Boost Wi-Fi Calling Preferences Availability on Different Android Phones

Lkeesinau on 29/12/2024 - 17:13

Hello Ozbargain,

I am having an issue on my Google Pixel phones with WiFi calling using my Boost eSIM. The WiFi calling option is available, and I know it does work, but only when I am totally outside of any network coverage and have (for example) WiFi coverage using my Starlink.

Now there is usually an option when using WiFi calling to set the network connections preference. You can then set it to prefer WiFi network above Mobile network. That way the WiFi calling is used before it tries to use the mobile network. That is useful if you are in a spot with very low reception for example, but most importantly it is a "must" in my view when roaming overseas.

Now my two Pixel Phones are both not giving me that option to select the WiFi calling preferences screen, so they are stuck on "Mobile network first".

I also read reports here that some people do get this option on other Android phones.

So I am looking for a list of phones that support this option under Android (iPhones have better support for this I understood).

If you have the preference option on your phone than please list the model, type and Android version. Ideally also the "Carrier settings version" that you can see in the SIM menu for your Boost SIM.

For example on my Google Pixel 8 with Android 15 it is:

Carrier settings version
telstra au-62000000016.13
2024-08-15

Mobile

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Boost Mobile
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Comments

  • md333 on 29/12/2024 - 17:33

    I have a Pixel 9 Pro.
    For the amaysim sim, it lets me choose calling preference (Wifi first or SIM first).
    For the Boost SIM it only allows wifi calling to be turned on or off.

    Not an issue overseas for me as I just don't buy a roaming pack. Can't say I've ever got a wifi call to work overseas though.

    • keesinau on 29/12/2024 - 17:57
      -1

      Thx .. can you share your Carrier Settings Version on your Pixel 9 Pro?

      WiFi calling overseas doesn't work because the preference can not be changed on your phone from the default "Use Mobile network" setting. And even without a Roaming Pack the Boost SIM still allows a connection to roaming networks. So the phone thinks there is a mobile network connection available and will not switch to WiFi calling.

      • md333 on 29/12/2024 - 18:02

        operator settings telstra_au-620000000007.10 give or take a few zeroes 2024-08-09

    • bargaino on 29/12/2024 - 18:19

      Same problem with Woolworths/Everyday, so I assume all Telstra resellers. No preference setting, just on/off.
      But at least it works overseas!

      • keesinau on 29/12/2024 - 18:24

        Where did it work overseas? And how did you get it to work?

        And maybe you can also share your phone details?

        • bargaino on 29/12/2024 - 18:27

          On second thoughts, I had a Samsung S-series then, worked well with Everyday Mobile (Telstra), VoWifi incl 2nd SIM.

          Have not tried the Pixel overseas. Now you have me worried it won't work.

          Pixel 8a
          Operator settings version
          telstra_au-62000000012.10
          2024-08-15

          • keesinau on 29/12/2024 - 18:49

            @bargaino: Do you still have the details of that Samsung? And could change those preferences?

            • bargaino on 29/12/2024 - 21:29

              @keesinau: No, sold it. I believe it had a setting to prefer VoLTE vs VoWifi.

  • WoodYouLikeSomeCash on 29/12/2024 - 18:34
    -3

    That’s why iPhones are better.

  • keesinau on 29/12/2024 - 19:04

    Just to clarify .. I am looking for any Android phone with Boost WiFi calling. So Samsung, OnePlus, Oppo, Huawei, LG and other Android phones are very welcome to share their details also.

  • Charlsie on 29/12/2024 - 20:29

    I had numerous frustrating phone calls with boost and Telstra about this issue a while back.

    They do have phones that they allow you to preference wifi calling. I believe Samsung is one although I don't know if that's with all models. Motorola is not, nor is pixel.

    You can preference wifi calling with Optus in pixels and I think Vodafone although I'm not 100% sure there.

    I couldn't seem to figure out if it's a google issue or a Telstra issue. I went around in circles with each blaming the other.

    • keesinau on 29/12/2024 - 21:06

      And with what phone was that? If we collect enough information we might have a better position to get this fixed by them.

      • Charlsie on 07/01/2025 - 22:24

        Sorry just saw this. Pixel 8 pro. Also had issues with a pixel 7 pro that were the same.

        • keesinau on 07/01/2025 - 22:26

          Thx .. no worries about the response time .. I hope you had a good start of the new year.

