Check that your iPhone has internet and a working line before leaving home, make a test call and tell which features need a connection.
Know the two ways to connect
Away from home, the phone is only useful when it has a connection. There are two ways to get one.
- Wi-Fi: it uses a nearby network.
- Cellular data: it depends on your carrier's service and may have limits or charges.
Signal bars do not guarantee working data, credit or a correctly activated line. To check, open Settings and go into Wi-Fi and into Cellular. If you have several lines, identify which one handles calls and which one handles data.
Join a network and make a call
- Open Settings.
- Tap Wi-Fi and turn on Wi-Fi if it is off.
- Tap the name of a network you know and type its password if the iPhone asks for it.
- Go back and tap Cellular to see your line. If you use an eSIM, check that it appears turned on.
- Open Phone and tap Keypad.
- Dial the number and tap the Call button, or choose a contact, to make a normal call to someone who can take it.
- During the call, test the volume and the microphone without sharing private information.
If the line does not work after a transfer, confirm the activation with your carrier. On public networks, avoid sensitive tasks when you cannot verify the connection.
Understand the connection controls
Turning on Airplane Mode turns off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and the cellular network; you can turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth back on separately in Control Center. Tapping Wi-Fi or Bluetooth in Control Center only disconnects the iPhone from that network or accessory for a while, without turning the feature off. To turn it off completely or see what is still connected, open Settings and tap Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
Tell a normal call from an internet call
A FaceTime call or a call from an app uses the internet and has different settings from a call on your line. If you hear the other person but they cannot hear you, check these three things.
- Mute.
- The audio output.
- The app's microphone permission.
Get ready for travel and emergencies
Before you travel, check roaming, coverage and costs with your carrier. Downloading a map does not activate a line or guarantee coverage.
Add your emergency contacts in the Health app: tap your picture, then Medical ID and Edit, and below Emergency Contacts tap Add Emergency Contact. Satellite and safety features depend on model, country and service.
YOUR TURN
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You did it if you can say which Wi-Fi network you joined, you saw how much data each app used and the Phone keypad is ready to dial.
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