Quick answer
Wi-Fi calling (VoWiFi) routes your normal calls, on your usual number, through Wi-Fi instead of the mobile tower, so you stay reachable in rooms where signal is weak. Jio, Airtel and BSNL charge nothing extra on an active plan. Vi charges according to your plan and runs the service only in the circles on its website, Madhya Pradesh included. Keep VoLTE on, then switch on Wi-Fi Calling from your Android phone’s SIM or mobile network settings (on Samsung, look in Settings → Connections). iPhone users will find it at Settings → Mobile Data → Wi-Fi Calling, or under Mobile Service on a dual-SIM iPhone.
Thick walls, a flat on the ground floor or an office in the middle of a large building can leave you with one bar and broken calls, even when the Wi-Fi in that same room is fast. Wi-Fi calling is built for exactly this: it sends your regular calls over that broadband line instead.
Indoor call drops don’t bring many people to Mobivault, the phone shop we run in Bhopal, and most of those who do come in already know Wi-Fi calling exists. This guide picks up where that knowledge stops: finding the setting on your phone and getting it to work.
In this article8 topics
Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL: coverage and charges
| Operator | Where it works | Cost | Official page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jio | Across India, on any Wi-Fi network | No additional cost with an active voice plan | Jio Wi-Fi Calling |
| Airtel | All circles except Jammu & Kashmir, using any broadband line or Wi-Fi hotspot | No added cost; each call is billed as a normal call on your plan | Airtel Wi-Fi Calling |
| Vi | Only these circles: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Kolkata, Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra & Goa, Mumbai, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, UP East, UP West and West Bengal. Vi’s own pages don’t fully match, so confirm with Vi if you’re in Andhra Pradesh or Telangana | Billed per your plan: free on unlimited packs, base tariff otherwise | Vi WiFi Calling |
| BSNL | Every telecom circle (nationwide launch announced on 1 January 2026) | Nothing extra | PIB on BSNL VoWiFi |
Since the call runs over Wi-Fi, your mobile data pack stays untouched; Airtel puts a 5-minute call at under 5 MB. You can call any number on any network; whoever you call needs no Wi-Fi calling of their own.
Before you look for the switch
Wi-Fi calling only works when your phone, your operator and your settings all play along. Tick these off first.
- VoLTE is on. Jio, Airtel and Vi each say VoLTE must stay on alongside Wi-Fi Calling. Your phone might label it “HD Voice” or “VoLTE calls”. It’s usually in the menu that holds the 5G setting, so our guide to getting 5G to show up also shows where that menu sits on each brand.
- A working SIM on 4G or 5G. For Airtel that means an Airtel 4G SIM; for Vi, a 5G-ready SIM (every Vi 4G SIM qualifies); for Jio, an active tariff plan. BSNL’s announcement says nothing about SIM type, so ask BSNL if the toggle never appears.
- A compatible handset. Whether yours qualifies depends on the model, its software version and your operator. Jio’s and Vi’s Wi-Fi calling pages both include a phone checker. BSNL publishes no phone list. It asks customers to visit a BSNL customer service centre or call its mobile helpline instead: 1503 from a BSNL number, 1800-180-1503 from other networks.
- The latest software. Update the phone before you start; Airtel and Vi both recommend it. On an iPhone, Apple says a carrier (network provider) settings update can bring support for features like Wi-Fi Calling.
- Wi-Fi that’s actually online. It needn’t be your operator’s. Jio and Vi accept any Wi-Fi network, Airtel works with all broadband providers, and BSNL lists Bharat Fiber or other broadband. Expect worse call quality on a slow or unstable line.
- Airplane mode off. Airtel and Vi say Wi-Fi calling won’t work while it’s on.
Warning: Keep the mobile network for emergencies. According to Jio, you can’t use Wi-Fi calling to reach emergency numbers and location-dependent short codes such as 100, 101, 102, 108 and 112. Apple notes that when a mobile network is available, an iPhone uses it for emergency calls.
