What is WiFi Calling and how do I use it?
It’s frustrating to find yourself in an area with poor mobile signal when you need to stay in contact. That’s where WiFi Calling can come in handy. Here we explain what WiFi Calling is and how you use it.
It’s frustrating to find yourself in an area with poor mobile signal when you need to stay in contact. That’s where WiFi Calling can come in handy. Here we explain what WiFi Calling is and how you use it.
What is WiFi Calling?
WiFi Calling lets you make calls and send texts over a WiFi network instead of a 3G or 4G connection. It can be a lifesaver if you’re stuck somewhere with a poor mobile signal.
Whether you’re at home, at the airport, on the underground or in a country pub, if the mobile signal’s poor, you could use a WiFi Calling network instead.
To be able to use the feature you’ll need to have a phone plan with a network provider who offers WiFi Calling, and a compatible smartphone.
How to turn on WiFi calling
That depends on the network you’re with and the type of smartphone you have. In some cases, especially with the newest phones, WiFi works automatically. But usually it’s just a case of connecting your phone to WiFi and switching on the WiFi Calling option in settings.
For Android phones, like the Samsung Galaxy, you’ll want to select the ‘Phone’ app. Choose ‘More’, ‘Settings’ and then ‘Calls’. You’ll then be able to turn on ‘WiFi calling’.
For iPhones, you’ll need to go to ‘Settings’ > ‘Phone’ > ‘WiFi Calling. You’ll also want to select ‘Calls on Other Devices’ in the same menu, which will allow other devices connected to your iCloud account to also make WiFi calls.
You’ll need to make sure you have the latest software updates installed for WiFi Calling to work properly.
Which networks offer WiFi Calling?
Not all smartphones can use WiFi Calling and not all mobile phone networks offer it. The ones that do include:
Is WiFi calling free?
WiFi calling is free. Calls and texts come out of the regular monthly allowance on your plan.
Can I use WiFi Calling abroad?
No. WiFi Calling only works in the UK.
Can I use WiFi Calling to make emergency calls?
If there’s no mobile signal and you have an internet connection, you can use WiFi Calling to phone 999. However, the emergency services won’t be able to automatically pick up your location, so you’ll need to tell them where you are.
How to turn off WiFi calling
You can turn off WiFi calling using the same menu settings used to turn it on.
For Android phones, go to the ‘Phone’ app. Choose ‘More’, ‘Settings’ and then ‘Calls’. From here you can turn off ‘WiFi calling’.
For iPhones, go to ‘Settings’ > ‘Phone’ > ‘WiFi Calling, then turn off the ‘WiFi Calling on This iPhone’ setting.
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