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What Is VZW WiFi? Everything You Need to Know in 2023

The use of WiFi has become indispensable in our lives. From our personal to our professional lives, the impact of this technology is immense, allowing us to catch up with people close to us, host meetings, and even keep up with data and information needed in our day-to-day lives.

Particularly for Verizon network users, you must have seen the VZW WiFi image on your smartphone’s top-right corner. Not knowing what it entails is surely going to leave you with a whole lot of questions in mind. Be assured that you aren’t the only person with similar confusion.

This comprehensive guide will take you through all the details related to VZW WiFi, its significance, and the steps to activate and deactivate this feature.

What is VZW WiFi?

In some smartphones, the network providers enable you to call even when you have no mobile network but you are connected to the WiFi. The VZW WiFi is just that.

It is Verizon’s WiFi calling feature, which allows users to attend or make calls even when their Verizon network isn’t available. The feature is functional for both Android and iOS devices.

Not just the standard voice calls, this particular feature, when enabled in your smartphone, allows you to receive video calls and text messages too. So, even if you don’t have network allowance in your phone, staying connected to the WiFi and having the VZW WiFi feature enabled allows you to make and receive calls with ease.

If you make national calls using this feature, there are no charges involved directly. You will have to pay access and additional fees when you make an international call though.

There are certain limitations to this particular feature’s accessibility though. For example, the VZW WiFi feature is limited exclusively to Verizon devices and smartphones.

How Does the VZW WiFi Feature Work?

Now that you have a brief overview of what VZW WiFi is and the kind of significance you get to engage with the feature, it is mandatory that you understand how this feature works.

As we mentioned, the VZW WiFi is an in-built WiFi or wireless calling feature that’s available on Verizon devices. There are certain limitations with the accessibility, so that’s something you’d have to check from the official websites of the network provider.

So, how does it work?

Let us assume that you are traveling to a very remote place where Verizon’s mobile network isn’t as strong. But the good news is that the hotel you are staying in has a good WiFi connection. This means that you can connect to the WiFi and the Verizon device will allow you to make the calls from that connection.

If you are aware of Voice over IP connections and how they work, the principle is pretty much the same with the VZW WiFi as well. In this case, it uses your WiFi connection to streamline and make that call. 

The best part of this whole process is that the person that you are calling or receiving the call from will not notice any difference. They will get to converse with you normally and without any glitches. 

But, as we mentioned before, there are some limitations. Firstly, the VZW WiFi feature isn’t accessible on all devices. This means that your smartphone should be compatible with the feature for it to work.

What are the Eligibility Criteria for VZW WiFi Feature?

Simply knowing about the VZW WiFi feature would be enticing and fun. However, you need to understand that there are certain eligibility criteria and compatibility factors that you have to pay close attention to. This is mandatory.

If you want to enable the feature on your smartphone, you first need to cross-check the eligibility criteria. There are a few that you have to prioritize, including:

  • The most important criterion is to ensure that your smartphone is enabled with the Verizon network. This is mandatory if you want the VZW WiFi feature.
  • Ensure that your smartphone, iOS or Android, has the HD Voice feature enabled in Settings. 
  • Your smartphone should have a WiFi connectivity option.
  • The smartphones that support this particular feature should be activated with the Verizon network in the U.S. only.
  • The users must accept the terms and conditions related to the VZW WiFi calling feature that is mentioned by Verizon. 

These might seem like a lot but these are standard eligibility and compatibility criteria that you need to meet to be able to use the VZW WiFi feature on your smartphone.

Does my Device Support the VZW WiFi Feature?

Because the VZW WiFi feature comes in so handy, especially during times of emergency and crisis, it isn’t surprising that people are wondering if their respective smartphones support this feature.

So, how do you confirm if your smartphone has this feature? Following are some of the steps that you need to follow:

  • Open Settings.
  • Navigate to Phone.
  • Under Phone, find WiFi settings and click on it.
  • In the available options, look for WiFi calling. If you can’t find Wi-Fi calling, it means that it won’t support the VZW WiFi feature.
  • If you do find the WiFi calling feature, enable it.

That’s pretty much it. From there, you should be able to see the VZW WiFi feature on your screen and be able to make the relevant calls according to your needs.

How Do I Use the VZW WiFi Feature?

Once you have enabled or activated the VZW WiFi feature on your smartphone, the next question that you will likely have is how to use the feature.

To be fair, the process is no different than you making a standard call. All the hard work that you have to do is related to enabling the feature.

Once that is out of the way, you can go ahead and make the call using the connected WiFi and contact people like you over a standard call. There’s nothing out of the ordinary that you have to do to use this feature.

Is it Possible to Turn Off the VZW WiFi Feature?

If you aren’t a fan of the VZW WiFi feature, the following steps should allow you to disable the feature without any issues:

  • Open Settings
  • Navigate and search for Call Settings
  • Alternatively, you can search for “WiFi Calling”
  • If it’s enabled, click on the slider to turn it off.

That’s pretty much it. Once done, you will not see the VZW WiFi icon and you won’t be able to make use of the feature.

Conclusion on What Is VZW WiFi

The concept of VZW WiFi to make calls can be a little confusing for many. If you have been in the same boat and have been scratching your head trying to figure out this feature, we hope this article explains it all. Before you get started with the feature, ensure that your device is compatible.

FAQ on VZW WiFi

Q1. Is VZW WiFi calling free?

Ans: It is free if you are making or receiving the calls within the U.S. International calls are chargeable.

Q2. Is it Safe to use the VZW Wi-Fi calling feature?

Ans: The feature is an exclusive Verizon network feature, so you won’t have to worry about safety or reliability.

Q3. Is VZW WiFi calling free?

Ans: They don’t use cellular data and won’t reflect in the mobile data bills or plans that you pay for.

Q4. Is VZW WiFi calling free?

Ans: VZW stands for Verizon Wireless.

Q5. Is VZW WiFi calling free?

Ans: If you want to enable the feature, follow – Settings > Wi-Fi > enable Wi-Fi > choose a Network > enter Wi-Fi password > select Join.