Android: where each brand puts the toggle
Connect to Wi-Fi before you start. The toggle normally appears only when both your phone and your operator support the feature. On most brands it sits among the SIM or mobile network options, while Samsung puts it under Connections. On a dual-SIM phone, turn it on for the SIM you call from. Menu labels drift a little from one software version to another.
| Brand | Path | Turn on |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy | Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi Calling | The Wi-Fi Calling toggle (pick SIM 1 or SIM 2 if you have two) |
| Google Pixel | Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → [your operator’s SIM] → Wi-Fi calling | Use Wi-Fi calling, then place a test call |
| vivo, iQOO | Settings → SIM card & mobile network, or Network & internet → SIMs & mobile network → [SIM] | VoWiFi (Make calls using Wi-Fi on some versions) |
| Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO | Settings → SIM cards & mobile networks (called Mobile networks in some HyperOS versions) → [SIM] | Make calls using Wi-Fi |
| OPPO, realme, OnePlus | Settings → Mobile network → [SIM] → Wi-Fi calling | The Wi-Fi calling switch; if you can set a preference, realme suggests choosing Wi-Fi calling preferred |
- Samsung: Samsung India lists a second route through the Phone app: More → Settings → Wi-Fi Calling. On some models you can also flip it from a Quick settings tile.
- Pixel: No Wi-Fi calling entry in that menu? Google says that means your operator doesn’t support it.
- vivo: With some operators, vivo says, the switch comes turned on out of the box. If your menus look different, use the Settings search to find VoWiFi.
- OPPO, realme, OnePlus: On older software the menu may be called Wi-Fi & internet → SIM & network, Dual SIM & mobile network or SIM card & mobile data. Still can’t find it? Search Settings for Wi-Fi calling.
Setting it up on iPhone
On Jio, you need an iPhone 6s or newer. Apple’s India list of network provider features was last updated in February 2026. Jio and Airtel have Wi-Fi Calling on it; Vi doesn’t, and BSNL isn’t listed at all. That’s despite Vi’s own compatibility list running to the iPhone 15 series. On Vi or BSNL, update iOS, install any network provider settings update, and contact your operator if Wi-Fi Calling still doesn’t show.
- Open Settings → Mobile Data. With two SIMs, or a SIM and an eSIM, the menu is called Mobile Service (Apple’s guide also refers to it as Cellular).
- On a dual-SIM iPhone, pick the line you want calling over Wi-Fi (Jio or Airtel, say) from the list further down.
- Go into Wi-Fi Calling and flip the Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone switch.
- Confirm with Enable. If prompted, add or check the address used for emergency services.
Tip: Can’t see Wi-Fi Calling anywhere? Connect to Wi-Fi and open Settings → General → About. If a network provider settings update is waiting, a prompt to install it will appear. You may still see an older path, Settings → Phone → Wi-Fi Calling, on some operator pages; Apple has since moved the switch to the mobile data settings.
How to confirm calls are going over Wi-Fi
- iPhone: Open Control Centre and look at the status bar. Seeing “Wi-Fi” there means Wi-Fi Calling is available, and your calls will use it.
- Pixel: Pull down the notifications during a call; you’ll see “Wi-Fi calling” or “Internet call” if it’s on Wi-Fi.
- Other Android brands: A VoWiFi or Wi-Fi calling icon appears in the status bar; Vi says it shows during a call. Each brand draws it differently.
Then test it where it matters. Stay on Wi-Fi, go to the spot at home with the worst signal and call someone. If the Wi-Fi drops mid-call, the call carries on over VoLTE without a gap, according to Airtel; if VoLTE is switched off, the call is lost. BSNL also says its calls switch smoothly from Wi-Fi to the mobile network and back.
Fixes, sorted by symptom
From the Mobivault counter: When customers tell us they can’t see a Wi-Fi Calling option, VoLTE turned off on that SIM is usually the reason. Switch VoLTE on and the option comes back, which is why the first list starts with it.
There’s no Wi-Fi Calling option at all
- Turn on VoLTE for that SIM. Once Wi-Fi Calling reappears, switch it off and on once.
- Check that your circle is covered. Airtel covers every circle except Jammu & Kashmir, and Vi only the circles in the table above.
- Update the software. iPhone owners should also open Settings → General → About, which brings up any waiting network provider settings update.
- Ask your operator. They can confirm whether the service is switched on for your number and your handset. On BSNL, the helpline is 1503 from a BSNL phone or 1800-180-1503 from other networks.
