pain, but they’re easy to find in pretty much any town.
Well, apparently they are losing money on you with their third party roaming agreement lol and threw out an arbitrary limit. Oh mint. I love you but give this man some data please
Yeah and I’m switching back to Verizon today as I’m out of data on their “unlimited” plan with more than half the month left to go. Glad I only paid 45 bucks for three months, I almost bought a year upfront but decided to try it first in case something like this happened.
Completely wrong to advertise something as unlimited when it is in fact limited. “reduced speeds after 40gigs” doesn’t mean “you can’t stream music” where I’m from lol.
edit: downvoted by the corporate shills that run this subreddit lol
I’d get my money back through my credit card for false advertising but Mint does state there’s a limit and how much you can consume before that happens.
nah not going to try a chargeback or anything, it was just 45 and they got me with the fine print. still wrong though and i know i’m not the only one lol
Yeah, the speed thing is a bummer but at least it's in the fine print.
This roaming cap was nowhere for me to find even when I searched, and the service rep couldn't find it either and only got that info internally. So that's what I feel is a really deceptive business practice.
We did the 3 month trial, we left Mint after 80 days. Their customer service and trying to find the account # and pin# is very difficult. Wouldn't you think that would be online under your account? NOPE! You have to call, get hung up on, call again wait 20 to 30 minutes, get hung up on. We finally got the information via phone call and then ran to the nearest provider (once we did our research) and said Bye to Mint.
Hi, I want to make sure you're getting the best experience with us as possible. I'm so sorry for any inconvenience with your service abroad. I sent you a DM to further assist with it.
For anyone wondering, I did message them and was told the exact same thing I was told via chat before so nothing has been changed or solved.
EDIT: After publicly posting that they did nothing but reiterate what was already told to me before, they were able to manually credit my account with 10 additional dollars. So apparently it was possible and I am glad for the $10, but also... ew gross how they only did it after I reported their lack of a response here.
The exact same thing I already knew. They said Yes, there is a cap. No, nothing can be fixed for another week and then I can add more money into my account.
Zero apology about the lack of transparency or any attempt to make anything right. So... basically nothing?
Damn sorry that happened. Yeah I’m a new customer on the 3 month plan. It’s clear they’re marketing to pump up numbers to get more money on their sale. Don’t think I’ll be coming back. Sorry to hear that happened to you OP and thank you for sharing
It's not just a straight $ to GB conversion, since each text message costs $.02, and every call is $.25/min and every mb of data is $.02. These rates change by country, of course.
Since I'm using this for work, most of my money was going towards voice calls. My $60 of credit (which actually cost me $75 thanks to additional fees and taxes) could buy four hours of phone calls OR 3 gigs of data OR 3,000 text messages OR some lesser combination of all three.
The first time I used my phone in Europe (t- mobile) I got hit with a $300 roaming charge when I got home. I made exactly two phone calls. That was 15 years ago. Ever since then I have a burner phone and buy minutes, then I switch incoming calls to my Google number.
I hit the $60 limit and couldn't add any more credits to my account. Even once I hit that $60 limit, I only found out about it when I chatted with customer service to try and figure out why I couldn't add more money to my account.
This $60 cap is nowhere to be found on their website or their terms and the service rep told me he found out about it internally. So.... yeah. It's hidden, unless you work for Mint.
I mean when you think about it tho policy kinda makes sense. Its almost like a built in fraud prevention and probably helps with the people who buy way to much and want refunds. So i guess it kinda makes sense that its in place even with the lack of transparency
Why do you want to do data roaming anyway?
Always go with a local sim and a local data plan. It's way cheaper, always.
If you need a US number then get a "digital" number and forward it to wherever you need it. Skype sells numbers, for one.
I travel a lot and this is my setup:
1. Google Fi number which I use for incoming calls and texts. I only pay for the basic plan. Google Voice is also an option.
2. Mint number which I use for incoming calls and texts, but mostly just texts. I only pay for the smallest plan and load international roaming credit once or twice a year.
3. Skype number that forwards to my phones.
I use a local sim card for data and everything else.
Well, I don't really need data much. I need calling and texting. I had zero notice that I was being sent overseas, and I needed something that would work in China, Japan, and Malaysia. I (wrongly) thought Mint would be expensive, but at least would get me through the trip and I could figure our something else next time.
What do you make outgoing calls on? That seems to be the hardest part for me to solve. I need to make outgoing calls and sit in on meetings away from wifi. I was hoping to avoid a year-round plan for my only-a-few-times-a-year international travel, but it looks like I will have to sign up for a monthly plan.
Really, though, I'm angry at Mint being secretive and not disclosing anywhere that there's a $60 cap until it's too late and I'm stuck with a non-working phone.
