Bars in the basement: calling over Wi-Fi.

How it works

Your phone keeps its number and its dialer; the call simply travels over Wi-Fi to the network and out to the person you are calling. They see the same number they always do. Calls and texts to United States numbers over Wi-Fi are treated exactly like calls and texts on the network, and they use your plan the same way.

The handoff goes both ways: walk out of the house mid-call and a modern phone moves the call to cellular without dropping it, as long as there is signal to move to.

Turning it on

• iPhone: Settings → Cellular (or Mobile Service) → choose your Mac Wireless line → Wi-Fi Calling → turn on Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone. Confirm or update the emergency address when it asks.
• Samsung: Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi Calling. Or open the Phone app → the three dots → Settings → Wi-Fi Calling.
• Google Pixel: Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → choose the line → Wi-Fi calling.
• Most other Android: Settings → Network & internet → Mobile network → Advanced → Wi-Fi calling.

If the switch is missing, the phone is usually either locked to another carrier, running an old version of its software, or a model that never supported it. Our phone check will tell you which.

911 over Wi-Fi: the part to read

On the cellular network, 911 knows roughly where you are from the towers. Over Wi-Fi there are no towers — so the address on your account is what gets sent to the dispatcher.

• Keep your registered E911 address current in My Account whenever you move. An out-of-date address sends help to the wrong door.
• If the power or the internet is out, Wi-Fi calling is out too. The phone will try the cellular network instead — which may or may not have signal where you are.
• Travelling with Wi-Fi calling on can route a 911 call to the dispatcher for your registered address rather than where you actually are. Say where you are, out loud, first.

The full notice is on the 911 & emergency calling page.

When it misbehaves

1. Calls sound choppy. Your internet upload is the usual culprit. Move closer to the router, or turn Wi-Fi calling off where the cellular signal is strong.
2. Calls drop when you leave the house. The phone is handing off to a weak cellular signal. Nothing is broken; it is the edge of coverage.
3. The switch turns itself off. Some networks block the ports Wi-Fi calling uses — hotel, campus and office networks especially. Try another network to confirm.
4. No calls at all over Wi-Fi. Restart the phone, then toggle airplane mode on and off, then check for a carrier settings update. Then call us.

Questions