          • Charlsie on 07/01/2025 - 22:27

            @keesinau: No problem! It's been hectic but hopefully upwards from here on in! Hope yours was good too :)

  • redforever on 30/12/2024 - 07:54

    I have a samsung s21+ with boost. I was able to use wifi calling when i was overseas earlier this year. I also have the option to prefer wifi over mobile network.

    • keesinau on 30/12/2024 - 08:19

      Thx @redforever .. what Carrier Settings Version are you running? And which Android version?

  • redforever on 30/12/2024 - 09:08

    I am running Android 14 but I am not sure how to find the carrier settings version on it.

    • keesinau on 30/12/2024 - 18:26

      You should be able to see that under the SIM menu.

  • TurboTortoise on 30/12/2024 - 15:25

    Have a pixel 7 on boost mobile. I also never got wifi calling to work overseas. No option to preference wifi calling. Very frustrating. Would be good to find a way for it to work.

  • mooseca on 30/12/2024 - 21:22

    This is what mine looks like. I'm on Boost with Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro.

    https://imgur.com/a/08698bW

    • keesinau on 30/12/2024 - 21:43

      Thx @mooseca. And can you change the network preferences to prefer WiFi over Mobile Network?

      • mooseca on 30/12/2024 - 21:45

        Yeah I had it on that before and it was always wifi calls when available. Even now it tends to choose wifi calls over mobile when I'm at home.

  • lgacb08 on 08/01/2025 - 13:31

    Just ditch pixel and go with galaxy, Pixel wifi calling is dud and it's a known problem for ages, particularly for those using Telstra overseas to avoid paying roaming fee. On Samsung Galaxy it has option to prefer wifi calling or mobile network and it is very reliable, I can attest that on my s22 with Woolworths mobile, and same thing when I was on boost when wifi calling was hardly a thing. Android version or network settings is meaningless nowadays. As soon as you're on wifi and wifi calling preferred, vowifi icon will show up. The same menu option even exist on my dead old S8 right now.

    • keesinau on 08/01/2025 - 18:47

      Thx for the confirmation that Wifi calling preferences are available and working on a S22.
      That they are not working properly on Pixels is not a issue with the phone, but an issue with the setup at Telstra. The exact same Pixel phones are known to work perfectly well with WiFi calling on other networks.

      • lgacb08 on 08/01/2025 - 21:07

        Mate, don't blame Telstra for that, blame Google for their incompetence, the pixel is a dud and behave oddly against all other phones on many front, they're literally useless in terms of wifi calling feature. Both other carriers won't give you vowifi when roaming so not sure what your point is.

        • redactedusername on 09/01/2025 - 17:16
          +1

          @lgacb08 What are you talking about? I have both Boost (Telstra) and Optus SIMs in my phone, and the Optus SIM provides VoWiFi selections by default in their carrier settings file. It's Telstra's idiotic carrier settings file that restricts the manual selection of VoWiFi, I have overridden their dumb restriction on my Pixel 9 Pro Fold using Pixel IMS. It's been working flawlessly ever since, if I leave it in my phone and grab a roaming SIM when I am overseas it even does WiFi calling via the mobile data connection of the other SIM using Backup Calling.

          https://imgur.com/a/4skNeXW

          • lgacb08 on 12/01/2025 - 08:07
            -1

            @redactedusername: Mate, iphone and galaxy have evolved to a point users don't have to tinkle with those gsm arena antics. There is hardly any need for those carrier settings nowadays anymore and they just work, in fact you don't need them and can't find them. Just like the day you have to go into your phone and change apn settings in your your old forgotten Nokia to get to the internet (you probably don't know those 2 terms either).
            For a flagship phone that can't do such function then you should ditch them because plenty can do better, even my spare 4 year old iPhone can do better. It's just not worth hanging onto it or blame carrier for that.

  • DogGunn on 09/01/2025 - 17:20

    The way I got Wifi calling whilst overseas to work on a Pixel 8 via Boost/Telstra is to do this:
    1. Try and manually connect to a phone network that is disallowed (i.e. in USA, I could not connect to T-Mobile, but could to AT&T And Verizon, so I selected T-Mobile).
    2. Connect to Wifi
    3. It will eventually say Boost/Telstra
    4. It will allow you to call via VoWiFi from overseas. You cannot call local numbers, as it will give you a voice message saying that calling via Wifi whilst in another country only allows you to call Australian phone numbers.