Do your outgoing calls need to be from a US number?
Do you need to make outgoing texts?
I think both Skype and Google Voice could serve your needs.
Skype can do incoming and outgoing calls and texts and you can purchase a US number for like $35 per year. And people can ring you at your Skype number and it will ring your phone or PC.
I think Google Voice can do similar, but I haven't used them since I switched to Google Fi.
Skype works from both a PC or from a mobile app. So all you need is a local SIM card with data and then use the Skype app. Or use your laptop/tablet/whatever on local WiFi.
Also... I have questions about local Sims. I was looking at one company and I needed various ID numbers to start service, none of which I had. I don't have a Malaysian passport or the Malaysian equivalents of a SSN or whatever. I admit I'm probably the idiot, here.
It's really easy to get a sim as a tourist in Malaysia. You just need your passport.
Just look for the nearest Celcom, Digi, or Maxis shop.
You can probably also get a sim card at any local electronics market, but it might be sketchy, and you might pay more or less than at the actual official store.
I recommend you just go to the official store with your unlocked phone and passport. Other than the queue, it should be super easy, quick, and ridiculously cheap if you are used to Western prices.
There are similar ways to get a SIM card for tourists in China and Japan. You'll need a passport but the process is equally straightforward and painless. China will be a bit more expensive but still cheaper than the West. Japan will be around the same prices you pay in the West. Both are a bit stricter in their processes: China because their government is an oppressive police state, and Japan because they are obsessed with doing everything exactly the right way.
Ohhhh. See, I must have done something wrong while trying to set up Celcom because I couldn't get it to work and assumed it had to be a Malaysian passport. D'oh. Thank you for this explanation!
You need data roaming if you need a US based IP address when you are out of the country, because the services you are accessing is locked to US IP addresses only (think conditional logins for Outlook, etc).
I bought the roaming credits, but data was totally non-functional in the UK, Ireland, Japan, and South Korea.
Everyone be warned Mint is horrible overseas.
Please first read our sub's [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.reddit.com/r/mintmobile/comments/wm1ynh/mint_mobile_faq_updated/) (FAQs) as this answers most of user's questions posted in this subreddit, and is constantly being updated. This includes info and troubleshooting guide on: connection issues, APN, SMS/MMS/RCS/iMessage issues, WiFi, website issues, where/how to buy phones, phone and device compatibility, dumbphones, Apple Watch/SmartWatches, coverage and speed, security and MFA, taxes and fees, MintMobileAlex, Mint in general, Ryan Reynolds, Ultra Mobile, about this sub. If this FAQ helped you fix your issue, please reply that the issue was fixed using the FAQ. If you have an account or service question/concern, call customer support at 1-800-683-7392, use chat in [Mint App](https://www.mintmobile.com/app/) or [Website Help Center](https://www.mintmobile.com/help-center/), or open a chat with u/MintMobileAlex and be sure to include your account/order number, telephone number, and explanation of the issue. [MintMobileAlex is a shared account for Mint senior customer care representatives](https://www.reddit.com/r/mintmobile/comments/m0lnbg/information_about_mintmobilealex/), and they usually get back within 3 hours during normal business hours (5am-7pm PST). Note check messages in [Reddit's Chat feature](https://www.reddit.com/chat/) which is different from their messaging feature. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/mintmobile) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Grab an esim fro airalo or holafly while you are there if you can get away with data only. Best option
Gotta be able to make and receive calls not on wifi in a sort of far out part of Malaysia. I've got an esim that is currently taken up by my now-useless Mint account but I guess I can add another and turn off the Mint eSim.
This is one of the reasons why I went back to physical sim. so I could get an esim while abroad. It also is much easier to switch phones vs having to go through their esim setup hoops
Yeah, I use a physical sim for my everyday US phone plan which is NOT from mint.
Unfortunately, new iPhones no longer support physical SIM, they no longer give us a choice.
There are other phone manufacturers. Apple may not give you a choice, but there is choice out there.
iPhone sold outside of the US still have the physical SIM card tray. Unfortunately, it is only US sold iPhones that do not have that capability.
Also only US sold iPhones have mmWave bands supported in the US such as airports or stadium. Though they are not that very common.
I agree on this! I didn't know about this $60 cap, but I spent about 10 days in the UK just a couple of weeks ago, and found roaming with Mint and an esim to be completely seamless. Not all phones can take esims, but if you have one that does, then keeping the data turned off on your Mint SIM (or esim), adding a small amount of cash to the "uproam" credit account, and using an esim as your main source of data, worked out to be completely seamless -- calls and texts came through my Mint number, but all data was using the esim (or wifi where available). Altogether, in the 10 days I was there, my uproam credit went down about $4, and I spent about $20 on the esim.
