Sending texts over Wi-Fi is a good idea if you don’t have any signal using your mobile data, as otherwise your phone will have to wait until you’re in an area where you get coverage.
We know that Wi-Fi calling for both iPhone and Android phone users. But can you even send texts via your Wi-Fi connection? Well, here’s the answer.
Can you send texts over Wi-Fi?
Yes, you can send texts over Wi-Fi. Most default messaging apps will allow text messages to be sent without Wi-Fi, but will not allow the same for sending media.
Sending pieces of media usually requires a working Wi-Fi connection, otherwise the media will fail to send. So whilst it will work for SMS messages, it may not work when it comes to images and video.
Some default text messaging apps also require Wi-Fi in order to send certain types of messages, such as iMessages.
The iMessage app can send both iMessages and text messages. The former requires Wi-Fi to send, otherwise the message will be sent as a text message – there are ways you can send a text message instead of an iMessage.
If your device does not have an active SIM card, you cannot send text messages using the default messaging app.
Even with a Wi-Fi connection, there will be an error that pops up if you attempt to send a message using the default messaging app. The messages will also never send.
You can solve this issue by purchasing a SIM card from a phone store.
On another note, if you wish to send media using the default messaging app, you will need a working internet connection to successfully do so. Otherwise, the message won’t send properly when sending media like pictures and videos
How can I send a text message?
Text messages (sent using default messaging apps) can only be sent from phones with working SIM cards.
SIM cards can be bought from mobile stores, and can come with a phone of your choosing. When buying a SIM card, there will be a contract, or plan, you can choose to use.
These contracts will include amounts for minutes, texts, and mobile data (per month). Text messages are sent using the ‘texts’ from the mobile contract, or a phone top-up payment.
Top-ups are individual payments you can purchase, which will give you a certain amount of minutes, texts, and data (depending on the price paid).
The amount of minutes, text, and data given per contract or payment varies across different phone plans.
Generally, there are many plans that offer an unlimited amount of minutes and texts, meaning that phones can call and text without limits.
Sending text messages doesn’t require a working internet connection, as an active SIM card is the only real requirement needed.
However, this doesn’t mean that you cannot send texts using Wi-Fi. A SIM card is also only needed for the default text-messaging apps.
This doesn’t apply to third-party messaging apps, which usually require either Wi-Fi, or mobile data, to function properly.
How to connect to your home Wi-Fi network
Connecting to Wi-Fi is a very simple task, for both iOS and Android devices. First, ensure that there are Wi-Fi networks in your location that you can connect to.
There are public networks, which are not password-protected; and there are private networks, which will be protected by a password.
For iPhones:
Go to Settings > Wi-Fi.
Click on one of the Wi-Fi networks to connect to it.
For Android devices:
Go to Settings > Connections.
Select ‘Wi-Fi’, and after this click on a Wi-Fi network to connect to it.
Can you send texts without Wi-Fi?
When there are no Wi-Fi networks you can successfully connect to, you can still send text messages.
If you have a working SIM card, you can simply send text messages as long as you still have ‘texts’ left to use on your mobile plan.
Sending media won’t work, however, without a Wi-Fi connect.
Fortunately, you can use mobile data to send media, in place of Wi-Fi. Mobile data acts as a substitute for Wi-Fi, but it is usually not unlimited.
Most contracts offer a set amount of mobile data per month, so remember to monitor your data usage.
How to enable mobile data
If you have a phone contract, or have some other method of paying for data, you should be able to access mobile data.
There’s usually a set amount of data you can use per month. You can’t go past this limit, unless you get more data by spending extra money.
Therefore, you should be careful about your data usage. Try to only enable mobile data when you there are no working Wi-Fi networks you can connect to.
For iOS:
Click the mobile data icon to enable mobile data – it’s next to the airplane icon.
For Android devices:
If you swipe down, you’ll be able to see all of the options available to you.
You can expand your options – amongst these, you can find the data icon, which should now be visible. The mobile data icon should be labelled, and appears as two arrows next to each other – click it to enable mobile data.
Conclusion
In conclusion, you can send text messages over Wi-Fi. Messaging apps like iMessage require Wi-Fi to work properly, as sending messages as iMessages uses Wi-Fi or mobile data.
However, most default messaging apps do not require Wi-Fi to work, and only need a working SIM card and an active data plan.
Mobile plans include an amount for ‘texts’, which dictates how many texts you can send per month. Most contracts offer an unlimited amount of texts, so phones can send text messages without limitations.
Sending media, on the other hand, does usually require your mobile phone to have Wi-Fi or mobile data.
If your device doesn’t have a working SIM card, you can’t send text messages using the default messaging app. You can use third-party messaging apps instead, such as WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. These apps require Wi-Fi, or mobile data, to function properly.
