I have an unlocked Note 8 that I'm using with Verizon. I found the wifi calling Under system apps. Still does not work. It looks like it is already enabled but it doesn't work at all. I live in an area where I absolutely need WiFi calling and cannot get it with this phone. Waiting for Samsung to send me a Verizon model. Their customer service is horrible. They told me last week they would get back to me in within 3 business days and it has been over a week with still no answer from them. Maybe I should try a different manufacturer. They are not on my list of best buddies.
-
After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.
Help WIFI calling on Unlocked Note8
- Thread starter kokiangel
- Start date
kokiangel
Android Expert
I can vouch that it works. I had data off today trying to change my modem password and re-add my smartplugs to my wifi. I needed help so was on the phone with tech support through the first setup. Glad to know that I didn't give that feature up by choosing a carrierless unlocked version. (I am actually on Verizon).
Maybe it's because my issue is that I have to have airplane mode on in order to call out on WiFi. I have used this feature with a note 4, and S7, and a Note 7. This Note 8 as soon as I turn
Shoot, let's try that again. My other Samsung phones I was able to turn airplane mode on and use Wifi and it worked perfectly. This phone I cannot have airplane mode on otherwise it says I have to turn it off and will not let me continue. I have a very very weak Verizon signal here and what I believe is happening is my phone keeps trying to access that, which is pretty much futile. About 50% of the time it's my texts fail. Like I said my other Samsung phones worked great as long as I could use Wifi calling with airplane mode on. This one will not allow me to do it. Both Verizon and Samsung agree that I need a Verizon phone to make it work properly.
If there is anybody out there who knows how I can WiFi call with airplane mode on, I would be forever grateful. Thanks!
Shoot, let's try that again. My other Samsung phones I was able to turn airplane mode on and use Wifi and it worked perfectly. This phone I cannot have airplane mode on otherwise it says I have to turn it off and will not let me continue. I have a very very weak Verizon signal here and what I believe is happening is my phone keeps trying to access that, which is pretty much futile. About 50% of the time it's my texts fail. Like I said my other Samsung phones worked great as long as I could use Wifi calling with airplane mode on. This one will not allow me to do it. Both Verizon and Samsung agree that I need a Verizon phone to make it work properly.
If there is anybody out there who knows how I can WiFi call with airplane mode on, I would be forever grateful. Thanks!
I have an unlocked Galaxy Note 8 (purchased from Best Buy in the US) cell service thru Verizon.
I found and enabled the wi-fi calling feature by:
1."Settings"
2.Scroll down to "Apps" & click it
3.On top right menu drop down w/ three dots click on "Show system apps"
4.Scroll down to "Wifi calling"
5. go to permissions and toggle ON "phone" permission
I found and enabled the wi-fi calling feature by:
1."Settings"
2.Scroll down to "Apps" & click it
3.On top right menu drop down w/ three dots click on "Show system apps"
4.Scroll down to "Wifi calling"
5. go to permissions and toggle ON "phone" permission
eirianbryn
Member
Yes phone is toggled on. Have you tried calling out with airplane mode on?
I have tried turning data off, still doesn't work.
Samsung has not been a great deal of help on this. They said they will send me a return label to exchange the phone but the caveat is I need to return this one first before I get the new phone. Since they already had me turn in my old phone I will have no phone at all to use. Not a happy camper at the moment.
I have tried turning data off, still doesn't work.
Samsung has not been a great deal of help on this. They said they will send me a return label to exchange the phone but the caveat is I need to return this one first before I get the new phone. Since they already had me turn in my old phone I will have no phone at all to use. Not a happy camper at the moment.
eirianbryn
Member
I use WiFi calling when I'm home as our house is in a small dead area
I don't need airplane mode on at all. I turn off data and am just fine.
I don't need airplane mode on at all. I turn off data and am just fine.
Well it seems to be working now after I turned data off. I tried this once before and it didn't work, but maybe in between that time and this time I made some other changes in the settings, that's all I can guess. After waiting for Samsung and being on the phone with them for hours, they agreed to email me a return tag. That never happened. Just like the first time I called and they told me within 3 days they would have an answer for me. That never happened either. Although the people I talk to are extremely nice, Samsung customer service as far as following up really sucks. I have had Samsung phones since they came out many many years ago and I'm so disgusted with the company right now.
Well heck, it looks like it may not be working after all. Right after I posted my last comment, I received a phone call and I had to stand next to a window to get any kind of reception. I was cut off 3 times and he couldn't hear me half the time. The funny thing is, even with data off I still have a signal strenth meter and I was getting one bar, on and off. Not sure why that would be on when I have no data. Oh well, the saga continues I guess.
Well heck, it looks like it may not be working after all. Right after I posted my last comment, I received a phone call and I had to stand next to a window to get any kind of reception. I was cut off 3 times and he couldn't hear me half the time. The funny thing is, even with data off I still have a signal strenth meter and I was getting one bar, on and off. Not sure why that would be on when I have no data. Oh well, the saga continues I guess.
cyclic
Lurker
Ok, I get this. I have done this. Now.....how do you turn it on? I've given it permissions, but that does not activate it. It does not seem to add it as a new option anywhere, and it is not an application in my application list.
Also, someone said that they got it to work by 'after it turned data off'. This makes no sense. If you turn data *off*, no data over wifi. What am I missing? And, if this is an actual solution, what are the steps to turn data off?
