Why Does Verizon Hate Wifi Calling?

[ZITHERO]

This is an observation but at this point, after my phone recently updated (I wish I had not updated the phone's software...), I can no longer place Wifi Calls.

I used to be sort of able to force the wifi calling to work via turning on airplane mode, then activating my Wifi and it would connect (as the phone's cell service was forced off).  However a recent update to Verizon's software on my Galaxy S7 Edge has provided an error whenever I do this which reads:
"Turn off Airplane mode.

Unable to make calls in Airplane mode.   To allow calls, Airplane mode will be turned off." (ps: Thanks so much guys!)

Before, again, this was the ONLY way I could turn on wifi calling and, as a result, the only way to make phone calls in my house.

The goal here, btw, was so that I could ditch my home phone line and go entirely with cellular phones... but it looks like now, after this recent "Update" I can no longer use wifi calling at all!  So now the feature doesn't even begin to work, and I have to hope against hope that the program that makes this determination in my phone has the good graces to discover my cell service is poor  and swap to wifi calling... but the program is so amazingly overconfident in the signal it gets from Verizon it doesn't even grasp that 1 to 2 bars is a bad day.

Please... Verizon... Just let us toggle "Prefer Wifi" On like every other wireless carrier so that if there's a wifi signal, the call goes over that wifi signal always, and then.. only then, can swap to the Cell Service.

The worst part is: This method was suggested to me by the very Verizon Support team that is on this forum!  Turning on airplane mode was a [Removed] solution, but at least it was a solution.  Now there is no solution.

So On Behalf of all of those with "Poor Signal" inside our home, please fix wifi calling.

inappropriate content removed as required by the Verizon Wireless Terms of Service

Message edited by Verizon Moderator

[Weth]

It is not clear why Verizon did this, if it is an error or a way to try to get $10 TravelPass fees.

iPhone, thankfully, has not been affected by this

[bethsheartsong]

I live in an area identified by Verizon as signal impaired in about a 3-4 mile radius, due to topographical challenges.  I was advised to get a Network extender they sell, which I did.  This fix has allowed me to reclaim the ability to use my cell phone at home and I have only basic home phone service to keep the ability to fax over a landline.  I don't use my home phone line much otherwise.  The extender piggy-backs on your wifi signal, so it's almost like wifi calling.Needless to say, I don't have Verizon internet for the home service. It's with another provider via hard-wired connections. THe downside which doesn't impact me in the slightest, is that I had to move to 3g connections while on the extender. This means that video calling is impossible.  Since I have no real use for that feature (it's available on our devices, but ...), it's not an issue.  Have you explored the Network Extender? It occasionally has hiccups, but is probably 95% reliable in my situation.

[lukevinyl]

The network extender's do work really well from my experience. You mentioned having to use 3G while under network extender coverage so just wanted to mention there is a newer 4G network extender that is out and offered/supported by VZW that works well and allows 4G services, just so you are aware.

Have a good one!

[vzw_customer_support]

We want to make sure that you are able to use your Galaxy S7 Edge the way you like, ZITHERO. There are a couple of things that we would need to look at to get a full review on this issue. Do you have HD Calling / Wi-Fi Calling provisioned on your account? Have you tried to turn off your Cellular data when making the call to have it manually switch to Wi-Fi Calling? If you have downloaded the Package Disabler Pro app or a similar app, disable it if the Wi-Fi calling activation process has an error. After Wi-Fi calling is activated and working, re-enable the app for use. Let us know if any of these methods help you with your issue.

JoshuaT_VZW

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If my response answered your question please click the Correct Answer button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!

[BeyondtheVerizon]

I have this exact issue. Wifi calling worked until 2 days ago, now I get the message "you cannot make a call while the device is in airplane mode." Yes, the wifi is on. Yes, the software is up to date. Yes the wifi is connected, and yes, I am able to transmit data. My 911 location is set up and my HD voice is on.

I just moved to a new location where the cellular service is consistently 0-1 bars and the wifi calling was the answer...and it worked beautifully for over a month! What changed!?!?

[vzw_customer_support]

Two days is far too long to miss out on wifi calling BeyondtheVerizon. What zip code are you in? Were there any changes to the phone 2 days ago when the issue started? Have you powered the phone off and back on?

