Lebara 4G Calling and VoLTE: What It Is and How to Turn It On

The short version

Lebara supports 4G Calling on compatible phones

4G Calling and VoLTE mean the same thing here. VoLTE stands for Voice over LTE, while 4G Calling is the friendlier label you may see in a phone menu. Lebara says the feature uses its 4G mobile network for calls and texts when there is no ordinary 2G or 3G signal, provided the device is compatible.¹

Lebara also says it enables the feature on your SIM and notifies you when it is ready after joining.¹ So if a brand-new SIM has no setting yet, give provisioning a chance before performing open-heart surgery on the phone.

One feature, two names

What does VoLTE actually change?

Without 4G Calling, a handset may leave 4G to place a voice call on an older mobile network. With VoLTE active, a compatible phone can keep the call on 4G. Lebara describes this as a faster, better connection and recommends enabling it for clearer calls.²³

It is not the same as WiFi Calling. VoLTE uses the mobile 4G network. WiFi Calling uses a WiFi connection, which can be handy inside a building where mobile reception is poor. Your phone may support both, and there is no prize for making them fight.

Lebara's 3G information says its 3G service has been fully switched off, which makes a working 4G voice route more useful than a dusty old acronym might suggest.²

The three-gate check

What you need before hunting for the switch

1. A Lebara SIM with the feature enabled.Lebara says it will notify new customers when WiFi Calling and 4G Calling are ready on the SIM.¹
2. A compatible phone and software version.Check the exact model, not just the family name. Network support can differ between variants.
3. 4G or LTE selected as a network mode.Lebara's iPhone, Samsung, OnePlus and Pixel guides all make this a condition for VoLTE.³⁴⁶
4. 4G coverage where you make the call.A perfect setting cannot invent a signal that is not there.

If compatibility is uncertain, Lebara's help page tells customers to dial *#06# to find the IMEI and use its linked device checker.¹ The IMEI identifies the actual device more precisely than "a Samsung, probably".

Apple route

How to turn on Lebara 4G Calling on an iPhone

Lebara's general route is Settings, Mobile Data, Mobile Data Options, Voice & Data, then select a 4G or LTE option that allows voice.¹ On dual-SIM iPhones, choose the Lebara line before opening its voice and data settings.

1. Open Settings and Mobile Data.Select the Lebara number if more than one line is installed.
2. Open Mobile Data Options, then Voice & Data.The exact wording can vary with iOS, phone model and network profile.
3. Select 4G or LTE with voice enabled.Lebara's iPhone 11 guide says 4G LTE must be selected as the network mode for VoLTE.³
4. Restart if the option has just appeared.Then make an ordinary test call while 4G is showing.

Newer iPhones may manage VoLTE without showing a separate switch. If 4G is selected and calls remain on 4G, the feature is doing its job even if Apple has declined to provide a satisfying button.

Samsung, Pixel, OnePlus and friends

How to turn on Lebara VoLTE on Android

Android manufacturers enjoy moving settings around. Open Settings and search for VoLTE, 4G Calling or LTE calls. If search finds nothing, start under Connections or Network and internet, choose the Lebara SIM, then open Mobile network.

Do not copy another phone's menu path word for word and assume yours is broken. Use Lebara's guide for the exact model and software version. Manufacturers rename menus with an enthusiasm normally reserved for paint colours.

Prove it with a call

How to check that 4G Calling is working

1. Turn off WiFi for the test.This prevents WiFi Calling from taking the call and confusing the result.
2. Confirm that 4G or LTE appears.Use a place where mobile reception is stable.
3. Call an ordinary number.Do not use 999 for a test call.
4. Watch the network indicator.If it remains on 4G or LTE and the call works, VoLTE is active. If it drops to another network, continue with the checks below.

A phone may show "HD" during some calls, but the network indicator is the more useful check here. Do not judge the feature from one crackly call in a lift. Test somewhere sensible first.

If you are choosing a Lebara plan for a compatible phone, open the current referral offer and confirm the plan, discount and renewal price before paying.

If the option is absent

Why 4G Calling may be missing

• The SIM is still being enabledLebara says it sends a notification when the feature is ready. A new connection may not have it immediately.
• The exact model is unsupportedA phone can support 4G data without supporting Lebara VoLTE on that particular variant.
• The software or network profile is oldInstall suitable system updates, restart and check again.
• The wrong SIM is selectedDual-SIM phones keep separate mobile settings for each line.
• 4G is not the chosen network modeLebara's device guides require 4G LTE mode before VoLTE can work.

When those checks pass but calls still leave 4G, contact Lebara with the exact model, software version, IMEI and whether the SIM is physical or an eSIM. Ask support to confirm that 4G Calling is provisioned on the line. A precise fault report beats "phone wonky" by several laps.

Quick answers

Lebara VoLTE questions