It’s switched on, but calls still fail
- Restart the phone. According to Google, a phone that spots trouble with Wi-Fi calling switches the feature off until the trouble clears. Restarting, or ringing your operator, can be what it takes to get it back.
- Rule out the Wi-Fi. Open a website to confirm the connection works, switch the router off at the plug and back on, or join another network. Apple warns that Wi-Fi Calling isn’t compatible with every Wi-Fi network.
- Make sure airplane mode is off. Airtel and Vi both say the feature stops working while it’s on.
- Reset network settings, and only as a last resort. On a Pixel, go to Settings → System → Reset options → Reset mobile network settings. On a Xiaomi, use Settings → Connection & sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks, and Bluetooth. On an iPhone, it’s Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset Network Settings, which also deletes saved Wi-Fi networks and their passwords, so note yours down first.
Still stuck after both lists? Your operator can confirm whether the service is live for your number and phone.
From the Mobivault counter: Thinking of buying a new phone because signal is weak at home or at work? First check whether your current phone can do Wi-Fi calling on your network. We check exactly this for customers in that situation before we suggest any upgrade.
Wi-Fi calling questions, answered
Does the person I’m calling need Wi-Fi calling too?
No. Airtel and Vi both say you can call any number on any network, and the other phone doesn’t have to support Wi-Fi calling.
Must my Wi-Fi come from my mobile operator?
Usually not. Here’s what each operator says: Jio, any Wi-Fi network; Airtel, all broadband providers and Wi-Fi hotspots; Vi, any Wi-Fi; BSNL, Bharat Fiber or other broadband. One caution from Apple: some Wi-Fi networks don’t work with Wi-Fi Calling, so if your calls keep failing, try another network. A steady connection also gives clearer audio.
Will it work with zero signal bars?
Usually, yes; that’s the situation it was built for. Apple pitches Wi-Fi Calling at spots where mobile coverage is weak or missing, and Vi says signal strength barely matters since the call goes over Wi-Fi. Two catches: your operator’s SIM must still be active, and Google says Wi-Fi calling with no mobile service at all works only on some operators. Test it at home before relying on it.
Will SMS and OTPs reach me over Wi-Fi?
Airtel and BSNL say texts are covered. Airtel states that SMS and MMS work over its Wi-Fi calling, not just calls, and BSNL says its service carries calls and messages alike. The Jio and Vi pages on Wi-Fi calling don’t mention SMS at all. If codes still aren’t arriving, work through our OTP troubleshooting guide.
Do Wi-Fi calls cost extra?
Not on Jio, Airtel or BSNL: each says there’s no extra charge, and Airtel charges a Wi-Fi call the same as a normal call on your plan. On Vi, these calls are charged according to your tariff plan, which means free on an unlimited plan. Your Wi-Fi supplies the data, so your mobile pack isn’t touched.
PhoneSahi verdict
If calls break up indoors but your Wi-Fi is solid, try Wi-Fi calling before anything else, including a new phone; on Jio, Airtel and BSNL it costs nothing extra. Keep VoLTE on, check that your circle and handset are covered, and test it from your weakest corner. Just don’t treat it as your emergency line.
Where these facts come from
- Jio: how Wi-Fi Calling works, with FAQs and a phone compatibility check
- Jio Help: extra requirements for Wi-Fi Calling on an iPhone
- Airtel: Wi-Fi Calling main page
- Airtel: Wi-Fi Calling FAQs
- Vi: WiFi Calling circles, charges and compatible phones
- PIB: BSNL takes VoWiFi to every circle (1 January 2026)
- Apple Support: using Wi-Fi Calling to make calls
- Apple Support: India and Middle East carrier features for iPhone
- Apple Support: installing carrier settings updates on iPhone
- Apple Support: fixing Wi-Fi problems, including how to reset network settings
- Phone by Google Help: making calls over Wi-Fi
- Pixel Help: troubleshooting mobile network problems
- Samsung India: turning on Wi-Fi Calling on a Galaxy phone
- Samsung US: Wi-Fi Calling on Galaxy devices
- Xiaomi Support: fixing VoWi-Fi and Wi-Fi calling (written around the Xiaomi 13)
- vivo Support: how to switch on VoWiFi
- realme India Support: setting up VoWiFi