    It's also very silly that Telstra has restricted it on Pixel.

    • keesinau on 10/01/2025 - 16:57

      That works if there is such a network. Here in .nl all three networks have a roaming agreement with Telstra.

  • TurboTortoise on 11/01/2025 - 02:06

    This time i got my pixel 7 working on wifi calling on boost by turning off roaming on boost sim, keeping roaming on for esim and setting calls to ask every time which sim to use. Wifi calling works boyh incoming and outgoing for aust numbers.

  • konutoru on 12/01/2025 - 00:03

    The S23 Ultra, Pixel 8, Pixel 9, Zenfone 10, iPhone 15 PM, Motorola Edge 50 Neo, and iPhone 16 Pro all have VoWiFi overseas (connected to WiFi) on Boost Mobile.

    • keesinau on 12/01/2025 - 22:19

      In what configuration did you get VoWiFi on those Android phones?

      • konutoru on 13/01/2025 - 01:15

        No idea, just work out of the box like that for me.

        Edit: I remembered setting up my preference VoWiFi as primary connection, before it goes to VoLTE but I can’t remember on top of my head which phones were that.

        • keesinau on 13/01/2025 - 08:30

          Do you still have access to these phones? Would be great if you can check which one can set preferences and which one don't.

          • konutoru on 13/01/2025 - 09:08

            @keesinau: I only have the iPhone 16 Pro now. I faintly remembered doing that for the Pixel 9, Asus Zenfone 10, and the Moto Edge 50 Neo given that the Pixels, Zenfone, and Moto are based on the Google vanilla Android skin.

            • keesinau on 14/01/2025 - 09:12

              @konutoru: Based on other reports the Pixel 9 only allows you to enable VoWiFi but not set any preference. You would need to use additional apps that would require root access to be able to set the preferences.
              On iPhones its a totally different situation.

              • konutoru on 14/01/2025 - 15:21

                @keesinau: In Pixel or vanilla Android, I thought it was:

                Settings —> Network & Internet —> SIMs —> Select your SIM —> Preferred network type —> WiFi or 5G.

                If you select WiFi, VoWiFi will be the main setting before going to VoLTE?

                Edit: I'm just clarifying that I don't have these phones, so I can't test it anymore but I'm quite certain there's an option to prioritise WiFi before cellular.

              • redactedusername on 22/01/2025 - 10:21

                @keesinau: Can confirm that Pixel IMS does not require root, it just requires that Shizuku be installed and wireless debugging be turned on when Shizuku is first started (persists until next device reboot).

                • keesinau on 22/01/2025 - 20:06

                  @redactedusername: Yes ..the Pixel IMS application doesn't need root because it has been designed to use Shizuku as the intermediate. And Shizuku requires Root or ADB rights to work as that intermediate. And both requires the user to side load them.
                  So it might be a solution for knowledgeable users that understand the potential risks involved, but not something for everyone to use as a workaround.

                  And in my case it doesn't help because the Pixel 5 is not supported by Pixel IMS.

  • md333 on 22/01/2025 - 12:44

    Currently in Singapore with Pixel 9 pro on boost. Surprised to find that outgoing messages (RCS) is working over wifi. Calls are not.

    • keesinau on 22/01/2025 - 20:03

      Maybe it's good to raise that issue with Boost about your WiFi calling not working (while not in Airplane Mode) because of the missing WiFi calling preferences.

      Can you check if you are able to use WiFi calling when in Airplane Mode? I have found that it requires the WiFi to be turned off and on again in Airplane Mode to trigger the phone to establish a WiFi calling connection.

      RCS is working because its a IP based protocol so it will always work via WiFi. SMS will probably only work while receiving them …not sending them when connected to WiFi calling in Airplane Mode.

      • md333 on 23/01/2025 - 14:35

        I tried airplane mode and just get a message saying I need to turn off airplane mode or connect to wireless network (I was on wireless). Not really interested in complaining as I don't expect it to work and don't need it. Just curious whether it does work.

        • keesinau on 23/01/2025 - 20:51

          It requires some time to establish the connection in Airplane Mode. I found that after enabling Airplane Mode you need to disable WiFi and then enable it again to force the establishment of the connection. It might take a couple of minutes to work, and you might need to try a couple of times unfortunately.

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