Thanks!
rnlcomp
Android Enthusiast
I might be a little late to the thread but all I did was hold down the Bixby button and said "open wifi calling" boom it went straight to the page were you turn it on, I also have an unlocked phone from Samsung.
Had to do it twice, on the first run I turned it on, on the 2nd run it went thru the configuration process.
P.S. Texting over wifi also works, just tried it by sending a text message to my wife with airplane mode active.
Notice the icons on notification bar with wifi calling active and airplane mode on.
P.P.S. After the initial activation, all you have to do is hold the Bixby button and say "open wifi calling" to toggle it on/off via the onscreen button, you do not have to go thru any more configuration, it's now just a switch. I'm not sure but it may not need to be turned off at this point, it may auto switch to the network when not on wifi then kick back in when network is unavailable.
.
Had to do it twice, on the first run I turned it on, on the 2nd run it went thru the configuration process.
P.S. Texting over wifi also works, just tried it by sending a text message to my wife with airplane mode active.
Notice the icons on notification bar with wifi calling active and airplane mode on.
P.P.S. After the initial activation, all you have to do is hold the Bixby button and say "open wifi calling" to toggle it on/off via the onscreen button, you do not have to go thru any more configuration, it's now just a switch. I'm not sure but it may not need to be turned off at this point, it may auto switch to the network when not on wifi then kick back in when network is unavailable.
.
Last edited:
have been able to send texts over wifi for some time now..
you can just say "hi bixby.." instead of pushing the button if you so choose...
you can just say "hi bixby.." instead of pushing the button if you so choose...
rnlcomp
Android Enthusiast
I have a problem telling a machine/software Hi!... LMAO. I'd rather just push a button.you can just say "hi bixby.." instead of pushing the button if you so choose...
The "Ok Google" got old real fast, so much so I retrained my old phone to respond by my saying "Hey [insert command] . Worked every time.
rnlcomp
Android Enthusiast
Bummer.
As an additive to the subject, once you activate wifi calling, it automatically switches on/off when entering/exiting wifi seamlessly with the cell network.
.
^^^ which is by design because its only available once you are on wifi.
It wasn't there on my phone but I did finally find it. I had to go to apps and select system apps. Then it showed up in the list of apps and I was able to toggle the permission. That should give me WIFI calling when I need it. Thanks though. Between us hopefully we'll have the answer for anyone else in the same boat!
Took me a minute to figure out what to do to see what you saw but I got it. Wow, that was buried in there. Unlocked version, carrier bloat free, U.S., Verizon here. Not sure if it works or not but I got the permissions on now.
fegriffith
Well-Known Member
O.K. I (thanks to this thread) was able to activate the wifi calling, but I tried airplane mode with only wifi on and attempted a call and it told me I was in airplane mode and needed to turn that off. I am using a Best Buy unlocked VZW carrier.
Has anyone on VZW actually successfully made a wifi call? And if so, how do you know for sure it went over wifi? Are you in a zero coverage area? I do not have an area where I don't get some type of signal, but it can be shoddy at best in some places in which case I'd rather force it onto wifi but seems I can't.
Has anyone on VZW actually successfully made a wifi call? And if so, how do you know for sure it went over wifi? Are you in a zero coverage area? I do not have an area where I don't get some type of signal, but it can be shoddy at best in some places in which case I'd rather force it onto wifi but seems I can't.
mboronkay
Lurker
Hi all, i'm a newly convert from iphone and am amazed at the flexibility offered with this phone. Glad I here now. I can attest to other posts about being at the discretion of the carrier for unlocked phones. I am an ATT card from my iphone and while i can see the WiFi calling switch, it is disabled. I called Samsung and was told it is at the discretion of the carrier.
Another annoying difference I found was visual voice mailbox. The visual voice mailbox icon does not appear in the phone app. I called Samsung about that too. They said it is not available with unlocked phones. I eventually found a visual voice mailbox app for ATT, downloaded and installed. It works but is not integrated in the Phone app. Annoying but workable.
Another annoying difference I found was visual voice mailbox. The visual voice mailbox icon does not appear in the phone app. I called Samsung about that too. They said it is not available with unlocked phones. I eventually found a visual voice mailbox app for ATT, downloaded and installed. It works but is not integrated in the Phone app. Annoying but workable.
some carrier branded phones will remove certain features so that is what you are experiencing.
samsung is not at fault in this instance, it's the individual carrier.
samsung is not at fault in this instance, it's the individual carrier.
kokiangel
Android Expert
Just as a point of interest, I have been with Verizon for years and when I bought my Note8 I bought it from Samsung as "carrier free" and then put in my Verizon sim card to activate my phone with them. Wifi calling was a real bear to find! I just switched to T-mobile last week though and wifi calling is now front and center and easy to find again. So I can only conclude that Verizon was making things difficult for BYOD folks.
But how do you enable wifi calling? That app is used to enable it. I can't find a way to open that app or to enable wifi calling.
Docnic07
Lurker
I just switched to T-Mobile from Verizon and still not sure if the dead zones are worth the cost savings and other perks. But I thought you couldn't use the same phone bc they're different types of networks - not that it's locked but that physically the phone can do either CDMA or GSM networks. I'm curious about your experience because I may need to switch back.
To add to this post, my phone is unlocked from BHphoto (reputable large online retailer). I've tried all the tricks in this post and my phone doesn't have the capability (per bixby as someone else had posted). If I had known I would've gone carrier specific. I hope someone else learns from this post!