WIFI Calling Preferences Being Forced to Cellular Preferred

I called TM yesterday to inquiry about this. The rep treated me like I was stupid. Kept telling me there is no service at my adddress when the entire issue is why is my

phone switching to cellular service and staying on cellular. He also suggested that I contact Apple because it could be an issue with my phone. After I told the guy repeatedly this is a known issue with TM. I even told him to go look in the community forum. He more or less ignored the issue. 

The last I knew this was not a problem with Verizon (and XFinity Mobile and other Verizon offshoots).  TM is still not willing to admit that they are the source of the problem. 

However, if you complain enough they will provide you with one of their pico cell devices.  There is a $20 deposit for that.  That way you don't need to worry about cell connections (and this setting) at least in the house.

I have yet to figure out why TM is doing this.  Probably just incompetence and/or laziness. 

This problem seems to have started after a recent T-Mobile software update and is affecting your ability to make and receive calls and text messages due to poor mobile data signal in your area. You've already tried several troubleshooting steps, including changing routers and contacting T-Mobile tech support, but the issue persists.

Here are some additional steps you might consider:

1. Software Update Check: Ensure both of your Samsung Galaxy S20 phones have the latest software updates installed. Sometimes subsequent updates can fix bugs introduced in previous versions.

2. Configuración de llamadas Wi-Fi: Double-check the Wi-Fi Calling settings on both phones:

   • Visita Configuración > Conexiones > Llamadas wifi.
   • Ensure Wi-Fi Calling is turned on.
   • Set the "Calling preference" to "Wi-Fi preferred".

3. Carrier Settings Update: Sometimes carrier settings need to be updated separately from the phone's software. This can usually be done via:

   • Configuración > Administración general > Restablecer > Restablecer configuración de redes.

4. Network Reset: This step can often resolve connectivity issues:

   • Configuración > Administración general > Restablecer > Restablecer configuración de redes.
   • Note that this will reset your Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other network settings, so you will need to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords and pair Bluetooth devices again.

5. Contact T-Mobile Again: Since this issue might be more widespread, consider asking T-Mobile if they are aware of any ongoing issues with Wi-Fi Calling preferences and if there are any patches or fixes planned for an upcoming software update.

6. Asistencia de Samsung: Reach out to Samsung support to report the issue. They may have additional insights or solutions.

7. Foros comunitarios: Continue to monitor and participate in forums and discussion boards. Sometimes, other users or unofficial support channels might provide solutions or workarounds that are not yet widely known.

8. Replacement Phones: Since T-Mobile has offered you two new S20 phones under warranty, go ahead and try them. If the issue persists with the new devices, it further indicates a software or carrier issue rather than a hardware problem.

9. Alternative Solutions: In the meantime, continue using the workaround of switching to Airplane mode and manually changing the Wi-Fi Calling preference when necessary. Although tedious, it might be the most reliable interim solution until a permanent fix is available.

Given your situation, it's understandable how this issue impacts your daily life. Hopefully, T-Mobile or Samsung will acknowledge and address this problem soon. Keep documenting your interactions with support for reference and potential follow-ups.

I live in an area with bad cellular service, but I have great Wi-Fi and I still have this issue all the time.  It is so frustrating that I'm considering leaving TMobile because of it.  I assume this is still an issue for others and no fix from TMobile?

I know that this is an old thread.  However, they ARE STILL DOING THIS.  It is hard to understand why.  I don't know what it "buys" them, except a lot of customer annoyance.

Ken98045 wrote:

I agree that it is likely some TMo bloat/firmware that is doing this since the VZW phone I was using didn’t have the problem.

Yes, I knew that they were likely just trying to get rid of me.  Since I'm retired I can take the time to go to Level 2/Manager support.  That is a task for this week now that I've done my research.

In the mean time I'm trying the Tasker hack that is supposed to automatically turn wi-fi preferred on if anything turns it off.  I don't know yet if that is going to help, but it is worth a try. 

Samsung support said that this isn't their problem since all wi-fi calling features are carrier specific.  I had to try.

I don't know if there is a root for the S22 yet.  Even if there is I probably won't do it yet since with a new model there is often a flurry of stock firmware updates for the first few months.  I've read that there is one coming.

I don’t believe T-mo bloatware is the issue here.
I have an unlocked S22 Ultra, purchased directly from Samsung.
I’m using Mint mobile, which uses T-mo towers, and I’m having this ongoing issue.

Still an issue and could be an easy fix if T-Mobile actually addressed it. A simple added feature to select preferred networks based on location. I need Wi-Fi calling at home. Is it really that difficult to have a home location set with an option to specify a network preference based on that location? Home -> use cellular, use wifi, use strongest network.

Duh T-Mobile. Let's actually do a little engineering and not let issues founder for years. 

I have this same problem with my Samsung 13 5G.  I called T-Mobile's 'technical' support line, and they had the audacity to say that wifi calling is only supported on the iPhone. This was idiotic, and I vainly tried to argue with them that they were mistaken, but, for the technical support agent on the phone, 'the script is always right'.

Very frustrating.

Very frustrating that this issue has persisted for years and across multiple devices. I usually only think to check the setting when my call quality is bad, and sure enough it's switched back to "cellular preferred". 

So frustrating to find such an old thread, on a topic that has not been answered.

We live outside cell-signal range. Way back when, Wi-Fi calling was THE reason we had T-Mobile in the first place.

And we are still being frustrated by automatic resetting to "cellular preferred" MULTIPLE TIMES DAILY, disrupting our communications.