StevenM_VZW

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[BeyondtheVerizon · Accepted solution]

Thanks for reaching out!

I am in zip code 94965.

Restarted the phone.

No new changes.

I got a replacement phone through Verizon a couple of weeks ago but wifi

calling worked right away, by putting the phone in airplane mode then

turning on wifi. The same process no longer works, I just get the message

"...

I just tried again and it worked. I'll put up a nice note on the board for

you guys.

-Mike

On Jun 15, 2017 9:23 AM, "vzw_customer_support" <forums@verizonwireless.com>

[Ch5249]

I have the same problem.

I have an S7 and relied on WiFi calling since I get 0-1 bars of service in my house. It's just enough service that Verizon says my service is fine but just little enough to drop every single phone call I try to make or receive.

In the past I put my phone in airplane mode, turned the WiFi on and could make calls with no issues. But now every single time it tells me I can't make calls in airplane mode.

I've tried turning mobile data off but it makes calls on the 1x bar of service it picks up instead of the WiFi.

I agree with the OP, why does Verizon refuse to let us prefer the WiFi signal for calling?? You're getting paid for the minutes regardless of whether or not we use them so what's the problem???

[Ted2356]

I have exactly the same issue. Samsung edge I could force to wifi, but the phone was the worst ever. I got a Moto Play Z and I can't find any way to force it to wifi. I have barely 1 bar in my house but it tries to connect ( and usually fails.

Just a switch to force it to wifi....  Maybe T-Mobile would be a better solution...

[vzw_customer_support]

We certainly would not want to lose you Ted2356. Let's get this Wi-Fi issue figured out. Does this happen on all Wi-FI? Are you getting a specific error message when this does happen?

AlbertoR_VZW

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[Ted2356]

Hi,

I really don’t care if it works on other Wi-Fi networks, so I haven’t tried it. The problem is that I have 0 – 2 bars in my house, depending on the weather….temperature….position of the moon, who knows. But if the phone senses any cell signal, it won’t go over to Wi-Fi and then calls drop. I just replaced the but I could turn on airplane mode, then turn Wi-Fi back on and the phone just used the Wi-Fi. This phone will not do it. If I turn off the cell radio and Wi-Fi on, it just tells me to turn on airplane mode. How hard would it be to put in a switch to tell the phone to just use Wi-Fi, or won’t your network handle the traffic (that’s my suspicion)? I did check the Wi-Fi settings and found it was set to prefer roaming over Wi-Fi so I changed that and it seems to use the Wi-Fi more often, but I want to turn off the cell radio and use the Wi-Fi when it is convenient for me. And as an aside, when it does use the Wi-Fi, at least 3 out of 5 calls will not connect. Just dead air. I think the phone is trying to figure out which network to use.

If the Samsung could do it, I’m sure you guys could get the moto to do it.

And my threat to switch to T-Mobile was an idle one. I’ve been with Verizon wireless for years and I do think it is the best network and wouldn’t switch, but I will take my old, hated Samsung out of the box and send this new one back if you can’t promise a solution. Before Wi-Fi calling, I had a cell extender in the house, which still works I imagine, but the data speed is awful. I’m an IT person who works from home and have a semi-professional Wi-Fi in the house with a Comcast 100mb/sec connection, so I get screamingly fast internet. Both access points are new and support both 2 and 5 MHz bands. I have 5 bars of Wi-Fi anywhere I go on my 2 acres of property and in the house, so I know it’s not a Wi-Fi issue.

Just fix the phone or get Motorola or Lenovo or whoever programs it to fix the issue. There are threads in many forums on the same issue with these moto phones.

Very Best Regards,

Ted [removed]

[removed]

[removed]

Personal information removed as required by the Verizon Wireless Terms of Service​

Message edited by Verizon Moderator.

[joey2007ua64]

Ted2356 wrote:

I could turn on airplane mode, then turn Wi-Fi back on and the phone just used the Wi-Fi.

This works perfectly on my Moto Z Play Droid.

