Here’s an easy way to make the cellular data on your Consumer Cellular Connect plan go even further: connect to Wi-Fi! These days, Wi-Fi networks are available almost anywhere—shops, restaurants, hotels, libraries, and even airports offer it. You can often stay connected to Wi-Fi all day long!
Wi-Fi refers to wireless connectivity which allows a cellphone, laptop, or tablet to access high speed Internet without a physical connection. Instead, a wireless adapter connected to a single broadband Internet connection shares its signal, creating “hotspots,” or areas where other devices can connect to it.
When your device is connected to a strong Wi-Fi signal, you can access the Internet and go online to update apps, stream music, or even download movies or TV programs—all without using any of your cellular data.
To make sure you have Wi-Fi turned on, follow these simple steps:
For Android smartphones,
Step 1:
From your home screen, tap the Apps button, then tap Settings.
Step 2:
Tap Wi-Fi, then touch the slider to turn on Wi-Fi.
Step 3:
Take a look at the wireless networks that are available, then tap your network to connect.
Step 4:
Enter your network’s password to connect securely.
For iPhone users,
Step 1:
From your Home screen, tap Settings.
Step 2:
Tap Wi-Fi, then touch the slider to turn on Wi-Fi.
Step 3:
Your device will automatically search for available Wi-Fi networks.
After you’ve been using Wi-Fi regularly, be sure to go to My Account or check your My CC app to see how it impacts the amount of cellular data you’re using. Our affordable Connect plans offer a variety of great options for any type of data user, ranging from a low use 250MB plan up to 20GB each month—and all of our Connect plans include unlimited texting. And remember, we make it easy to switch to a different plan whenever you need to: there are no fees for switching, and you can change plans right up to the last day of your monthly billing cycle, so you’ll always have the amount that’s right for your needs.
Using Wi-Fi is a great way to preserve your cellular data for those times when Wi-Fi simply isn’t an option, like when you’re in the car, or enjoying a walk on the beach. It’s widely available, so it’s easy to use! Coupled with your cellular data, it means you’ll have a convenient way to stay connected wherever you need to go.
Is the CC Wifi secure and free?
Thank you
Thank you for taking the time to comment, Wilhelmine! We don’t offer Wi-Fi service, so you would need to talk to your local internet provider if you aren’t using this service already. Once it is in place, Wi-Fi is a great tool to use in order to enjoy your smartphone’s features without using any data. We appreciate you posting, and we hope you have a great day!
Want does my CC mean is it have something to do with my WiFi on here and be cheaper for me with coustomer celluar
Thanks for asking, Lynn! The My CC icon on your phone is our handy app, which let’s you manage your account right from your phone. It does not impact your Wi-Fi connection. We always recommend connecting to Wi-Fi whenever you can, so that you can save your data for when you’re away from home. We appreciate you posting!
Data usage goes up even on Wi-Fi even though we are at home. Do face time calls count as data?
Thanks for posting, Janet. Your phone may still use data if the Wi-Fi connection is a bit weak or gets interrupted. If you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network, using FaceTime should not use data from your plan. We’re happy to answer any other questions you may have at 888-345-5509, so please don’t hesitate to give us a call. We appreciate you taking the time to post today!
I have found that data needs to be on in order to receive and send text messages or is it just my iPhone?
Great question, Mary. In order to send photos in a text message, your phone does need to have a data connection available, though the message won’t be deducted from your monthly plan. Thanks for posting!
Ashley
We are just starting with Consumer Cellular and got 3 lines with 3 GB of data. One phone will be for our granddaughter. With AT&T, we were able to have data completely turned OFF by AT&T, so she could only do SnapChat, Facetime and all when she had access to wifi.
We REALLY need to do the same thing with our new Consumer Cellular plan. How can we make sure this is done so our 3GB of data are not used up by our granddaughter?
Hi Larry, that’s a great question, thanks for taking the time to post. You can definitely disable the data feature for your granddaughter’s line so that her phone isn’t using it. When she switches over, you can contact us at 800-686-4460 or chat with us here to disable it, or you can also go online to your online account to turn it off for her line as well.
Right now how does Consumer Cellular compare to my AT&T
That’s a great question, David! If you make the switch to our service, you shouldn’t notice any difference in your coverage or reliability. Our plans offer a lot of flexibility, so you’re in control and can change your plan as often as you like. You can take a look at all of the options here. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about us, and we hope to see you as a customer soon!
David, we switched from AT&T to CC 4 months ago, and not only is our coverage a bit better (we’re getting service in areas we normally didn’t), plus our cellphone bill is now $35 less per month! So glad we made the switch.
