How to force wifi calling to connect?

Re: Airplane mode should work …

… IF you go back into Settings to turn your WiFi back on.

(Airplane Mode initially defaults to WiFi “off” … but turning it back “on” remains “sticky” going forward)

Try only making calls via FaceTime or FaceTime Audio (I'm assuming you'd probably want to use FaceTime Audio for regular phone calls). If you make direct phone calls with just your phone app, this usually overrides WiFi and uses cellular towers.

agoraphonics wrote:

Alancito wrote: "...original battery?

And what's the Maximum Capacity % here?...

Yes, 80%

Apple considers 80% to be the level at which a battery should be replaced. So the weak, aging battery may be the reason for the Wi-Fi calling problems. Have the battery replaced and see if Wi-Fi calling improves:

iPhone Battery & Power Repair

About genuine iPhone batteries

Repair Provider Verification

(Articles found by searching Apple's Knowledge Base.)

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Have you tried contacting your carrier asking them why you can't keep a solid connection? Since they claim they support wifi calling they should be able to provide some assistance.

Some new and clearer information I’ve learned from a carrier:

WiFi calling on a PHONE works differently than on any other device. On a phone, WiFi does nothing but ASSISTS with calls that have low/poor cellular quality. So if a cellular call is placed (phones use this as their main source), WiFi kicks in to aid with already existing cellular connection, but does not and cannot override it.

If one places a data-call on any device, including a computer or tablet (using FaceTime or a communication app— Line2, WhatsApp), then WiFi can be “forced” as the primary connection.

I’d tend to agree that it’s not “universal.”

While I have zero reason to doubt that SixFour391 was told that by a carrier rep; and it may indeed be accurate on THAT carrier’s system (MVNO possibly ?) …

… I routinely make T-Mo WiFi calls with cellular “off” - including in geographically remote locations where a mobile network does not even exist - and have done so for nearly 2 decades.

Plus, professional colleagues routinely do the same w/ their own Verizon WiFi calling.

See example image below:

Maybe try turning off Cellular on your phone when you make calls. This will restrict all incoming data to Wi-Fi only.

Settings

Cellular

Cellular Data—> OFF

agoraphonics ~ What model of iPhone is it?...

Settings > General > About > Model Name

And what version of iOS is it running?...

Settings > General > About > Software Version

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Ok. So this is what I thought, but it seemed like you might have been describing something else.

WiFi calling only refers to making calls with other Apple devices.

So if WiFi calling is enabled on all your devices, starting with your iPhone, you’ll be able to make calls to non-Apple devices with iPads and Macs. You must use FaceTime Audio on your iPad or Mac to make these WiFi calls, but it will use your Cellular account, not your current cellular connection, to make those calls.

Unless you make calls through an App like WhatsApp, where all communication can be through DATA usage.

But using your iPhone to make normal calls to Android devices, must result in you using a cellular connection.