WiFi Calling Not Working on Google Pixel 8 Pro

[elnorte]

Hello 

Grateful for any advice on whether other 3 network users found the WiFi calling option fails to work as intended on the Google Pixel 8 Pro or any other device?

The main network signal in my home is very poor but when attempting to call over WiFi, the main issue I am having is that I can hear the person but they cannot hear me.

More generally it is very similar to what is discussed in this thread, noting in particular there being no 'call preference' option to select WiFi rather than mobile network.

https://community.three.co.uk/t5/Devices/Why-is-Three-disabling-wifi-calling-preference-menus/td-p/6...

Previous to reading this, I exhausted the following troubleshooting methods available to me but with no success:

1) Turning phone and router on and off and then reconnecting 

2) Resetting both mobile and WiFi settings 

3) Taking the SIM card out and back in and also subsequently replacing it with a new one

4) Customer service calls to both 3 and Google (who insisted because I could make a call with airplane mode on this proved there was no fault).

Subsequently I returned the phone to Google for repair but this also failed to resolve the issue.

It might be helpful to add that on my previous OnePlus 6T, WiFi calling appeared to work flawlessly but interestingly this only seemed to be the case if I also turned on the Volte option as well. This function does not seem to be available on the Pixel 8.

All thoughts and experiences are very welcome.

[elnorte]

Hello

Grateful for your kind and informative responses. 

It's worth noting that the option for selecting the Wifi calling preference isn't actually removed or disabled by the network, it's just not an option on some devices if the network doesn't support configuring the option. On an older OnePlus device the option was there, but changing the option did nothing. On my Pixel device, the option just isn't there which made more sense since Three didn't support changing the setting.
In my testing of an EE SIM, I found the situation to be the same, options were there on the OnePlus device, but changing it didn't do anything, and the options were not present on the Pixel device.
It's worth mentioning that in my testing a while back and even today, it seems that EEs approach is to default to Wifi calls, and Three's is to default to cellular calls. I've just tested this on Pixel 6, 7, and 8 series phones and it's the same behaviour on all of them. So I don't think there's anything wrong with how your phone is handling the Wifi calls. It certainly would be nice if the option could be selected by the user, as I imagine each option has it's benefits that will suit some and not others.

Thank you for taking the time to carry out these troubleshooting comparisons and explaining the variables. It might be useful to add that in my settings under Wi-Fi Calling it says 'Call over mobile network'. I assume yours is the same?

I did wonder if changing network may present some kind of potential solution. I note your point on EE default to Wifi calls approach but will consider further before making any firm decisions on a switch.

I'm not sure what the link would be between VoLTE and Wifi calling on your Oneplus device, perhaps that's a technical requirement since VoLTE and WiFi calling are both utilising internet protocol for connecting. I had a hard time getting the phone to make Wifi calls on Three due to me having a good signal. I tried a few things to try and reduce my signal, but the lowest it would go was two bars, and the call was still made over cellular, I'm not sure what the cut off point is before the phone determines that the cellular connection isn't good enough, and uses Wifi instead, but it's possible that you're in a situation where the connection is poor enough that it's causing problems with your calls, but not poor enough that the phone has made the decision to switch over to Wifi calling.

Your theory re: the cellular signal not being poor enough to divert to WiFi has also been long part of my thinking as to what might be the main cause of the issue. Although again the Volte factor (and whether it in fact made any difference) is a strange one. Do you think perhaps the Pixel 8 being a more powerful and modern phone than the 6T is perhaps having intended consequences - i.e. it has a stronger network signal by it's very nature but still not strong enough to produce optimum calling in my home?

It might be worth testing your calling with Wifi calling turned off for a while, and then testing again with Wifi calling on and airplane mode on as well, comparing between the two of these in order to determine if one of these modes get's the 1 sided audio issue more than the other, or not at all. If it's not at all, it could indicate that there's some kind of issue with the handover when both cellular and wifi calling are available?"

I'll give these suggested steps ago at my next opportunity and see if it yields any results, positive or otherwise.

I have an older Pixel model and wifi calling with Three and fixed broadband works flawlessly. I've said many times here, sometimes I "force" wifi calling by enabling airplane mode and then switch the wifi on too from the handset/phone. Although it is anoying if you forget to undo and leave out the front door, specially when you have an ongoing call, it happened the other day

Yes, so setting to airplane mode was something suggested by Google when I spoke with them previously. While this does work, and not wishing to sound simplistic, it just seems like a bit of an annoying 'workaround' when it should just to do as intended?

Wifi calling not always kicks in because is down to the device to rule if is better on cellular or wifi.