I would like for CC to offer a direct email to their office. A simple question cannot be submitted for answer nor can any explanation be presented for any late payment. Chat is not always available….I don’t like Chat anyway and I want to write an email.
We appreciate your feedback, Anthony. We find that the best way to assist our customers is over the phone or via our chat option, so that we can talk to you in real time. We’re happy to help you at your convenience, so please feel free to call us at 888-345-5509. Thank you for posting, and we look forward to speaking with you soon!
Where does the password come from to get on the Wi-Fi
Thanks for posting today! If you’re connecting to a Wi-Fi network in a cafe, library or similar location, you’ll probably need to ask someone who works there for the password. In order to connect to a protected Wi-Fi network, you’ll need to have the correct password. We appreciate you taking the time to reach out to us, and we hope you have a great day!
My Huawei Vision 2 cell had a data connection for years..then it “disappeared”. How do I get reconnected again.
Thanks for taking the time to reach out to us, Patrick. We’re happy to confirm that the settings on your phone are correct, so that you can access your data wherever you are. Please give us a call at 888-345-5509, or via our chat feature here. We appreciate you posting, and we look forward to assisting you!
When I am not at home & connect to a Wi-Fi location, I get the message saying not connected to the internet. Any help is appreciated.
Thank you for posting, Denise. It sounds as though your data connection is being interrupted. Please try powering your phone off, then back on again. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, please call us at 888-345-5509. We may need to assist you in changing some settings on your phone. We appreciate you taking the time to reach out to us, and we hope you have a lovely day!
Do you have the portable internet hotspot yet
Thanks for asking, Val! We do offer a portable hotspot option, which you can learn more about here on our website. It’s a great way to keep all of your devices connected on the go. We appreciate you posting, and we hope you have a great day!
When I’m out and there is no wifi, I can’t connect to internet. How can I connect to internet with data when there is no wifi?
Thanks for posting, Gary. If you’re experiencing an issue with your data connection, please try turning your phone off, then back on again to allow it to reconnect to the cellular towers. If that doesn’t resolve the problem, just give us a call at 888-345-5509. We’ll work with you to review your phone’s settings, and help you get connected. We appreciate you taking the time to reach out to us today!
Does CC offer an unlimited data plan? And if so, what is the charge?
Thanks for asking, Sharon. We don’t offer an unlimited data plan at this time, though our largest plan offers 20GB of data each month. You can view all of our plans here on our website. We find that many of our customers save money with our service, because they can switch to a smaller plan when they use less data than expected. Our flexible plans let you choose the best option for your usage. We appreciate you posting, and we hope you have a wonderful day!
When I am out of the US, will there be a charge to use FaceTime to call home. I will be on airplane mode and wifi when using it.
Hi Pat, great question! If your iPhone is in airplane mode and you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network there will be no charges from Consumer Cellular to use your phone for any functions. You may have to pay for Wi-Fi access, but otherwise, you’re free to make calls using FaceTime or use other apps at no charge. Thanks for reaching out and have a great day!
If I turn on “Send as SMS” on m iPhone, are the texts sent and received part of my unlimited texting in my data plan?
Thanks for asking, Charlie! If you send messages as “SMS”, these will be deducted from your monthly plan. We hope you have a great day!
I pay for 2 GB data and when I leave the house I don’t have data or internet when I am away from my WiFi. What happened to my data???
Thanks for reaching out to us, Vicki. I was able to review your account, and I see that Teri was able to chat with you and get this issue resolved. If we can help you with anything else at this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us again. We hope you have a wonderful day!
I want to call Italy using WiFi calling. I will be using my home network wifi. To be sure the phone uses WiFi only, I want to shut off my cellular data during this call. Is this advisable?
Thanks!
Hi Georgia, your data is not affected by any calls that you make. If you have Wi-Fi Calling enabled while you are calling to Italy from the US, then your talk usage will still be used and you will be billed the per-minute charge for calls to Italy, found here. The only exception would be if you are using a third-party calling app.
My ZTE device says I have messages. Where do I find the messages?
Hi Glenn, if you have text messages waiting to be read, then you can tap on the “Messages” app that looks like a speech bubble. If you have voicemails waiting to be listened to, then you can go to the “Phone” app, and press and hold “1” to call your voicemail.
I have no phone service and your office is closed! No assistance until next week!
I apologize for the frustration, Freda. Our customer service is available on the weekends, including on Easter, so I’m sorry to hear that you had trouble reaching us. I see that you were able to speak with one of our agents and get assistance. If you need any further help, please give us a call back at 888-345-5510.
