Phone, Messages, and FaceTime
Wi-Fi Calling
Most people call this making calls over Wi-Fi when the signal is poor.
Calls and texts travel over Wi-Fi instead of the cellular network, which fixes poor indoor reception.
Whether you see this depends on your country and carrier.
- Requires carrier support
- We have this path on file but have not yet confirmed it against an official source.
Where to find it - iOS 18 and later
- Settings
- Apps
- Phone
- Wi-Fi Calling
What it does
Your carrier must support it. You register an emergency address, because emergency services cannot locate a Wi-Fi call the way they can a cellular one. Calls are billed as normal calls, not as data.
What changes
When it is on
Calls use Wi-Fi when cellular is weak.
When it is off
Calls need a cellular signal.
Should you turn it on?
Good reasons to turn it on
- Calls work indoors where cellular does not.
- Often works abroad at home rates, depending on the plan.
Good reasons to turn it off
- Emergency services rely on the address you registered.
- A weak Wi-Fi connection produces worse calls than weak cellular.
Battery
No real change
Privacy
No real change
Performance
No real change
Cellular data
Helps
Storage
No real change
Out of the box: Off, and only offered where the carrier supports it.
Worth reading first
What your iPhone needs
- Requires carrier support
Where this setting used to live
Apple moves settings between releases. This is every location we have on file.
-
iOS 18 and later
Settings > Apps > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling
-
iOS 13 to iOS 17
Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling
Questions people actually ask
- Why can I not make calls at home?
- Weak cellular signal. Turn on Wi-Fi Calling so calls travel over your home network instead.
If it is not working
- Keep your emergency address current. It is what emergency services will be given.
- If the option is missing, contact your carrier.
- Calls on Other Devices lets an iPad or Mac ring too.