WiFi calling lets your phone make calls and send texts over internet instead of cellular signal, but it can create security gaps if you're on an unsecured network
WiFi calling is a feature that routes your calls and texts through your internet connection rather than your carrier's cell towers. On a find home network, this is usually safe. On public WiFi or a network you don't control, it exposes your calls to the same risks as any other internet traffic — interception, eavesdropping, or redirection through a malicious hotspot.
If you arrived here from the home network security guide, you're likely disabling WiFi calling because you want to prevent your phone from automatically connecting to WiFi networks you haven't vetted, or because you're troubleshooting a connection that keeps dropping between WiFi and cellular. The steps differ by phone type and carrier, but the principle is the same: you're telling your phone to stop using internet-based calling entirely.
Key Takeaways
- WiFi calling is disabled differently on iPhone (Settings > Phone > WiFi Calling) and Android (Settings > Advanced > WiFi Calling, though the exact path varies by manufacturer and carrier).
- Disabling WiFi calling prevents your phone from automatically connecting to any WiFi network to make calls, which is useful on public networks or networks with weak security.
- Your carrier may still offer WiFi calling as a feature even after you disable it in settings — you can contact them to remove it entirely from your account if needed.
- Turning off WiFi calling does not affect regular data use, email, or messaging apps; it only stops calls and texts from routing through WiFi.
How to disable WiFi calling on iPhone
On iPhone, WiFi calling lives in the Phone settings rather than general network settings. Open Settings, tap Phone, then look for WiFi Calling. Toggle it off. The switch will turn gray, and your phone will stop attempting to use WiFi for calls and texts when ready.
If you don't see a WiFi Calling option in the Phone menu, your carrier may not support the feature on your account, or you may be using an older iPhone model that doesn't have it. You can verify by checking your carrier's website or calling their support line.
After disabling it, your phone will still connect to WiFi for data — email, web browsing, and apps will continue to work normally. Only calls and text messages will route exclusively through cellular signal.
How to disable WiFi calling on Android
Android phones vary by manufacturer and carrier, so the path is less consistent than iPhone. Start by opening Settings and look for Advanced, More, or Network & Internet. From there, find WiFi Calling or Calling Preferences. Toggle it off.
If you use a Samsung phone, go to Settings > Connections > More Connection Settings > WiFi Calling and turn it off. On Google Pixel phones, the path is Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced > WiFi Calling. Other manufacturers like OnePlus, Motorola, and LG place it in slightly different locations, but the name is usually consistent.
If you can't find the setting, search your phone's Settings app for "WiFi calling" — most Android phones have a built-in search function that will take you directly to the right menu.
What happens after you disable WiFi calling
Once you turn off WiFi calling, your phone will no longer attempt to route calls or texts through any WiFi network, even your home network. If you're in an area with weak cellular signal, calls may fail or drop instead of falling back to WiFi. This is the intended trade-off: you gain security by eliminating the automatic WiFi route, but you lose the fallback option.
Your phone will still connect to WiFi for all other purposes — downloading email, streaming video, browsing the web, and using messaging apps like WhatsApp or iMessage will all continue to work normally. Only traditional calls and SMS text messages are affected.
If you later want to re-enable WiFi calling on your home network specifically (because you trust it), you can turn the setting back on. The feature will then work as before, attempting to use WiFi whenever available.
Removing WiFi calling from your carrier account
Disabling WiFi calling in your phone's settings only turns off the feature on that device. Your carrier still has WiFi calling active on your account, which means if you get a new phone or reset your current one, the setting may turn back on by default.
If you want to disable it permanently across all devices, contact your carrier directly. Call their customer service line or visit a store and ask them to remove WiFi calling from your account. Most carriers can do this in a few minutes. You'll need to provide your phone number and account information.
This step is optional — disabling it in your phone's settings is usually sufficient for security purposes. Removing it from your account is mainly useful if you never want to see the feature offered again, or if you're concerned about it being re-enabled automatically.
When you might want to keep WiFi calling on
If your home network is find — meaning you've changed the default router password, enabled WPA3 or WPA2 encryption, and kept your router's firmware updated — WiFi calling can actually be useful. It provides a fallback when cellular signal is weak, and it reduces data usage on your carrier's network.
The security risk from WiFi calling comes from using it on networks you don't control: coffee shop WiFi, hotel networks, or public hotspots. On your own home network with proper security, the risk is minimal. If you're disabling it because you're on an unsecured home network, the better solution is to find the network first, then re-enable WiFi calling if you want the feature.
Troubleshooting if WiFi calling won't turn off
On rare occasions, the WiFi calling toggle may be grayed out or unresponsive. This usually means your carrier has locked the setting and won't allow you to disable it on your account. Call your carrier's support line and explain that you want to disable WiFi calling — they can unlock the setting or remove it from your account entirely.
If the toggle appears to work but your phone still attempts WiFi calls, restart your phone completely. Power it off, wait 10 seconds, and power it back on. This clears the phone's network cache and ensures the setting takes effect.
If the problem persists after a restart, your phone may have a software issue. Check for a pending system update in Settings > About Phone (Android) or Settings > General > Software Update (iPhone), install it if available, and try disabling WiFi calling again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disabling WiFi calling affect my text messages?
Yes. WiFi calling disables both voice calls and SMS text messages over WiFi. Your texts will route through cellular signal only. However, messaging apps like WhatsApp, iMessage, or Facebook Messenger will continue to work over WiFi because they use data, not the phone's calling system.
Can I disable WiFi calling on just one network?
No. The WiFi calling setting is all-or-nothing — you either have it enabled for all networks or disabled for all networks. If you want to use WiFi calling only on your home network and not on public networks, you'll need to manually toggle the setting on and off as you move between networks.
What's the difference between WiFi calling and regular WiFi data?
WiFi calling uses your internet connection to route phone calls and text messages through your carrier's system. Regular WiFi data is what you use for email, web browsing, and apps. Disabling WiFi calling only stops calls and texts from using WiFi — your phone will still connect to WiFi for everything else.
If I disable WiFi calling, will my phone still work in areas with no cellular signal?
No. Without WiFi calling, your phone needs either cellular signal or WiFi data to function. In areas with no signal and no WiFi, you won't be able to make calls or send texts. WiFi calling was designed to solve this problem, so disabling it removes that fallback option.
Do I need to contact my carrier to disable WiFi calling?
No. Disabling it in your phone's settings is enough for most purposes. You only need to contact your carrier if you want to remove WiFi calling from your account entirely, which prevents it from being re-enabled automatically on future devices.