Everything is set for your next big travel adventure. You’ve booked your flight, planned your itinerary, bought new snorkeling gear, and found the perfect hotel. You’re almost ready for your trip to Mexico, but you might be wondering, “Will my cell phone work in Mexico?” Good news—the answer is yes. After all, vacations are meant to be relaxing—like focusing on seeing Mayan ruins and swimming in the ocean, not worrying about roaming fees.
Planning how you’ll use your phone in Mexico is important because you’re going to need it for tons of activities while enjoying your trip. Whether you want to stay in touch with loved ones at home, capture memories to look back on, or look up the closest hotspot, you’re going to want your phone up and running. To help you enjoy your trip, here are some tips for using your phone in Mexico without any hassle.
1. Don’t sweat the fees
The heat in Mexico might make you sweat, but the fees with an unlimited wireless plan from AT&T won’t. If you’re traveling on a budget with a postpaid AT&T Unlimited Your Way plan with international calling, you can use talk, text, and data while traveling in Mexico with no roaming charges. You also don’t have to worry about swapping your SIM card or changing your device settings.
What if you don’t have a postpaid plan? You can choose one of our prepaid plans with Mexico included to use unlimited talk, text, and data in and between the U.S. and Mexico. That means you don’t have to weigh the pros and cons of prepaid phone plans vs. postpaid phone plans—use either one to enjoy your time in Mexico.
2. Prepare your phone for the water
Many people go to Mexico because of the coastal attractions. It’s a great place to snorkel, swim, or even just enjoy a tropical drink by the pool. If you plan to go near water, be sure to protect your phone from the elements with the right phone case. Leave your phone in a locker or bag before you go for a swim, and keep it protected any time you think it’s at risk of getting wet.
3. Don’t get stranded without a charger
You’re going to use your phone for all types of things—navigating new roads, taking photos, making reservations, and keeping the little ones entertained when traveling with kids. There may not be as many opportunities to charge your cell phone as there are when you’re at home. Ease your worries by investing in a portable charger. It’s perfect for when you’re on the go and need to keep your phone powered up.
4. Watch out for the heat
As you probably already know, Mexico can get very hot. Even the winters can get pretty warm. To keep your mobile phone from overheating, be mindful. Take care not to leave your phone in a hot car or on a hot surface.
You can also change your phone habits. Consider keeping your background apps to a minimum. The more processing your phone does, the hotter it can become. If the sun makes it hard to see your screen, consider getting an anti-glare screen protector as opposed to turning up your brightness and making your phone work even harder.
5. Back up your photos
No matter how careful you are, accidents can happen. People drop phones in pools or forget them at hotels. While it’s bad enough to lose or damage your phone, you don’t want to lose your vacation pictures, too. The good news is you can back up your photos.
With a personal cloud, you can store all your photos to protect your special memories. This will not only protect them from accidents but also free up space on your phone for you to take more pictures.
There’s no question you love using your phone on international trips. It’s a great way to take pictures, find your way if you get lost, and share your experiences with friends back home. Hopefully, these tips can help you confidently answer “yes” to the question, “Will my cell phone work in Mexico?”
Now, you can focus less on your device and more on enjoying your trip to Mexico. And whether you’re traveling to Mexico or anywhere else, get additional peace of mind with phone insurance to protect you against loss, theft, damage, and more.
To learn more about traveling with your phone, visit the AT&T international travel page.
Visit att.com to browse our products and accessories. Find your local AT&T store to browse in person or to speak with an in-store representative.
This article has been significantly revised by Zoya Cochran on December 12, 2025, to include updates on wireless plans, cloud services, and phone insurance.
