Wi-Fi Calling on iPhone and Android: Setup and Emergency Address

Wi-Fi Calling lets your phone place and receive calls and texts over a Wi-Fi network using your normal number, which helps indoors where cell signal is weak. On an iPhone, turn it on at Settings > Cellular > Wi-Fi Calling. On a Google Pixel, go to Settings > Network & internet > SIMs, choose your carrier SIM and turn on Wi-Fi calling. Your carrier must support it, and you will be asked for an emergency address during setup.

Who this is for and what you will have at the end

This guide is for anyone with poor reception at home, in an office basement, in a concrete building or a rural cabin, who still has decent Wi-Fi. By the end you will have Wi-Fi Calling working on your phone, a correct emergency address registered, and a troubleshooting sequence to follow if it stops working.

The setup steps come from Apple Support and Google's Pixel Help. The emergency address and cost rules come from AT&T's own Wi-Fi Calling terms and are used as a worked example; T-Mobile, Verizon and other carriers have their own terms, so confirm the details on your carrier's support site.

How Wi-Fi Calling works

Apple describes Wi-Fi Calling as a way to make or receive a call when you have a Wi-Fi connection in an area with little or no cellular coverage. The call uses your regular phone number. When it is active, the phone indicates it: on iPhone, "Wi-Fi" appears in the status bar when you view Control Center, and on a Pixel the call notification shows "Internet Call" or "Wi-Fi calling." Without Wi-Fi, calls use your mobile carrier as usual.

The main practical differences from a cellular call are these:

• It depends on the quality of the Wi-Fi network, not the cell tower.
• The carrier must support the feature on your phone and plan.
• Emergency location works differently, which is why the emergency address matters.

Prerequisites

Check your plan on your carrier's website or in its app before assuming the feature is free. Google states that charges may apply and advises checking with your provider.

Set up Wi-Fi Calling on iPhone

1. Open Settings and tap Cellular. If you have multiple SIMs, choose the line you want.
2. Tap Wi-Fi Calling.
3. Turn on Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone.
4. Tap Enable.
5. If asked, enter or confirm your address for emergency services.

If the Wi-Fi Calling entry is missing, your carrier may not support it for your plan or device, or the phone may need a software update.

Let other Apple devices take calls

Apple also lets calls ring on an iPad, Mac or Apple Watch. On the iPhone, go to Cellular > Wi-Fi Calling > Calls on Other Devices, turn on Allow Calls on Other Devices, then turn on each device. On an iPad, go to Settings > Apps > FaceTime and turn on Calls from iPhone. On a Mac, open FaceTime settings and turn on Calls from iPhone. Use the same Apple Account for FaceTime and iCloud on both devices. On Apple Watch, Wi-Fi Calling turns on automatically when you enable Allow Calls on Other Devices. To remove a device, go to Cellular > Calls on Other Devices and turn it off.

Set up Wi-Fi calling on Android

On a Google Pixel, Google's instructions are:

1. Open Settings and go to Network & internet.
2. Tap SIMs, then tap your carrier SIM.
3. Select Wi-Fi calling and switch it on.

If you do not see the option, Google says your carrier does not support it. Other Android brands, including Samsung, put the setting in different places, often inside the Phone app's settings or the mobile network settings. Searching for "Wi-Fi calling" in the Settings search box is the fastest way to find it, but use your manufacturer's help page for exact labels.

Google also notes that if Wi-Fi calling detects a problem, it turns itself off until the issue is fixed, and you may need to restart the device or contact your carrier to re-enable it.

The emergency address and 911

This is the part most people skip, and it is the part that matters most. A cellular call can be located by the network. A call over Wi-Fi cannot be located the same way, so the system relies on your device's location information or on an address you registered.

Apple says your iPhone uses cellular service for emergency calls when it is available. If cellular is not available and Wi-Fi Calling is on, emergency calls might use Wi-Fi, and your device's location may be used to help responders, even if Location Services is off.

AT&T's Wi-Fi Calling terms are specific:

• You must enter a US street address, and it cannot be a PO Box.
• You can change it at any time through Update Emergency Address in the Wi-Fi Calling menu.
• For a 911 call, the system first tries your device's automatic location information. If that is unavailable, it uses the emergency address you entered.
• 911 service may be delayed or unavailable if location information is missing or you call from somewhere other than your emergency address.
• If your Wi-Fi connection drops during a call, the call disconnects, including 911 calls.

Whichever carrier you use, check its terms, and update the address whenever you move, stay at a different location for a long time, or use the phone at a second home or office. Do not rely on Wi-Fi Calling as your only route to emergency services when cellular service is available.

Cost and travel

AT&T's terms say calls to US numbers from its Domestic Coverage Area have no additional charge, except 411 and other premium numbers. International calls from the Domestic Coverage Area are billed at international long-distance rates, and calls made outside it are billed at international roaming rates. AT&T also notes some countries restrict Wi-Fi Calling and that calls to 211, 311, 511 and 811 are not supported. Other carriers have their own terms, so check yours before you travel.

Verify it works

1. Connect to Wi-Fi and, if you want a clean test, turn on Airplane mode and then turn Wi-Fi back on. Wi-Fi Calling is meant to work when cellular is unavailable.
2. On iPhone, look for "Wi-Fi" in the status bar when you open Control Center. On a Pixel, place a call and look for "Internet Call" or "Wi-Fi calling" in the notification.
3. Call a friend or your voicemail and confirm audio is clear.
4. Do not test by dialing 911.

Troubleshooting

Apple recommends confirming that your carrier supports Wi-Fi Calling and that the devices have the latest software, then working through these steps, waiting two minutes between each:

1. Make sure Wi-Fi Calling is on in Cellular settings.
2. Restart the iPhone.
3. Connect to a different Wi-Fi network, since not all networks work.
4. Turn Wi-Fi Calling off and then on again.
5. Go to General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This forgets saved Wi-Fi networks, so have the passwords ready.

If the problem continues, contact your carrier. On Android, the same order is sensible: confirm the setting is on, restart, try another network and then contact the carrier.

Why a different Wi-Fi network helps

Some networks block or degrade the traffic Wi-Fi Calling needs. Hotel, airport and guest networks are common examples. If the feature works on your home network but not elsewhere, the network is the likely cause rather than the phone.

Related reading

If you are also setting up a phone for safety on the move, see Lost or stolen phone: find, lock and erase it on Android and iPhone.

Checklist

• Confirm your carrier supports Wi-Fi Calling for your phone and plan.
• Update the phone's software.
• Turn on Wi-Fi Calling in the right menu for your device.
• Enter a valid US street address for emergency services, not a PO Box.
• Confirm the status indicator shows Wi-Fi Calling is active.
• Update the emergency address when you move or work from a new location.
• If it fails, restart, switch networks, toggle the feature, then reset network settings.

References

• Apple Support, "Make a call with Wi-Fi Calling": https://support.apple.com/108066
• Google Pixel Help, Wi-Fi calling: https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/2811843
• AT&T, Wi-Fi Calling Important Information: https://www.att.com/shopmobile/legal/terms.WiFiCalling.html