Hi I’ve been having issues with my network connection since sometime last fall. Most of the time my device is stuck on EDGE (2G network) even when 4G and 5G networks are available.
I think it was caused by a Google Fi app update but I’m not sure. I’ve tried to work with Google Fi support like 3-4 times and they are very unwilling to do anything. I’ve narrowed it down to an issue with VoLTE configuration. When I don’t have the Google Fi app installed things don’t work until I enable 4G Calling in the sim settings. At which point things seem to work correctly. However once I install the Google Fi app that setting disappears and as far as I can tell it seems like VoLTE (which I think is the same thing as 4G Calling) is disable on the device. I’m pretty sure that Google Fi requires VoLTE and the app should force enable it. However for some reason that fails to happen.
Does anyone know how to override this behavior to get 4G Calling enabled so that my data can work? Is this something that could be patched into the Fairphone OS? Is there some way I can better get through to Google Fi so they can maybe fix their app?
I ended up using this tool to mess around with carrier settings. I was able to activate 4G Calling which seems to more or less have resolved the issue. Super weird though I wish I knew if this were a fairphone or Google Fi issue
Did you try using Safe Mode? This approximates to simulating a factory reset but just for the time you need to do some tests with vanilla FPOS.
I don’t see Fairphone listed as compatible so it’s perhaps not surprising to encounter problems. For the same reason I’m unsurprised that Gg support are slow to move.
It might be worthwhile finding out which operator carries GFi in your area and talking with them.
For more info about using Fairphone in the USA see here.
I’ve tried Safe Mode and factory resetting. They both have the same issue as far as I can remember. GFi is essentially always T-Mobile in the US (I’ve experienced the issue regardless of US location).
I think the issue is caused by the carrier settings that the Google Fi app sets because I didn’t have issues for the first couple months (August-October 2024) and then I’m assuming that an app update changed those settings causing it to break.
OK Well T-Mobile is the generally recommended carier for FP in the US.
I don’t know what the cost of another factory reset would be to you, but I’d be tempted to do either that, or “just” reset network, having uninstalled the app first.
Then just make sure 4G Calling is enabled. That’s likely indispensable now that 3G networks are being withdrawn in most areas.
But if the phone works at the moment I’d leave it be. One of my maxims: If it works, don’t fix it!