Last updated: July 5, 2019

The upper left corner of the iPhone screen usually contains information about the current network connection. So if you’ve ever wondered if you’re connected to a cellular network or Wi-Fi, this is where you’re looking.

But a new option has popped up recently and you may have noticed that it says VZW Wi-Fi at the top of the screen, when otherwise it would just show a WiFi icon. This happens if your iPhone is on the Verizon network and you have Wi-Fi calling turned on. This is a feature available for newer iPhone models that allows them to place calls over Wi-Fi instead of a cellular network. This is an interesting option because it allows you to make phone calls to US numbers from other countries at no additional cost. You can learn more about enabling WiFi calling on Verizon iPhone here.

But if you accidentally enabled this option or just want to disable it, you can follow our guide below.

Here is how to disable Wi-Fi calling and remove VZW Wi-Fi option –

  1. I open Settings.
  2. Select the phone.
  3. Select Wi-Fi Calling.
  4. Turn off Wi-Fi calling on this iPhone.

You can also see these steps below with pictures –

Step 1: Tap on the “Settings” icon.

Open the Settings menu

Step 2: Scroll down and tap on the Phone option.

Open the phone menu

Step 3: Tap on the Wi-Fi Calling option.

Select wifi connection

Step 4: Tap the button to the right of the Wi-Fi connection on this iPhone to turn it off.

Disable calls over verizon wifi

If you often use a weak Wi-Fi connection and have difficulty downloading from the Internet, you can check the setting called Wi-Fi Help. This can help you download faster by switching to a cellular connection instead of your Wi-Fi network, but it can also end up using more data than you originally intended.

Your iPhone has several useful call settings, including one to help you make international calls. Our Ordering Help article explains more about this.

What is VZW WiFi?

VZW WiFi is an indication on your iPhone that you are currently using Verizon’s Wi-Fi. This allows you to place calls over a Wi-Fi connection instead of a cellular connection. If you are often in a place with poor cellular reception, such as work or home, this can greatly improve the quality of your calls.

If you want to use Verizon’s Wi-Fi Calling feature, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:

  • HD Voice must be enabled on your iPhone.
  • It should be able to use the WiFi Calling feature. This feature is available on any iPhone model from iPhone 6 and up.

To enable HD Voice on your iPhone, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Select the Cellular option.
  3. Select Cellular Settings.
  4. Tap the Enable LTE button.
  5. Click on the Voice and Data option.

If this setting was not previously enabled, it may take a couple of minutes to activate.

Another benefit of using Wi-Fi calling on your Verizon iPhone is that it won’t use your minutes or data (note that international calls will still charge). However, if it’s the Wi-Fi you’re charging for use or an access fee, that will still apply. Wi-Fi calls use approximately 1MB of data per minute. Video calls consume approximately 6-8MB per minute.

You can enable Wi-Fi calling on your iPhone by following these steps:

  1. I open Settings.
  2. Unlock your phone.
  3. Select the Wi-Fi Calling option.
  4. Turn on Wi-Fi calling on this iPhone.

If you are activating this for the first time, you will need to enter a US address in case of emergency.