Some of the things I've seen other users doing to make it work, forget the wifi network and setup again. Flick/toggle a few times the wifi calling button. If you have sky broadband looks there is something that their support can tweak. Force wifi calling as explained before. Update to latest android and security fixes.

Yes, reconnecting to my broadband network is something I've attempted a few times but with no success. The phone has reguarly been updated in accordance with latest Android software and security fixes but the issue has remained consistent throughout. Your point about Sky broadband is interesting as I am in fact a customer. Can you possibly advise a little further regarding this process?

[PeteG]

"'Call over mobile network'. I assume yours is the same?"
Yes, with the Three SIM, it shows the same. With the EE test SIM, it shows "Calls over Wifi", which makes sense based on what we know so far.

"I did wonder if changing network may present some kind of potential solution. I note your point on EE default to Wifi calls approach but will consider further before making any firm decisions on a switch."
I'm not in a position to change the policy of course, but I can forward feedback in relation to the current configuration that's in use in the hopes it results in some change down the line. Having to move because of the current limitation would be a shame.

"Do you think perhaps the Pixel 8 being a more powerful and modern phone than the 6T is perhaps having intended consequences - i.e. it has a stronger network signal by it's very nature but still not strong enough to produce optimum calling in my home?"
I really couldn't say for sure. If I had to take a guess (and it's only an educated guess) on what's controlling the handover from cellular to wifi calling, I think it would have to be a combination of the mobile network and the handset.
My thinking is that since devices that still offer an option for the user to choose between prioritising wifi calls or cellular calls didn't actually change how the calls were made on either networks I tested, this would suggest that the networks have the final say. But the networks need to make the decision based on something then, it can't be random (at least I hope not 😄 ). I would assume that it's based off of the signal strength reported by the handset, although it could be something else, or a combination if things.
One of the reason I'm thinking this is because you have observed a difference between two devices you tested. It's just a theory of course. If you had a 3rd device that's from a different manufacture, it would be interesting to know how that behaves compared to the other two.

"it just seems like a bit of an annoying 'workaround' when it should just to do as intended?"
Yes, I think it's a handy testing method to determine if an issue is actually being caused by Wifi calling. For example, I've seen situations where a customers Wifi was poor enough that it caused Wifi calling issues, and using airplane mode to force Wifi calling and verify the issue was a good way to rule out a cellular issue. You're right though, it's not an ideal long term workaround for most. A decent short term one for some perhaps.

"Some of the things I've seen other users doing to make it work"
I've seen some of these recommendations before, but I've never really seen them as a solution to this specific issue. I've seen issues where Wifi calling just didn't work for a user, even with airplane mode, and fiddling with the settings on the device etc resolve the issue. But I've never seen any of the settings successfully switch the connection over to Wifi calling preferred. Perhaps you'll have better results.

Pete

[jr0]

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2025/02/isp-sky-broadband-uk-promises-to-fix-router-wifi-calli... 

[elnorte · Accepted solution]

Hello

Grateful for your kind and informative responses. 

"It's worth noting that the option for selecting the Wifi calling preference isn't actually removed or disabled by the network, it's just not an option on some devices if the network doesn't support configuring the option. On an older OnePlus device the option was there, but changing the option did nothing. On my Pixel device, the option just isn't there which made more sense since Three didn't support changing the setting.
In my testing of an EE SIM, I found the situation to be the same, options were there on the OnePlus device, but changing it didn't do anything, and the options were not present on the Pixel device.
It's worth mentioning that in my testing a while back and even today, it seems that EEs approach is to default to Wifi calls, and Three's is to default to cellular calls. I've just tested this on Pixel 6, 7, and 8 series phones and it's the same behaviour on all of them. So I don't think there's anything wrong with how your phone is handling the Wifi calls. It certainly would be nice if the option could be selected by the user, as I imagine each option has it's benefits that will suit some and not others."

Thank you for taking the time to carry out these troubleshooting comparisons and explaining the variables. It might be useful to add that in my settings under Wi-Fi Calling it says 'Call over mobile network'. I assume yours is the same?

I did wonder if changing network may present some kind of potential solution. I note your point on EE default to Wifi calls approach but will consider further before making any firm decisions on a switch.

I'm not sure what the link would be between VoLTE and Wifi calling on your Oneplus device, perhaps that's a technical requirement since VoLTE and WiFi calling are both utilising internet protocol for connecting. I had a hard time getting the phone to make Wifi calls on Three due to me having a good signal. I tried a few things to try and reduce my signal, but the lowest it would go was two bars, and the call was still made over cellular, I'm not sure what the cut off point is before the phone determines that the cellular connection isn't good enough, and uses Wifi instead, but it's possible that you're in a situation where the connection is poor enough that it's causing problems with your calls, but not poor enough that the phone has made the decision to switch over to Wifi calling."

