iOS 17 update WiFi calling not working?

Hey Reenie618,

It looks like you're coming from the article: Make a call with Wi-Fi Calling - Apple Support

"If Wi-Fi Calling isn't working

If you can't turn on or use Wi-Fi Calling, make sure that your carrier offers Wi-Fi Calling and that your devices have the latest software.

If you're unable to turn on or use Wi-Fi Calling, your device software is up to date, and your carrier supports Wi-Fi Calling, contact your carrier.

If you contacted your carrier and can't turn on Wi-Fi Calling or make a Wi-Fi call, follow these steps. Wait two minutes before you go from one step to the next.

1. Go to Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling and make sure that Wi-Fi Calling is on.
2. Restart your iPhone.
3. Connect to a different Wi-Fi network. Not all Wi-Fi networks work with Wi-Fi Calling.
4. Turn Wi-Fi Calling off and then on again.
5. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.
6. Tap Reset Network Settings."

Those would be the best steps to take to attempt to resolve the issue.

If the problem continues after that, we'd recommend contacting Apple Support for further assistance here: Get Support

Thanks!

I encourage everyone with this issue to please reach out to Apple Support (can do over iMessage); posting here is useful for end users, but it will get more notice if official support cases are opened. Don't let them shunt you to Verizon, who will spout BS and try to upsell you to a newer more expensive plan.

My case was escalated, but has stalled bc the tech is convinced it has to be Verizon signal-strength issue bc it's happening on more than one of my phones...but not all. As most of us have seen here, this is clearly not the end of the story...it's happening on lots of phones, and the issue is how iOS deals with that weak signal strength, and the buggy fail-over to WiFi calling we are all running into.

I've also had issues with the WiFi Calling. I have a new iphone 14 with the 17.5.1 IOS. When I tried to make an outgoing call, it showed "Calling mobile...", but couldn't hear anything over my phone. I went to my Cellcom carrier and they told me to turn Airplane mode off and back on. I was able to make an outgoing call there. But then later that day, same problem. Incoming calls were going directly to voicemail. So I tried different options with the Wi-Fi Calling and my home WiFi. Had my husband call me and vice versa. Here is what worked and didn't:

Outgoing Calling:

1. WiFi Calling Enabled; Frontier WiFi Connected: Calling out heard over phone. Recipient answered.
2. WiFi Calling Off; Frontier WiFI Connected: Calling is silent. Recipient not getting call. My phone showed: "Calling mobile...."
3. WiFi Calling Turned Off; Frontier WiFi turned off: Call answered by recipient. Calling out was heard over my phone.
4. WiFi Calling Not Enabled; Frontier WiFi turned off: Call answered by recipient. Calling out heard.

Incoming Calls:

1. WiFi Calling Not Enabled; Frontier WiFi On: Caller's call went into voicemail.
2. WiFi Calling Enabled; Frontier WiFi Off: Caller's call went into voicemail.

When both WiFi Calling and Frontier WiFi were both enabled, Incoming call was able to be answered.

When I Enabled the WiFi Calling and Frontier WiFi was toggled "on", I stepped outside and walked out of range of my home Wi-Fi and incoming calls worked fine. When I left WiFi Calling enabled and turned the home WiFi off, even though I was still out of range, the incoming call worked.

So my conclusion with my issue was to leave both WiFi Calling and the home WiFi turned on. It's like the two programs clash. They BOTH have to be turned ON, or both OFF.

Similar problem but with Consumer Cellular and Fidium, iPhone Xr, 17.4.1.

I've been using Wi-Fi calling for almost 3 years for work, never had a problem. As soon as this update was installed I had the same problem with calls not coming through and going to voicemail instantly. Also when I tried to make calls they would fail with a message that phone isn't connected to wifi (yet email works, browsers, etc, and the wifi symbol was there with all bars.) The temporary solution I found was to reboot the phone. It works like a champ every time. Then after some number of hours Wi-Fi calling stops working so I reboot again. I turned off auto upgrades,

[Edited by Moderator]

Original post removed because I dared use the b**a word even though that had nothing to do with the post.

——

I believe the problem is in the Xfinity routers. At home on my own modem and router on Xfinity Internet have no issues and have never had any including currently my iPhone 15 pro on “current” iOS versions with At&T. Other people in my home with Xfinity Mobile also have no issues. 

However at my Dads house ever since he “upgraded” to the Xfinity White tower modem/router WiFi Calling won’t activate on any phone (iPhone 13, 11 Pro or my 15 Pro). With WiFi calling on in iOS no incoming or outgoing works and no WiFi calling label appears and also some Internet traffic fails as well with 2 bars of cellular. This is on a combination of AT&T, Consumer Cellular (AT&T) and Verizon.

Formerly when he had older network hardware it worked. 

So I’m pretty sure Comcast has screwed up the routing settings on this hardware. Of course they will do

nothing. 

That’s where I’m at now—staying in Airplane Mode forces the call to WiFi. Clearly something in iOS or carrier settings that fails to properly flip from one to the other when cell service is not 100%

my apple senior tech has asked me for time stamps so I they can review analytics

Hello Reenie, One more thing to check on your Wi-Fi calling that may help. In Settings > Cellular > Scroll down to Wi-Fi Assist and slide ON. This Setting will ONLY be AVAILABLE if your Cellular Data is Turned on along with your Wi-Fi Calling. If your Cellular Data is Turned Off this option will be DIMMED OUT. Also you can also do a Restart (Power Down wait a minute and Power UP) on your Home Wi-Fi Router to see if that will clear up any Wi-Fi issue.

