Wifi calling and texts not working in airplane mode

[JohnGaltatGulch]

Recent switched my s20 5G from AT&T to Verizon because of better signal at home. However wifi calling and texting doesn't work in airplane mode even though it did when I was on AT&T.  

[jav6]

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@JohnGaltatGulch wrote:

Recent switched my s20 5G from AT&T to Verizon because of better signal at home. However wifi calling and texting doesn't work in airplane mode even though it did when I was on AT&T.  

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After you turn airplane mode ON, do you then turn  WiFi  back ON?  Maybe a software update/option turns WiFi OFF when Airplane mode is turned ON.

[JohnGaltatGulch]

LOL,  yes, WiFi is turned back on. I don't expect wifi calling to work when wifi is off.

Software is up to date.

[vzw_customer_support]

We know it's important to have access to a feature as helpful as Wi-Fi Calling, JohnGaltatGulch. What exactly happens when you try to use Wi-Fi Calling while in Airplane mode? Do you receive a specific error message? Also, what messaging app are you attempting to use while in Airplane mode?

~Izzy

[vzw_customer_support]

Hello courtesy follow up regarding your Wi-Fi calling & text dilemma. Please answer the following questions.

What exactly happens when you try to use Wi-Fi Calling while in Airplane mode? Do you receive a specific error message? Also, what messaging app are you attempting to use while in Airplane mode?  ~Gilbert

[JohnGaltatGulch]

The error message is, "Turn off Airplane Mode to make this call?"

 

That's  the msgs app I'm using. When trying to text in Airplane mode it give error msg,  "Can't send text, turn off Airplane mode"

[vzw_customer_support]

Thank you. While you're here your device will automatically use the service which it identifies as stronger. This means that your text and calls will automatically go through Wi-Fi if your device thinks that's the best option or through our cellular network if that's the strongest option. We hope this helps explain.

~Jesse

[JohnGaltatGulch]

Thanks, but that really isn't the case if WiFi is on but cell radio is off because airplane mode is on. The strongest (in fact only) connection is WiFi and the phone refuses to call or text in that scenario. 

[JohnGaltatGulch]

So, I'm supposed to accept wifi calling and texting won't work?

[vzw_customer_support]

Apologies for the delay, JohnGaltatGulch. We want to do all we can to help. To clarify, what cellular signal do you see on your device before enabling Airplane mode? To clarify, are you experiencing network issues in this location?

~Izzy

[JohnGaltatGulch]

My signal is 5 bars, LTE NR NSA -85 dBm. WIFI 720 mbps to router. 80-98 mbps download/ 20-24 mbps upload to internet,  latency 14ms.

No network issues.

[JohnGaltatGulch]

My signal is 5 bars, LTE NR NSA -85 dBm. WIFI 720 mbps to router. 80-98 mbps download/ 20-24 mbps upload to internet, latency 14ms.

No network issues.

[vzw_customer_support]

As a friendly reminder, we are here to help. Send us a reply to our last message, so we can further assist you.

~Maria

[JohnGaltatGulch]

My signal is 5 bars, LTE NR NSA -85 dBm. WIFI 720 mbps to router. 80-98 mbps download/ 20-24 mbps upload to internet, latency 14ms.

No network issues.

[jav6]

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@JohnGaltatGulch wrote:

The error message is, "Turn off Airplane Mode to make this call?"

 

That's  the msgs app I'm using. When trying to text in Airplane mode it give error msg,  "Can't send text, turn off Airplane mode"

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What 'Messages' app is that, a Samsung app?  Have you contacted Samsung or posted the issue on a Samsung User Forum?  

[JohnGaltatGulch]

Yes it is a samsung app. I didn't contact samsung because I have the same problem with Textra messenger app. That app doesn't give an error message, it just hangs trying to send and times out.

Wifi calling and texting worked before on my S20 5G in airplane mode when I was on AT&T. This only appeared after I switched to Verizon a couple months ago.

[vzw_customer_support]

We appreciate the information. If the device requires cellular service to text/call we can't make changes to that ourselves. Have you tried performing a Factory Data Reset on the device?

~Jesse

[JohnGaltatGulch]

Wifi calling and messaging worked in airplane mode when the phone was on AT&T. I would think that is proof the device itself doesn't require a cell connection for wifi calling and texting.  I backed up my phone and did a factory reset before activation with Verizon,  then did a restore back to the phone.

[JohnGaltatGulch · Accepted solution]

Problem solved!  Sort of...

After backing up my phone and doing a factory reset which didn't work to enable wifi calling either, I finally got an honest answer.

The claim that the S20 5G doesn't support wifi calling was false, I know it does because both my S20 5Gs had wifi calling when I was on AT&T.  I believe Verizon sold some S20 5Gs that did support wifi calling.  It turns out that Verizon doesn't support wifi calling with certain specific models of the S20 5G, even though the devices do support wifi calling on other carriers. My model numbers #SM-G981U  & #SM-G981U/DS support wifi calling on other carriers but Verizon doesn't support wifi calling on these models and perhaps others.

When I first switched to Verizon and I noticed there was no way to turn on wifi calling, Verizon support incorrectly told me it was automatic and I didn't need to turn it on. Then when I tested it in airplane mode in prep for a trip I discovered that I lost wifi calling when switching to Verizon. 

So, if you have wifi calling problems, before you reset all your networks (causing you to lose all your saved WiFi connections) or doing a factory reset which  causes you to lose all your browser shortcuts upon restore, (when changing phones or restoring backups, save your shortcuts as bookmarks), have the carrier verify that they support wifi calling on the specific model # of your phone.

You can find your model # by: settings>about phone.

I'd suggest that the default from support should first verify they support wifi calling for your specific model # phone since it is a known issue that certain models are not supported by some carriers before inconveniencing their customers with solutions that won't work on their device. 

[JohnGaltatGulch]

The wifi symbol is active in the screen shot. Go to top right corner. From the right to left, battery graphic, battery 76%, airplane mode, wifi active.

As I said in another post, it is a samsung app but I can't send through textra either, no error it just trys until it times out. Plus wifi calling doesn't work so it isn't likely that would be caused by msg app.

Wifi calling/texting in airplane mode worked when I was on AT&T.  It has only been since switching to Verizon that I lost wifi calling/texting in airplane mode.

[JohnGaltatGulch]

• LOL,  yes, WiFi is turned back on. I don't expect wifi calling to work when wifi is off.

  Software is up to date.