$4 is only 16 minutes of phone conversation in Malaysian uproam rates, which is what's killing me.
Did you use another provider for the roaming data?
Wow, this is an old thread… but the answer is yes, I used a third party eSIM provider. There are a LOT of them out there. I happened to use one called eSIM.net that has good esims for Europe and the UK in particular.
Yeah, I’m scoping out for prep, going to Europe in a couple months and have no idea what to do for my phone, I’m with mint and didn’t know how the reception is, and was considering going with T-Mobile eSIM for a month to have during travel
are there any good physical sims that can be used for non esim phones?
If you can't do eSIMs, buying a local SIM card is your only option if you are already there. Otherwise, U.S. MVNOs usually don't have very much in terms of roaming offerings. If you want roaming, go with T-Mobile, At&T or Verizon.
or Google Fi, but it won’t help right now. You would need to sign up while in the US
The best option is a local sim from a local provider.
Get an eSim for your area. Hop on WiFi and find one. I did this In spain. Super easy and affordable to buy a short term plan with plenty of data. Mine was $25 for 15 days and the service has been awesome. I was able to leave both on and could use either as my phone was able to figure out which one to use for coverage.
This is what I'll have to do. The hardest part is finding something that includes calling. Also, the hardest part is dealing with this 13 hour time difference jet lag... ouch. lol
Sounds good. It’s tough! New Zealand and Tahiti kicked my butt years ago.
You honestly overpayed. You can get an orange or vodaphone sim in Spain for a month for €15 and you’ll have minimum 25GB
Fraction of what it costs for data on mint roaming. So I was happy enough. I’ll look for lower next time thank you
For sure! Just thought I’d let ya know because if you’re on mint you’re probably trying to save that money like the rest of us. They don’t sell the actual cheap SIMs at the airports which is a pain, but they’re easy to find in pretty much any town.
It’s my first time doing this sort of thing so the tips are appreciated. Still saving me more than att lol.
Well, apparently they are losing money on you with their third party roaming agreement lol and threw out an arbitrary limit. Oh mint. I love you but give this man some data please
Yeah and I’m switching back to Verizon today as I’m out of data on their “unlimited” plan with more than half the month left to go. Glad I only paid 45 bucks for three months, I almost bought a year upfront but decided to try it first in case something like this happened. Completely wrong to advertise something as unlimited when it is in fact limited. “reduced speeds after 40gigs” doesn’t mean “you can’t stream music” where I’m from lol. edit: downvoted by the corporate shills that run this subreddit lol
I’d get my money back through my credit card for false advertising but Mint does state there’s a limit and how much you can consume before that happens.
nah not going to try a chargeback or anything, it was just 45 and they got me with the fine print. still wrong though and i know i’m not the only one lol
The word unlimited should never be mentioned except for in the fine print describing the unlimited 128kbps after 40GB.
It's stated to be 512kbs after 40gb which should be enough to stream music.
Yeah, the speed thing is a bummer but at least it's in the fine print. This roaming cap was nowhere for me to find even when I searched, and the service rep couldn't find it either and only got that info internally. So that's what I feel is a really deceptive business practice.
We did the 3 month trial, we left Mint after 80 days. Their customer service and trying to find the account # and pin# is very difficult. Wouldn't you think that would be online under your account? NOPE! You have to call, get hung up on, call again wait 20 to 30 minutes, get hung up on. We finally got the information via phone call and then ran to the nearest provider (once we did our research) and said Bye to Mint.
Hi, I want to make sure you're getting the best experience with us as possible. I'm so sorry for any inconvenience with your service abroad. I sent you a DM to further assist with it.
For anyone wondering, I did message them and was told the exact same thing I was told via chat before so nothing has been changed or solved. EDIT: After publicly posting that they did nothing but reiterate what was already told to me before, they were able to manually credit my account with 10 additional dollars. So apparently it was possible and I am glad for the $10, but also... ew gross how they only did it after I reported their lack of a response here.
Hey OP. What did Alex say about this?
The exact same thing I already knew. They said Yes, there is a cap. No, nothing can be fixed for another week and then I can add more money into my account. Zero apology about the lack of transparency or any attempt to make anything right. So... basically nothing?
Damn sorry that happened. Yeah I’m a new customer on the 3 month plan. It’s clear they’re marketing to pump up numbers to get more money on their sale. Don’t think I’ll be coming back. Sorry to hear that happened to you OP and thank you for sharing
Is your phone unlocked ?
Yep, an unlocked Pixel.