Hi, I’ve a new Moto E5 from CC. The cell connection is low but it’ll start a phone call but then drop instantly after it starts. I’m connected to a strong WiFi network and can get email. However, it won’t let me make wifi calls. So I now a new phone that can’t make phone calls. Restarting hasn’t helped either. Do I just have a dud?
Hi Franz, I see that you were able to chat with one of our agents earlier this morning for assistance. If there is anything else that you need help with, please feel free to give us a call at 888-345-5510 or chat here.
When can CC Customers expect support for WiFi Calling via an AT&T SIM?
Hi Bob, thank you for your post! At this time we do not have an ETA for when that will be available for customers using an Android phone but it is something we’re still working on them with. If you have an iPhone that is a 6s or newer and are on AT&T, we can get the feature enabled.
I have a Samsung j7 phone with a at&t sim and I can make wifi calls. My wife Moto e5 play with an at&t sim cannot make wifi calls. Why?
Hi Jason, I see that the network she’s on was switched, but it looks like Wi-Fi calling just wasn’t enabled on your wife’s line. I’ve gone ahead and added that, so all you’ll need to do is go to Phone → Menu (3 dots in upper right) → Settings → Calls → Wi-Fi Calling → Toggle on/off → Choose calling preference (mobile/Wi-Fi preferred). If you’re having any trouble, then I recommend calling us at 888-345-5509 or chatting with us here.
If I use gmail from my cell phone, does it take up data?
Hi Peggy, thanks for your question. If you’re using the Gmail app or the Email app outside of a WiFi connection then it would use data.
My phone will not bring up wifi that are available even in my house
Hi David, our customer service team would be happy to help you with your Wi-Fi if you give us a call at 888-345-5509 or chat with us here.
Good morning Nicole,
I am a new customer with CC formally with AT&T. Could you clarify if CC does or does not offer WIFI calling? I have a low celular signal at my home and have to step outside sometimes to use the new phone.
Thank you,
Vincent
Hi Vincent, Wi-Fi Calling is available for all of the phones we are currently selling. This can be enabled on your Motorola Moto G Power by going to Settings → Network & internet → Tap Wi-Fi Calling → Toggle on/off. If you have a low signal, you may need to power your phone off and back on in an area with a stronger signal first, and then you should be able to enable it. If you have any trouble, our customer service team is happy to help over the phone at 800-686-4460 or via chat here.
Hey Nicole,
Following the instructions. Looks different then last time I tried. Waiting for it to set up.
Ill be back to you.
Thanks and much goodness!
Vincent
How do I enable Wifi calling? every time I try it shoots me an error and ask i contact my carrier
Hi Moises, we likely need to enable the feature on our end. Our customer service team is happy to help with that if you give us a call at 888-345-5509 or chat with us here.
I have no service at my location and wifi calling does not work. I have a Motorola G7 Power I purchased from you. I cannot place or receive calls over network or wifi, please help.
Thank you for taking the time to post, Wayne. I see that you were able to get assistance with your service. If you need any further assistance, you can give us a call at 888-345-5509 or chat with us here.
i recently subscribed to cc and have the doro 7050 phone. how do i get it to connect to my home wifi account so i can save on data use? or can i? would i need to upgrade from the flip phone to an android?
Hi Fred, thanks for your questions. The Doro 7050 is not able to connect to WiFi at all, and doesn’t have access to the data feature outside of using it for picture messaging. To have access to those options, you would need to switch to using a smartphone.
Hello, my iPhone has wi-fi calling and I do most of my lengthy calls from either home or work where wi-fi is available. According to a reply above (April 15, 2019) Consumer Cellular considers minutes used during Wi-fi calls as part of the Talk Plan. This doesn’t seem quite fair, it would be like charging the Data Plan for using wifi for regular internet or email. Am I missing something?
Hi Tim, thanks for your question! WiFi calling means you are connected to the carrier’s network through WiFi instead of a cell tower but you are still using the cellular network. Therefore, your calls still use minutes. There is a difference between WiFi calling and calls over WiFi. FaceTime is an example of a call over WiFi. FaceTime calls do not use minutes because they do not use the cellular voice network. WiFi for data usage does not need the cellular data connection since WiFi was designed for that internet usage.
I would like to get Wi-Fi on 3 phone
Hi Jinx, thanks for your interest. We don’t actually have a WiFi network available for our customers. you would need to look through a third party to get WiFi set up for the home, but we do offer data that the phones can use.
I hace a Motrola moto g power with android version 10 and when I try to use wi-fi calling it trys to connect to the internet then comes up with and error (re0006) what causes this and what can i do to fix it.
