The recent Verizon outage was a wake-up call that mobile services can easily fall down on the job. Many people who rely on phone calls and texting, especially during emergencies, were left in a lurch as they scrambled to figure out what to do.
Well, if such a disruption happens again, there are things you can do. Beyond setting up a backup carrier, you can also tap into another option on your phone: Wi-Fi calling. As long as you're able to connect to a nearby Wi-Fi network, you can make and receive phone calls in a pinch.
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iPhone and Android phones each offer a Wi-Fi calling feature that allows for audio and video calls if cellular service is spotty, weak, or completely down. Here's how this works.
How to use Wi-Fi calling on an iPhone
Wi-Fi calling has been available since the iPhone 5c. Almost all carriers in the US support this feature. But you can check the status for your carrier and country via Apple's page on “Wireless carrier support and features for iPhone.” Select your region and look for your carrier. Check the bullet point items to see if Wi-Fi Calling is listed.
To set up the feature, open the Settings app, select Cellular, and then tap the entry for “Wi-Fi Calling.” Turn on the switch for “Wi-Fi Calling on this iPhone” if it's off. A message pops up to tell you what information is sent to your carrier when you activate Wi-Fi Calling. Tap Enable to turn on the feature.
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To help you minimize data costs when you roam beyond your coverage area, some carriers provide an option to use Wi-Fi while roaming. If your carrier supports this, turn on the switch for “Prefer Wi-Fi While Roaming.” In this event, phone calls may use Wi-Fi when you're roaming and there's a choice between an available cellular network and a local Wi-Fi network.
The first time you enable Wi-Fi Calling, a screen prompts you to enter your address so that you can make emergency calls. After filling in your address, check the box to agree to the terms and conditions and then tap Save at the bottom of the screen. Your address is confirmed, and Wi-Fi Calling is enabled.
If you ever change your address and need to update the one you entered here, tap the “Update Emergency Address” link on the Wi-Fi Calling settings screen and enter your new address.
To check that Wi-Fi Calling is turned on, look for the words Wi-Fi after your phone's carrier name. You'll see this on the home screen on phones prior to the iPhone X and in Control Center on the iPhone X and later.
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The next time you need to make an audio or video call, and a cellular connection isn't available, your phone will use the closest Wi-Fi network whether that's at home or elsewhere. When your phone receives a call with no cellular connection available, Wi-Fi Calling will let you answer the call if you're connected to a Wi-Fi network.
How to use Wi-Fi calling on Android
Wi-Fi calling on Android has been available since 2015. In the US, the major carriers — Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile — offer it. I couldn't find a list of supported carriers as with the iPhone, but you can easily tell if the feature will work with your device and carrier and enable it at the same time.
On a standard Android phone such as a Google Pixel, go to Settings, select Network & internet, tap SIMs, and then select the name of your mobile carrier. Swipe down the screen to the Calling section and select the option for Wi-Fi calling. Turn it on if it's off.
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Tap the option for Calling preference to choose whether you'd rather use cellular if Wi-Fi is unavailable or Wi-Fi if cellular is unavailable. In this case, you'll want to select the second option to set Wi-Fi as the preferred method.
On a Samsung phone, open the Phone app. Tap the three-dot icon and select Settings. Swipe down the Call settings screen, tap the option for Wi-Fi calling, and then turn it on. Select the option for Calling Preference and set it to Wi-Fi preferred.
To call someone if cellular service is down or just unreliable, open the Phone app and place the call, either audio or video. After the other person answers, you should see a notice that the call is going through Wi-Fi. On the flip side, any call you receive will be routed through your connected Wi-Fi network.
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