Your iPhone 5 has a lot of cool features and apps that allow you to stay connected in just about any way imaginable. Among these options, however, are some features that exist solely for communication between people with iOS devices (iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, etc.). One such feature is Facetime, which allows you to use a phone number or email address of someone with their own Facetime account in order to make a video call. The ability to video call opens up a whole new way to communicate and share with other people, but it also uses a ton of data. In fact, 4G Facetime calls on an iPhone 5 can use hundreds of megabytes per hour. So how do you make sure that you don’t accidentally make a Facetime call on a cellular network? Follow the instructions below to turn that feature off.
Disable Cellular Facetime on the iPhone 5
It is important to note the distinction here – you are going to disable Facetime calls only while you are using cellular data. When you are connected to a WiFi network, such as one at home, work or an airport, you can freely use Facetime without worrying about its’ impact on your monthly data usage allotment. Since most people are on a capped data plan, conserving that expensive data is a high priority. And following the directions in this article to disable cellular WiFi is a good way to prevent needlessly using that data.
Step 1: Press the Settings button on your iPhone 5’s home screen.
Step 2: Scroll to the Facetime section, then press it once to open the menu.
Step 3: Scroll to the bottom of the screen and touch the button to the right of Use Cellular Data so that it says Off.
If you find yourself in an emergency situation where you need to make a Facetime call over a cellular network, you can always return to this menu to enable that feature.
Do you want to see how much data you have used on your Verizon iPhone 5? Read the instructions in this article to learn how you can check your usage directly from your phone.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.
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You can use the FaceTime app on your Mac to make and receive phone calls — including Real-Time Text (RTT) calls — when you set options on your iPhone and Mac. See FaceTime phone call requirements.
On your iPhone, go to Settings > Phone.
Choose one of the following, depending on your carrier.
If you see Wi-Fi Calling: Tap it, then turn on Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone.
After you turn on Wi-Fi Calling, you may see an Add Wi-Fi Calling For Other Devices button. Tap it to allow calls using your other Apple devices that aren’t on the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone, or if your phone is off. Otherwise, you can still use your Mac to make phone calls, but your iPhone must be turned on and on the same Wi-Fi network as your Mac.
Note: Only certain phone service providers support Wi-Fi Calling for devices that aren’t on the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone. See the Apple Support article Make a call with Wi-Fi Calling. You also need iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c or later.
If you see Calls on Other Devices: Tap it, then turn it on.
This option allows calls using your other Apple devices that are on the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone.
If you turn on Wi-Fi Calling on your iPhone, you might be asked to turn on Calls from iPhone on your Mac when you open FaceTime on your Mac. If you don’t get this notification, do the following.
In the FaceTime app
on your Mac, choose FaceTime > Preferences, then click Settings.Select Calls from iPhone.
If you don’t see this option, make sure your Mac meets all the requirements, then open FaceTime preferences again.
If an Upgrade to Wi-Fi Calling button appears, click it, then follow the onscreen instructions.
This button appears if your service provider supports Wi-Fi Calling when your iPhone is turned off or is on a different Wi-Fi network.
If you’re asked to confirm your address for emergency services, click Update Emergency Address. (If you make an emergency call that uses Wi-Fi instead of cellular, the address you provide here helps emergency services locate you.) See the Apple Support article Make a call with Wi-Fi Calling.
You can turn off phone calls on your Mac anytime. In the FaceTime app, choose FaceTime > Preferences, click Settings, then deselect Calls from iPhone.
Page 2
You can use the FaceTime app on your Mac to make and receive phone calls — including Real-Time Text (RTT) calls — when you set options on your iPhone and Mac. See FaceTime phone call requirements.
On your iPhone, go to Settings > Phone.
Choose one of the following, depending on your carrier.
If you see Wi-Fi Calling: Tap it, then turn on Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone.
After you turn on Wi-Fi Calling, you may see an Add Wi-Fi Calling For Other Devices button. Tap it to allow calls using your other Apple devices that aren’t on the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone, or if your phone is off. Otherwise, you can still use your Mac to make phone calls, but your iPhone must be turned on and on the same Wi-Fi network as your Mac.
Note: Only certain phone service providers support Wi-Fi Calling for devices that aren’t on the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone. See the Apple Support article Make a call with Wi-Fi Calling. You also need iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c or later.
If you see Calls on Other Devices: Tap it, then turn it on.
This option allows calls using your other Apple devices that are on the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone.