Thanks
Andy
Hi Andrew, thanks for your post! It sounds like the WiFi Calling feature isn’t enabled on our end. Give us a call at 888-548-6490 or chat with one of our agents here and we’d be happy to help.
I have an ipad2 and I am able to use wi fi to make and receive calls. Is there a cellular plan to Do the same?
Great question, Robert. If the iPad doesn’t require an eSIM, then it might work on our service. It also needs to be a cellular model that is unlocked and VoLTE-capable. We aren’t able to guarantee compatibility since we don’t typically work with iPads, but you’re welcome to try it.
Please advise how CC charges for minute usage, such as out going, in coming or anything else.
Great question, Bob. Incoming and outgoing calls are billed. The only exception is if you’re placing a call between two lines on the same account, or you’re calling our customer service team.
I use WiFi calling at home because the CC signal is only 1 bar in the house. Friends say that, when I call out, my Caller ID is coming up as
“Unknown.” Is this related to WiFi calling? How to fix?
Hi Mark, thanks for your post. It sounds like the caller ID block may be enabled causing it to not show up. Give us a call at 800-686-4460 or chat with an agent here and we’d be happy to look into that for you.
Hi. I have a Moto G5 with WiFi calling enabled on it. However, I keep getting a REG99 error – Unable to Connect. I read above that I might need to activate Wifi calling through CC, but couldn’t find a link to it on my online account.
We’ve got Wi-Fi Calling enabled for your Moto G5, Dominik. All you’ll need to do is power the phone all the way off and back on. If you need any other help, our customer service team is happy to help if you give us a call at 888-345-5509 or chat with us here.
Thank you. I tried restarting it and it connected to Wi-Fi Calling. It seems to disable itself after a few hours though, so it’s probably a kink with the G5. It reconnects with each restart though, so, better than nothing!
I recently bought a consumer cellular plan and phone. It is a Link II flip phone. I would like to know how to be able to use my wifi instead of my data plan. I know how to do this my android smart phone but not this new flip phone. Can you walk me through how to switch this phone between my data plan and my wifi.
Thanks?
Hi Karen, thanks for your question! The Link II does not have the option to connect to WiFi and it won’t be able to connect to data either. It is only our smartphones that have options to those two things.
I have 2 iPhones on CC and when driving we have no WiFi. Do I need to purchase something else to give us WiFi on the road? If yes, what is the cost. Not being able to connect without WiFi is very frustrating.
Hi Marylou, thanks for your question! If you don’t have a data plan, then you would need to get one added to your plan in order to use it. If you do have one, I’d recommend looking into your settings under cellular and make sure that data is enabled. If you still have trouble, give us a call at 800-686-4460 or you can also chat with us here.
This tells me how to turn on WIFI – I need to know how to get WIFI calling and texting to work. I spend a lot of time at a place with WIFI signal but no cell service.
Hi Paul, thanks for your message. We’d be happy to help with getting those features going for you. Give us a call at 800-686-4460 or chat with us here for further assistance.
I would like to get a wi-fi router. Any ideas on a good one.
Hi Steve, since we’re a cellular service provider we don’t have any recommendations for Wi-Fi routers. You may have better luck checking reviews online.
I have a new Iphone I am trying to set up WiFi when I press Enable the screen goes blank !!!!
That’s definitely frustrating, Tom. I recommend fully powering off the iPhone by holding the power button until you see “Slide to Power Off” on the screen, then slide your finger where indicated. You can then power the phone back on by holding the power button. If your phone is still going to a blank screen when trying to connect to Wi-Fi, please give us a call at 888-345-5509 or chat with us here.
Looking to drop Republic Wireless but as I live in an electromagnetic black hole with terrible Cell service [a Verizon tower which must be using rabbit ears], I rely on WiFi for 90% of all my cell phone usage. Looking through all the comments, I am finding it impossible to determine what is and what is not charged using my Home’s WiFi. Why should there be any charge or was that just a Republic Wireless thing?
Hi Mike, thanks for your questions. We don’t charge a fee for using your home’s WiFi connection for your phone. If you use WiFi calling, it will just use the minutes on your plan just like calling without it would do. There’s nothing additional charged for this feature.
I must assume from your image at the top of this page, that I will need a WiFi router for my Consumer Cellular smart phone. Is this correct?
Hi Alice, that’s a great question. You don’t have to have a WiFi router to use our service, we just encourage it to help stretch out that usage.
I wish you could offer wifi. I can’t afford two internet’s.
Thank you for the recommendation, Jannie. Your feedback is appreciated and I will pass it along.