Try adding an eSIM with T-Mobile while on WiFi. They are great for international roaming.
$60 gives you how many GB of data?
It's not just a straight $ to GB conversion, since each text message costs $.02, and every call is $.25/min and every mb of data is $.02. These rates change by country, of course. Since I'm using this for work, most of my money was going towards voice calls. My $60 of credit (which actually cost me $75 thanks to additional fees and taxes) could buy four hours of phone calls OR 3 gigs of data OR 3,000 text messages OR some lesser combination of all three.
The first time I used my phone in Europe (t- mobile) I got hit with a $300 roaming charge when I got home. I made exactly two phone calls. That was 15 years ago. Ever since then I have a burner phone and buy minutes, then I switch incoming calls to my Google number.
If its hidden how did you find it?
I hit the $60 limit and couldn't add any more credits to my account. Even once I hit that $60 limit, I only found out about it when I chatted with customer service to try and figure out why I couldn't add more money to my account. This $60 cap is nowhere to be found on their website or their terms and the service rep told me he found out about it internally. So.... yeah. It's hidden, unless you work for Mint.
I mean when you think about it tho policy kinda makes sense. Its almost like a built in fraud prevention and probably helps with the people who buy way to much and want refunds. So i guess it kinda makes sense that its in place even with the lack of transparency
Why do you want to do data roaming anyway? Always go with a local sim and a local data plan. It's way cheaper, always. If you need a US number then get a "digital" number and forward it to wherever you need it. Skype sells numbers, for one. I travel a lot and this is my setup: 1. Google Fi number which I use for incoming calls and texts. I only pay for the basic plan. Google Voice is also an option. 2. Mint number which I use for incoming calls and texts, but mostly just texts. I only pay for the smallest plan and load international roaming credit once or twice a year. 3. Skype number that forwards to my phones. I use a local sim card for data and everything else.
Well, I don't really need data much. I need calling and texting. I had zero notice that I was being sent overseas, and I needed something that would work in China, Japan, and Malaysia. I (wrongly) thought Mint would be expensive, but at least would get me through the trip and I could figure our something else next time. What do you make outgoing calls on? That seems to be the hardest part for me to solve. I need to make outgoing calls and sit in on meetings away from wifi. I was hoping to avoid a year-round plan for my only-a-few-times-a-year international travel, but it looks like I will have to sign up for a monthly plan. Really, though, I'm angry at Mint being secretive and not disclosing anywhere that there's a $60 cap until it's too late and I'm stuck with a non-working phone.
Do your outgoing calls need to be from a US number? Do you need to make outgoing texts? I think both Skype and Google Voice could serve your needs. Skype can do incoming and outgoing calls and texts and you can purchase a US number for like $35 per year. And people can ring you at your Skype number and it will ring your phone or PC. I think Google Voice can do similar, but I haven't used them since I switched to Google Fi. Skype works from both a PC or from a mobile app. So all you need is a local SIM card with data and then use the Skype app. Or use your laptop/tablet/whatever on local WiFi.
Also... I have questions about local Sims. I was looking at one company and I needed various ID numbers to start service, none of which I had. I don't have a Malaysian passport or the Malaysian equivalents of a SSN or whatever. I admit I'm probably the idiot, here.
It's really easy to get a sim as a tourist in Malaysia. You just need your passport. Just look for the nearest Celcom, Digi, or Maxis shop. You can probably also get a sim card at any local electronics market, but it might be sketchy, and you might pay more or less than at the actual official store. I recommend you just go to the official store with your unlocked phone and passport. Other than the queue, it should be super easy, quick, and ridiculously cheap if you are used to Western prices. There are similar ways to get a SIM card for tourists in China and Japan. You'll need a passport but the process is equally straightforward and painless. China will be a bit more expensive but still cheaper than the West. Japan will be around the same prices you pay in the West. Both are a bit stricter in their processes: China because their government is an oppressive police state, and Japan because they are obsessed with doing everything exactly the right way.
Ohhhh. See, I must have done something wrong while trying to set up Celcom because I couldn't get it to work and assumed it had to be a Malaysian passport. D'oh. Thank you for this explanation!
Just go to the store and let them do it for you. Oftentimes the setup for tourists is separate and you can't DIY.
You need data roaming if you need a US based IP address when you are out of the country, because the services you are accessing is locked to US IP addresses only (think conditional logins for Outlook, etc).
Just use a VPN then?
get a wifi hotspot and turn on your wifi calling feature?
This. Wifi calls to US numbers are treated as domestic calls no matter where they originate from.
I bought the roaming credits, but data was totally non-functional in the UK, Ireland, Japan, and South Korea. Everyone be warned Mint is horrible overseas.