If you turn on Wi-Fi Calling on your iPhone, you might be asked to turn on Calls from iPhone on your Mac when you open FaceTime on your Mac. If you don’t get this notification, do the following.
In the FaceTime app
on your Mac, choose FaceTime > Preferences, then click Settings.Select Calls from iPhone.
If you don’t see this option, make sure your Mac meets all the requirements, then open FaceTime preferences again.
If an Upgrade to Wi-Fi Calling button appears, click it, then follow the onscreen instructions.
This button appears if your service provider supports Wi-Fi Calling when your iPhone is turned off or is on a different Wi-Fi network.
If you’re asked to confirm your address for emergency services, click Update Emergency Address. (If you make an emergency call that uses Wi-Fi instead of cellular, the address you provide here helps emergency services locate you.) See the Apple Support article Make a call with Wi-Fi Calling.
You can turn off phone calls on your Mac anytime. In the FaceTime app, choose FaceTime > Preferences, click Settings, then deselect Calls from iPhone.
Page 3
You can use the FaceTime app on your Mac to make and receive phone calls — including Real-Time Text (RTT) calls — when you set options on your iPhone and Mac. (See FaceTime phone call requirements.)
On your iPhone, go to Settings > Phone.
Choose one of the following, depending on your carrier.
If you see Wi-Fi Calling: Tap it, then turn on Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone.
After you turn on Wi-Fi Calling, you may see an Add Wi-Fi Calling For Other Devices button. Tap it to allow calls using your other devices that aren’t on the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone or if your phone is off. Otherwise, you can still use your Mac to make phone calls, but your iPhone must be turned on and on the same Wi-Fi network as your Mac.
Note: Only certain phone service providers support Wi-Fi Calling for devices that aren’t on the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone. See the Apple Support article Make a call with Wi-Fi Calling. You also need iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c or later.
If you see Calls on Other Devices: Tap it, then turn it on.
This option allows calls using your other devices that are on the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone.
If you turn on Wi-Fi Calling on your iPhone, you might be asked to turn on Calls from iPhone on your Mac when you open FaceTime on your Mac. If you don’t get this notification, do the following.
In the FaceTime app
on your Mac, choose FaceTime > Preferences, then click Settings.Select Calls from iPhone.
If you don’t see this option, make sure your Mac meets all the requirements, then open FaceTime preferences again.
If an Upgrade to Wi-Fi Calling button appears, click it, then follow the onscreen instructions.
This button appears if your service provider supports Wi-Fi Calling when your iPhone is turned off or is on a different Wi-Fi network.
If you’re asked to confirm your address for emergency services, click Update Emergency Address. (If you make an emergency call that uses Wi-Fi instead of cellular, the address you provide here helps emergency services locate you.) See the Apple Support article Make a call with Wi-Fi Calling.
You can turn off phone calls on your Mac anytime. In the FaceTime app, choose FaceTime > Preferences, click Settings, then deselect Calls from iPhone.
Page 4
You can set options on your iPhone and Mac so that you can make and receive phone calls (including National Relay Service (NRS) calls), using the FaceTime app on your Mac.
On your iPhone, go to Settings > Phone.
Choose one of the following, depending on your carrier.
If you see Wi-Fi Calling, tap it, then turn on Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone.
After you turn on Wi-Fi Calling, you may see an Add Wi-Fi Calling For Other Devices button. Tap it to allow calls using your other devices that aren’t on the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone or if your phone is off. Otherwise, you can still use your Mac to make phone calls, but your iPhone must be turned on and on the same Wi-Fi network as your Mac.
Note: Only certain phone service providers support Wi-Fi Calling for devices that aren’t on the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone. See the Apple Support article Make a call with Wi-Fi Calling. You also need iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c or later.
If you see Calls on Other Devices, tap it, then turn it on.
This option allows calls using your other devices that are on the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone.
If you’re using iOS 8, go to Settings > FaceTime, then turn iPhone Mobile Calls on.
If you turn on Wi-Fi Calling on your iPhone, when you open FaceTime on your Mac, you might be asked to turn on Calls from iPhone on your Mac. If you’re not, do the following.
In the FaceTime app
on your Mac, choose FaceTime > Preferences, then click Settings.Select Calls from iPhone.
If you don’t see this option, make sure your Mac meets all of the requirements above, then open FaceTime preferences again.
If an Upgrade to Wi-Fi Calling button appears, click it, then follow the onscreen instructions.
