Wifi calling won't work without cell reception?

[QmB]

I was told by a chat assistant (after they checked with someone to be sure) that WiFi calling only works if you have cell reception. Is this actually true?

The reason I want WiFi calling is because I don't have cell reception where I live. 

When I had Rebublic cell service, WiFi calling worked even without cell reception.

[Moxie]

WIFI Calling will not work if you have No (zero) Service.  

[rjniles]

"WIFI Calling will not work if you have No (zero) Service. "

Totally false. I have no over the air cell signal and my Visible WIFI calling works flawlessly.

[Jwhood31]

WiFi calling is supposed to work even without cell service. When I had T-Mobile and lived in goodspring Tennessee I had 0 coverage but my WiFi calling still worked and at this moment I have Verizon and it still works in Alabama with airplane mode turned on. It my be a WiFi antenna issue

[upstate-SC · Accepted solution]

Interesting, The purpose of wifi calling is to give you coverage when you dont have cellular connection.

Probably they meant to say that in order for the wifi calling to be activated, you may need cell reception (this may be a one time event like activation telling visible to provide cellular connection for calls, texts when you are connected to wifi internet)

So i suggest you to enable that feature in your cellphone where there is a visible coverage and try out when there is no visible coverage using wifi.

I tried wifi calling, by turning on airplane mode and then connecting to wifi. it works in iphone.

P.S: Please mark this answer as solution, if it helped you.

[QmB]

Wifi calling now works for me after a router upgrade.  Thanks for reassuring me that it should be possible!

[QmB]

Also, you were correct that I did need cell service in order to turn on wifi calling on my phone. But not after that.