The solution I found that worked was very exhausting but do able. I have a iPhone 14 pro US Version that only takes a ESIM's. When I switched from Verizon to Google FI , there were multiple issues trying to use my number and Wi-Fi calling. The Wi-Fi calling option was not available and my phone could not dial out to numbers. After Weeks of exhausting conversations with Google FI , I have found it is Apple issue. Even after updating to iOS 17.5.1, I was still having the same issues. You need to delete all ESIM's from your phone and sign out of your Apple ID on All devices. Also you need to do a factory reset on your phone. Make sure your recovery phone number and recovery key are handy. If you can't use your number ask Friend or family member to use their number to verify the code. Make sure you change your Apple ID password and Setup your iPhone again. By doing these steps and signing back in not only was I able to get my Wi-Fi Calling working but my Google Fi started working. Essentially you are starting from scratch. It took my phone two factory resets to get results unfortunately. Hope this helps.

I have a number of users that are having this problem since the 17.5 iOS upgrade. We have had to switch off Wi-Fi Calling to be able to hear and talk on calls.

Hello Reenie618, See the last paragraph on this Apple Support Page; If Wi-Fi Calling isn’t working.

Make a call with Wi-Fi Calling - Apple Support

Same issue here. On IOS 17.2.1 both my 11 Pro Max and my Sister’s 14 Pro have been unable to reliably receive calls or SMS when on wifi with 1-2 bars of signal. We have Xfinity cable internet at 800+mbps down and 100+mbps up and Verizon is our cellular carrier. Oddly our phones still show VZW WIFI as the carrier when connected to our home network and wifi calling is turned on, but still no calls or texts come through. If we turn WiFi calling off or disconnect from our home wifi the issue goes away. We’ve followed all of the suggested steps to resolve this issue with no success. This was not an issue for either of us before upgrading to IOS 17. Seems to be either an issue with IOS 17 or Verizon’s compatibility with updates made to wifi calling in IOS 17

I've had this same issue for over a year.

Verizon 5G plan; 2 iPhone 11's that are still on LTE. Wife's iPhone 14 runs on 5G and doesn't have this issue.

Coverage in my middle-of-nowhere house is typically 1-2 bars and varies depending on the room I'm in.

But even in nearby major areas with 4 bars, Home Screen will show zero bars until I toggle Airplane Mode.

Cellular data & Wifi data are both unaffected, but when the "zero bars" bug strikes, no voice calls or SMS in or out AND Wi-Fi calling breaks too! I toggle Airplane Mode on/off, which resets the connection.

I'm convinced it's an iOS bug, since it's gotten slightly better with iOS 17--I used to have to do a full restart each time.

And, I can get Wi-Fi calls to ring on my other Apple devices if I enable that option.

Escalated to a senior Apple tech today after many useless rounds of "Reset Network Settings" and "Reset All Settings" (the latter is more of a PITA to reconstruct than they let on, avoid if you can). They punted back to Verizon since it's happening on more than one phone.

Verizon, which wasn't much help; ran some cursory network tests, and suggested turning on "Prefer Wi-Fi When Roaming" even though that supposedly only applies to international roaming... The tech said "something something access to more towers". I've been getting arm-twisted toward a more expensive plan that somehow boosts my priority access to the cellular network.

I'm having a similar problem since updating to iOS17. I have an iPhone 11 Pro, Xfinity Mobile is my wireless carrier. I have poor cellular coverage at home and outstanding WiFi. Wifi calling is turned on, however, I check it throughout the day and it is intermittent. Sometimes it says "Xfinity Mobile" (no Wifi calling) in the control panel and sometimes it says "XM Wifi" (Wifi calling is engaged). When I have zero cellular bars on my phone, as is often the case, the control panel always seems to show "Xfinity Mobile" (no Wifi calling). When that happens I cannot send or receive a phone call unless I turn on Airplane Mode. When I turn on Airplane mode I can use Wifi calling but I need to remember to turn it on when I come home and turn it off when I leave the house. When Im working from home the caller thinks Im not here. I have spent hours on the phone with Apple and Xfinity Mobile, they blame each other. I may have to get a landline or a try a different carrier, one that has better coverage in my home. It's very frustrating. This seems to be a common problem so I don't understand why Apple doesn't work with the carriers to resolve it.

I haved a 15 pro, currently AT&T and have xfinity wifi. I've been having this issue since the 17 update. I have changed providers. Started with Verizon, then AT&T then T-mobile (i still have this on an on XS with a completely different phone number). I've had 3 different Iphones and two different phone numbers and same issues. Nothing will fix this. It has to be an iOS issue. Apple keeps telling me to reset to factory settings without signing into icloud, and "see if the issue still persists". They don't seem to understand i dont always know if the issue is happening as i dont get missed call notifications and not everyone will text or leave a message to let me know. This is infuruating.

Having the same issue. I rely on wifi for calls and text where I live and after the 17.4.1 update my wifi calling stopped working. Spent 3 hours with apple support and t mobile support and they can’t fix it. Also can’t update my carrier settings after the new iOS update as well. NOw I have no phone where I live until issue is resolved. The 5th and final tech person I spoke with today from t mobile finally told me apple is aware of the issue after the newest iOS update came out this April because so many people were having problems with it. But it’s already been 10 days and no fix and it sounds like these problems have been going on for much longer from what I’ve been reading.

FIX IT APPLE!