[Ted2356]

I just tried it. Turned on airplane mode, turned on wifi. Phone said it had to turn on wifi calling (which was already turned on) then said had to turn airplane mode off to make the call. Same as before Brand new phone and it does make wifi calls periodically. Depends on the level of the cell signal in the house (which is generally very weak)

Very Best Regards,

Ted [removed]

[removed]

[removed]

Personal information removed as required by the Verizon Wireless Terms of Service​

Message edited by Verizon Moderator.

[Tinieblas]

Also having the same problem, and it just started recently. I usually get 0 bars of service at home (little "x" above the bars, because it's just dead...). So while at home I just turn to airplane mode, enable Wi-Fi, and use Wi-Fi calling.

Recently it has started giving me that same message, "Unable to make calls in Airplane mode. To allow calls, Airplane mode will be turned off."

In my case turning off Airplane mode still doesn't allow calls because I have no service...

The frustrating thing about it though is that it's intermittent. Sometimes I dial a number and it works. Usually it doesn't. But if I really need to call someone, and I just keep ignoring the message and dialing again, it will usually go through after 2-6 tries.

It's incredibly annoying. I don't know what changed, but I hate it. But at least it usually still gets through when I need it, just have to keep dialing to the message stops showing.

[Tinieblas]

Adding another comment here since there doesn't seem to be a resolution being presented by Verizon...

I have found that it almost always works immediately after restarting my phone, and then after some period of time (haven't figured out yet how long) it suddenly stops working.

I have made it a habit to just restart my phone any time I plug it in to charge, and when I do I suddenly get a bunch of text messages and voicemails from everything I missed during the day. After restarting I can place calls, respond to texts, and it all goes through just fine. Hours later it doesn't work anymore.

Just set it in airplane mode, turn Wi-Fi on, turn Bluetooth on if you have any connected devices (airplane mode disables Bluetooth), and then restart your phone. It'll start back up in airplane mode with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth still enabled and temporarily all working. I'm probably just going to set a reminder to restart my phone a few times per day to keep it working.

Annoying and frustrating to miss texts and phone calls, but it works for now.

[IRBUCKWHEAT]

Same basic issue here. I live and mostly work in a fringe area for Verizon service (although the coverage map indicates otherwise) If I am outside, the service works fine, as expected. Once I enter a house or business in this area, the phone typically switches from Verizon to No Service to Roaming to Extended. I have Wifi calling enabled and it works well but only if there is NO cell signal whatsoever. Turning on Airplane and then turning WiFi on does force the wifi calling also but what a PITA to have to remember to do this every time you enter or leave a building. There are apps available that will do this however I would have to root my brand new phone in order to toggle airplane mode through an app.

So Verizon, why not simply add an option so we can prefer wifi calling over 4g/3g?

[lorenb_vzw]

Making the use of your phone easy is absolutely what we want for you. We are glad to lift up this suggestion for a possible future software update so that you will be able to make those calls when needed.

LorenB_VZW

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If my response answered your question please click the _Correct Answer_ button under my response registry . This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!! 

[IRBUCKWHEAT]

Hey, wow that's great! hope you can get that done before I drive to the T-Mobile store, they already have this available.

[vzw_customer_support]

We sincerely don’t want to lose great customers such as you, IRBUCKWHEAT. I know how upsetting it can be to have to make setting changes on a device so often. We work hard to create solutions that have features of being automatic, while still allowing user control for those who don’t want apps controlling the phone. It’s an extremely delicate balance. We appreciate you and the others in this thread for giving us the examples and ideas to send back to the software developers. Let us know if there’s anything else we can do for you. Thank you for being a valued part of Verizon Wireless.

GeorgeS_VZW

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If my response answered your question please click the _Correct Answer_ button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!

[joey2007ua64]

IRBUCKWHEAT wrote:

Hey, wow that's great! hope you can get that done before I drive to the T-Mobile store, they already have this available.

Note 8 WiFi calling always on despite Cellular ... | T-Mobile Support

And it works so well some T Mobile customers can't make calls over cellular without completely disabling Wi-Fi calling.

IRBUCKWHEAT wrote:

Once I enter a house or business in this area, the phone typically switches from Verizon to No Service to Roaming

Have you tried enabling the following option under your Wi-Fi Calling settings?