# 10 Things to Sort on Your Phone Before a Ski Trip > Before a ski trip, the most useful phone jobs are downloading offline maps, loading your lift pass and getting data sorted before you leave home. Do the rest, such as updates, storage, translation packs, location sharing and battery habits, at home on Wi-Fi so you are not fixing things on a cold chairlift. - Canonical: https://fresim.com/lists/things-to-sort-on-your-phone-before-a-ski-trip - Published: 2026-10-27 - Updated: 2026-10-27 - Author: Fresim - Section: Travel lists ## Intro This list is for anyone heading to the Alps or another ski region who wants their phone to work when the weather turns and the signal drops. Start with updates and storage at home on Wi-Fi, then work down the list in order. ## Items ### 1. Update your phone and apps Updates can take a while and need a solid connection, which is hard to find on a mountain. Doing them at home means your maps, wallet and resort apps all run the latest version. **How:** On iPhone, open Settings, General, Software Update. On Android, open Settings and look for System or Software update, then update your apps in the app store while still on home Wi-Fi. **Tip:** Turn on automatic updates only for apps you rely on, so nothing starts downloading over mobile data on the mountain. ### 2. Free up storage space Offline maps, language packs and a day of ski video all take room. A nearly full phone can fail to save the very clips you wanted. **How:** Check Settings, General, iPhone Storage on iPhone, or Settings, Storage on Android. Back up your photos to the cloud, then clear out old videos and unused apps. **Tip:** Leave generous free space so you can film without the phone stopping mid-run. ### 3. Download offline maps of the area Resort villages, valleys and base stations often have patchy coverage, and a map that will not load is no use when you are lost. Offline maps keep working with no signal. **How:** In Google Maps, tap your profile picture, choose Offline maps, then select an area covering your resort and the nearest transport hubs. Recent versions of Apple Maps also let you download maps for offline use. **Tip:** Download the airport or station you arrive at as well as the resort itself. ### 4. Install the resort's official app Many resorts publish an app with a trail map, lift status and weather updates, so you can check what is open before you ride up. It saves you hunting for a paper map in the wind. **How:** Search your resort's name in the App Store or Google Play and download the one published by the resort or its lift company. Open it once at home, accept the permissions you are happy with and save the trail map for offline use if the app offers that. **Tip:** Check the resort's own website to find the correct app before you download. ### 5. Set up your lift pass Fumbling for a pass with gloves on slows everyone down, and a lost pass can mean a lost day. Knowing how yours works before you arrive avoids queues at the ticket office. **How:** Check your booking email to see whether your pass is a card, a digital pass or an app-linked code. If it is digital, add it to Apple Wallet, Google Wallet or the resort app as instructed, and keep a backup copy of the confirmation. **Tip:** Keep a physical card in a zipped pocket, away from your phone, if you are given one. ### 6. Get a travel eSIM for data Reliable data lets you check lift status, message your group and call for help, without paying roaming charges you did not plan for. Sorting it before you fly means you are connected when you land. **How:** Fresim creator stores sell travel eSIMs, delivered by email with one-tap install buttons: Install on iPhone (iOS 17.4+) or Install on Android (Android 10+). Buy from a store that covers your destination, then follow the email's steps for installing and when to switch it on. **Tip:** Check that your phone is unlocked and supports eSIM before you buy. ### 7. Download translation language packs Ski villages in the Alps often mean menus, signs and safety notices in another language, and you may have no signal in a mountain hut. Offline translation still works there. **How:** In Google Translate, tap your chosen language and download its offline file. On iPhone, the built-in Translate app lets you download languages in Settings, Translate, Downloaded Languages. **Tip:** Try the camera feature on a menu or sign at home so you know how it works. ### 8. Share your location with your group Ski groups split up fast, and a busy slope or low cloud makes it hard to find each other. Live location sharing gets you back together and tells people where you are if something goes wrong. **How:** On iPhone, share your location through Find My or Messages. On Android, use Google Maps, tap your profile picture, then Location sharing, and choose the people and how long to share for. **Tip:** Agree on a meeting spot as well, in case someone's phone dies. ### 9. Add Medical ID and emergency contacts If you are injured on the mountain, rescuers and ski patrol need to reach your family and know about allergies or conditions. This information is available even when your phone is locked. **How:** On iPhone, open the Health app, tap your profile picture, then Medical ID. On Android, open Settings, Safety and emergency, and fill in your medical info and emergency contacts. Keep a copy of your travel insurance details saved offline too. **Tip:** Learn how Emergency SOS works on your phone, and remember local emergency numbers can differ from the ones you use at home. ### 10. Prepare for cold-weather battery drain Cold weather makes phone batteries drain faster and can shut a phone down suddenly, just when you want to take a photo or call someone. A few habits keep it alive all day. **How:** Charge fully before heading out, switch on Low Power Mode on iPhone or Battery Saver on Android, and keep your phone in an inner pocket close to your body. Carry a small power bank in the same pocket. **Tip:** If the phone shuts off in the cold, warm it up inside your jacket before turning it back on. ## Connectivity note For data on arrival, a travel eSIM from a Fresim creator store arrives by email with one-tap buttons: Install on iPhone (iOS 17.4+) or Install on Android (Android 10+). The email also includes a QR code, which is handy for sharing the eSIM or installing it from another screen. Coverage on the mountain itself can vary, so keep your offline maps and resort app downloaded either way. ## Checklist - Update and clear space - Download maps and resort app - Load your lift pass - Install a travel eSIM - Share location and add Medical ID - Pack a power bank ## Frequently asked questions ### Does cold weather drain your phone battery? Yes, cold weather can make a phone battery drain faster and sometimes shut the phone off suddenly. Keep it in an inner pocket close to your body, use Low Power Mode or Battery Saver, and carry a small power bank. ### Can I use offline maps on a ski mountain with no signal? Yes, offline maps work without a signal as long as you downloaded the area beforehand. Google Maps lets you download an area under Offline maps, so do it at home on Wi-Fi. ### Can I put my lift pass on my phone? It depends on the resort. Some offer digital passes you can add to your phone's wallet or the resort app, while others issue a card, so check your booking email before you travel. ### Do I need a travel eSIM for a ski trip? It is not essential, but a travel eSIM gives you data without relying on roaming from your home plan. Fresim creator stores sell travel eSIMs delivered by email with one-tap Install on iPhone (iOS 17.4+) and Install on Android (Android 10+) buttons. Prices vary by destination and are set by each store. ### How do I keep my phone working in the cold on the slopes? Charge it fully before you go out, switch on a battery saver mode and keep it in an inner pocket rather than an outer one. If it shuts down, warm it up inside your jacket before restarting. ## Sources - Download areas to use offline in Google Maps — Google Maps Help - Set up your Medical ID and emergency contacts — Apple Support - Download languages for offline translation — Google Translate Help - Maximising battery life and lifespan, including operating temperature guidance — Apple Support --- Markdown version of https://fresim.com/lists/things-to-sort-on-your-phone-before-a-ski-trip. Fresim lets travel creators open their own branded eSIM store: https://fresim.com/partners