Your theory re: the cellular signal not being poor enough to divert to WiFi has also been long part of my thinking as to what might be the main cause of the issue. Although again the Volte factor (and whether it in fact made any difference) is a strange one. Do you think perhaps the Pixel 8 being a more powerful and modern phone than the 6T is perhaps having intended consequences - i.e. it has a stronger network signal by it's very nature but still not strong enough to produce optimum calling in my home?

"It might be worth testing your calling with Wifi calling turned off for a while, and then testing again with Wifi calling on and airplane mode on as well, comparing between the two of these in order to determine if one of these modes get's the 1 sided audio issue more than the other, or not at all. If it's not at all, it could indicate that there's some kind of issue with the handover when both cellular and wifi calling are available?"

I'll give these suggested steps ago at my next opportunity and see if it yields any results, positive or otherwise.

"I have an older Pixel model and wifi calling with Three and fixed broadband works flawlessly. I've said many times here, sometimes I "force" wifi calling by enabling airplane mode and then switch the wifi on too from the handset/phone. Although it is anoying if you forget to undo and leave out the front door, specially when you have an ongoing call, it happened the other day"

Yes, so setting to airplane mode was something suggested by Google when I spoke with them previously. While this does work, and not wishing to sound simplistic, it just seems like a bit of an annoying 'workaround' when it should just to do as intended?

"Wifi calling not always kicks in because is down to the device to rule if is better on cellular or wifi.

Some of the things I've seen other users doing to make it work, forget the wifi network and setup again. Flick/toggle a few times the wifi calling button. If you have sky broadband looks there is something that their support can tweak. Force wifi calling as explained before. Update to latest android and security fixes."

Yes, reconnecting to my broadband network is something I've attempted a few times but with no success. The phone has reguarly been updated in accordance with latest Android software and security fixes but the issue has remained consistent throughout. Your point about Sky broadband is interesting as I am in fact a customer. Can you possibly advise a little further regarding this process?

[PeteG]

Hello there. 

Welcome to Three Community. 

That sounds frustrating, I can't say I've experience an issue with calling where the call can only be heard by 1 of the callers. 

It's worth noting that the option for selecting the Wifi calling preference isn't actually removed or disabled by the network, it's just not an option on some devices if the network doesn't support configuring the option. On an older OnePlus device the option was there, but changing the option did nothing. On my Pixel device, the option just isn't there which made more sense since Three didn't support changing the setting.
In my testing of an EE SIM, I found the situation to be the same, options were there on the OnePlus device, but changing it didn't do anything, and the options were not present on the Pixel device.
It's worth mentioning that in my testing a while back and even today, it seems that EEs approach is to default to Wifi calls, and Three's is to default to cellular calls. I've just tested this on Pixel 6, 7, and 8 series phones and it's the same behaviour on all of them. So I don't think there's anything wrong with how your phone is handling the Wifi calls. It certainly would be nice if the option could be selected by the user, as I imagine each option has it's benefits that will suit some and not others.

I'm not sure what the link would be between VoLTE and Wifi calling on your Oneplus device, perhaps that's a technical requirement since VoLTE and WiFi calling are both utilising internet protocol for connecting. I had a hard time getting the phone to make Wifi calls on Three due to me having a good signal. I tried a few things to try and reduce my signal, but the lowest it would go was two bars, and the call was still made over cellular, I'm not sure what the cut off point is before the phone determines that the cellular connection isn't good enough, and uses Wifi instead, but it's possible that you're in a situation where the connection is poor enough that it's causing problems with your calls, but not poor enough that the phone has made the decision to switch over to Wifi calling. 

It might be worth testing your calling with Wifi calling turned off for a while, and then testing again with Wifi calling on and airplane mode on as well, comparing between the two of these in order to determine if one of these modes get's the 1 sided audio issue more than the other, or not at all. If it's not at all, it could indicate that there's some kind of issue with the handover when both cellular and wifi calling are available? 

Pete. 

[jr0]

I have an older Pixel model and wifi calling with Three and fixed broadband works flawlessly. I've said many times here, sometimes I "force" wifi calling by enabling airplane mode and then switch the wifi on too from the handset/phone. Although it is anoying if you forget to undo and leave out the front door, specially when you have an ongoing call, it happened the other day 

Wifi calling not always kicks in because is down to the device to rule if is better on cellular or wifi.
Some of the things I've seen other users doing to make it work, forget the wifi network and setup again. Flick/toggle a few times the wifi calling button. If you have sky broadband looks there is something that their support can tweak. Force wifi calling as explained before. Update to latest android and security fixes.