How to Get WiFi Calling on Android

Mobile Phone & Internet Blog | MATE | 8 March 2023

How awesome would it be if you could make a call or send a text message even in a dead zone? Well, that’s actually possible with a strong Wi-Fi connection. If you’re an Android phone user who wants to learn more about Wi-Fi calling, listen up. We’ll go over everything you need to know about getting WiFi calling on Android.

How does Wi-Fi calling work?

Wi-Fi calling is a mobile phone feature that allows users to make and receive calls over a Wi-Fi network. It bypasses the regular mobile network, and therefore takes some stress out of the provider’s cell towers.

Wi-Fi calling is powered by VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol, which uses an internet connection to enable audio and video calls. If you’ve used a phone app like WhatsApp or Skype, then you’ve used VoIP. You may not need any of these apps, though, if your Android phone has a Wi-Fi calling feature (which most recent smartphones have).

With Wi-Fi calling, you get good call quality no matter what device you’re using, and Android phones are no exception. It entails some technical work beneath the surface, but as you will learn later, setting it up and using it are pretty straightforward on your end.

Should I enable Wi-Fi calling?

Wi-Fi calling makes communication possible amid dead spots and areas with low signal strength. Unfortunately, a decent mobie signal isn’t always readily available despite all the communication advances. But with Wi-Fi calling, you can still make calls in the following scenarios:

If you live in a rural area far from mobile network towers
If you live around mountains or hills, which are natural signal barriers
If you live in an area surrounded by tall buildings that block the signal waves
If you’re in office buildings or any place made with concrete, brick and other materials that make it hard for signal waves to penetrate
If you live in a mobile blackspot

These are just a few scenarios where Wi-Fi calling may come in handy. And as mentioned earlier, enabling WiFi calling is easy. You don’t need to enter a bunch of codes or tweak router settings (although you can do the latter to further improve the call quality).

Android devices that support WiFi calling will take away frustrations caused by poor mobile reception.

Wifi Calling Android

How do I activate Wi-Fi calling (Android)?

To get started, you need an Android phone and a mobile service provider that supports WiFi calling, like MATE. The actual steps to enabling Wi-Fi calling may differ from one Android phone brand or model to another, but it’s really simple no matter the device. Let’s see how it works for Samsung and LG as two examples.

For Samsung:

Go to Settings on your Android phone.
Turn on Wi-Fi Calling.

For LG:

Go to Settings on your Android phone.
Choose Advanced Calling.
Turn on Wi-Fi Calling.

In both instances, you’ll be asked to register your emergency address and accept the terms and conditions. And that’s it! You can now start making WiFi calls!

As we mentioned, the steps are pretty straightforward, even if you’re using other Android phones. Some phones may have more advanced preferences, letting you use WiFi calling automatically (and reverting to the mobile network if no WiFi is available) and vice versa. No matter your preference, with WiFi calling now available with MATE, you’ll have a much smoother experience!

Why do I need to register an emergency address?

Entering a physical address is necessary because emergency services rely on it to reach you if you make an emergency call with Wi-Fi calling. In case the mobile network can’t be used to identify your location, your carrier will route your WiFi call to responders that are near the address you registered.

If there’s a change to your emergency address, make sure to update it by going to Wi-Fi Calling and select Update Current Emergency Address. Make the change on the required fields and tap Save.

How do I make a Wi-Fi call on my Android phone?

Once you activate Wi-Fi calling, you can make phone calls (and send text messages) as you would in a normal mobile call! If your phone recognises a Wi-Fi network, the Wi-Fi calling feature on your phone is automatically enabled. You’ll know it’s on when you look at the status bar and see ‘Wi-Fi’ after your carrier name.

Are there any downsides to Wi-Fi calling?

Like any technology, Wi-Fi calling isn’t devoid of challenges. It relies on a strong internet connection, so when Wi-Fi is weak, your calls may suffer. But this shouldn’t be much of a problem at home if you have a reliable provider like MATE.