This button appears if your service provider supports Wi-Fi Calling when your iPhone is turned off or is on a different Wi-Fi network.
If you’re asked to confirm your address for emergency services, click Update Emergency Address. (If you make an emergency call that uses Wi-Fi instead of cellular, the address you provide here helps emergency services locate you.) See the Apple Support article Make a call with Wi-Fi Calling.
You can turn off phone calls on your Mac anytime. In the FaceTime app, choose FaceTime > Preferences, click Settings, then deselect Calls from iPhone.
If you have hearing or speech difficulties or want to call someone who does, you can use the National Relay Service (NRS) for your phone calls, if your service provider supports it.
Note: To make or receive an NRS call, you must be using macOS Mojave 10.14.2 or later with Wi-Fi Calling through iPhone with iOS 12.1.1 or later. This feature is not available in all countries of regions or supported by all service providers. Depending on your network environment, an NRS call may be downgraded to a TTY call.
On your iPhone, go to Settings > Accessibility.
Tap NRS/TTY, then turn on Software NRS/TTY.
When the NRS is on,
appears in the status bar at the top of the screen. You can choose additional options for NRS calls on your iPhone.On your Mac, choose Apple menu
> System Preferences, then click Accessibility.Click NRS then select Enable NRS.
Note: If you don’t see NRS, check that you’ve completed all the set-up steps above. If you still don’t see NRS, it may not be supported on your Mac.
Choose additional options. For more information, click the Help button
in the pane.
When NRS is enabled on your Mac, the NRS button
Page 5
You can set options on your iPhone and Mac so that you can make and receive phone calls (including National Relay Service (NRS) calls), using the FaceTime app on your Mac.
On your iPhone, go to Settings > Phone.
Choose one of the following, depending on your carrier.
If you see Wi-Fi Calling, tap it, then turn on Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone.
After you turn on Wi-Fi Calling, you may see an Add Wi-Fi Calling For Other Devices button. Tap it to allow calls using your other devices that aren’t on the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone or if your phone is off. Otherwise, you can still use your Mac to make phone calls, but your iPhone must be turned on and on the same Wi-Fi network as your Mac.
Note: Only certain phone service providers support Wi-Fi Calling for devices that aren’t on the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone. See the Apple Support article Make a call with Wi-Fi Calling. You also need iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c or later.
If you see Calls on Other Devices, tap it, then turn it on.
This option allows calls using your other devices that are on the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone.
If you’re using iOS 8, go to Settings > FaceTime, then turn iPhone Mobile Calls on.
If you turn on Wi-Fi Calling on your iPhone, when you open FaceTime on your Mac, you might be asked to turn on Calls from iPhone on your Mac. If you’re not, do the following.
In the FaceTime app
on your Mac, choose FaceTime > Preferences, then click Settings.Select Calls from iPhone.
If you don’t see this option, make sure your Mac meets all of the requirements above, then open FaceTime preferences again.
If an Upgrade to Wi-Fi Calling button appears, click it, then follow the onscreen instructions.
This button appears if your service provider supports Wi-Fi Calling when your iPhone is turned off or is on a different Wi-Fi network.
If you’re asked to confirm your address for emergency services, click Update Emergency Address. (If you make an emergency call that uses Wi-Fi instead of cellular, the address you provide here helps emergency services locate you.) See the Apple Support article Make a call with Wi-Fi Calling.
You can turn off phone calls on your Mac anytime. In the FaceTime app, choose FaceTime > Preferences, click Settings, then deselect Calls from iPhone.
If you have hearing or speech difficulties or want to call someone who does, you can use the National Relay Service (NRS) for your phone calls, if your service provider supports it.
Note: To make or receive an RTT call, you must be using macOS Mojave 10.14.2 or later with Wi-Fi Calling through iPhone with iOS 12.1.1 or later. This feature is not available in all regions or supported by all service providers. Depending on your network environment, an NRS call may be downgraded to a TTY call.
On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Accessibility.
Tap NRS/TTY, then turn on Software NRS/TTY.
When the NRS is on,
appears in the status bar at the top of the screen. You can choose additional options for NRS calls on your iPhone.On your Mac, choose Apple menu
> System Preferences, then click Accessibility.Click NRS then select Enable NRS.
Note: If you don’t see NRS, check that you’ve completed all the set-up steps above. If you still don’t see NRS, it may not be supported on your Mac.
Choose additional options. For more information, click the Help button
in the pane.
When NRS is enabled on your Mac, the NRS button