The Download
- To listen to FM radio on a phone without data, your phone needs an active FM chip.
- You need wired headphones to listen to FM radio on your phone because they work as the antenna.
- The NextRadio app can help you find out if your phone can tune into FM radio.
This article explains how to listen to FM radio on your mobile device without a cellular data connection or Wi-Fi. This information applies to any Android device.
How to Listen to FM Radio Without Data in NextRadio
NextRadio is an ad-supported radio app available for download from the Google Play store. It functions similarly to other radio apps that stream stations over the internet, but can also use your phone’s FM radio receiver chip.
With an active data connection, you can listen to streaming radio stations or local FM broadcasts. If you lose your data connection, activate FM only mode.
To activate FM only mode in NextRadio:
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Launch the NextRadio app.
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Tap the ☰ (menu icon with three horizontal lines).
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Tap Settings.
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Tap FM only mode to move the toggle switch to the right.
If your phone lacks an enabled FM chip, the FM only mode option won’t be available.
With FM only mode activated, NextRadio uses the built-in FM receiver chip instead of streaming local stations over the internet. If you lose data service or cell service, you can still listen to any FM station in range.
Lifewire / Elise Degarmo
How to Listen to Local FM Radio Stations in NextRadio
Once FM only mode is activated in the NextRadio app, you can listen to local FM radio without using your data plan. You’ll need wired headphones or earbuds, as wireless headphones won’t work—the phone uses the wires as an antenna.
To listen to local radio with the NextRadio app:
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Plug in your headphones or earbuds.
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Launch the NextRadio app.
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Tap the ☰ (menu icon with three horizontal lines).
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Tap Local FM Radio.
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Tap the station you want to listen to.
With an active data connection and station support, NextRadio displays the station’s logo and information about the song or program you’re listening to. Otherwise, identify the station by its call letters.
How to Use the Basic Tuner in NextRadio
NextRadio includes a basic tuner function similar to any other FM radio. Instead of selecting a station from a list of local stations, you can use the tuner to search for local stations. Simply enter the station you want or use the seek function to explore what’s available.
To use the basic tuner in NextRadio without an internet connection:
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Plug in your headphones or earbuds.
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Launch the NextRadio app.
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Tap the ☰ (three horizontal lines) menu icon.
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Tap Basic Tuner.
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Use the interface to search for stations by moving back and forward.
- Tap the – and + buttons to adjust the frequency.
- Tap the back and forward buttons to use the seek functionality. When you tune into an active station, it plays automatically.
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Tap the stop button to stop listening.
Are FM Radios Built Into Smartphones?
FM radio isn’t a feature that smartphone manufacturers intentionally include. It’s a byproduct of certain chips used in phones, which come with built-in FM receivers alongside other features manufacturers focus on.
Which Phones Have FM Radio Receivers?
Smartphone manufacturers often disable built-in FM radio receivers. In some cases, carriers have requested this feature be disabled, possibly to promote data-extensive radio apps or avoid complaints about poor radio reception.
While the FM chips in many phones are turned off, this feature is available on many models. Manufacturers such as HTC, LG, Motorola, and Samsung offer several phones with functional FM chips. Every major cellular provider in the United States supports at least one FM-enabled phone.
The major exception is Apple, as no iPhones have activated FM chips. Although the iPhone 6 and older models included FM chips, Apple states there is no way to connect an antenna to the chip.
Can You Listen to FM Radio on an iPhone?
The only way to listen to FM radio on an iPhone is by using a radio app, which requires a stable data connection. This means you can’t depend on your iPhone for FM radio during emergencies.
The FCC urged Apple to enable the FM chips in their phones in 2017, but Apple responded that their latest phones don’t have FM chips. Even if they did, they lack headphone jacks. FM chips typically can’t receive signals without headphone wires acting as an antenna.
Although iPhone owners can listen to FM radio with radio apps for iOS, relying on local cellular and data networks in a disaster isn’t advisable. Radio apps are great for entertainment, but to access crucial information during emergencies like hurricanes, invest in a battery-powered or emergency radio.
What You Need to Enable the FM Radio Tuner in Your Phone
To listen to FM radio on your phone without a data connection, you’ll need:
- A phone with a built-in FM radio chip: Your phone must have FM radio capability activated by both the manufacturer and the carrier.
- Wired earbuds or headphones: FM radio requires an antenna. Your phone uses the wires in your earbuds or headphones as the antenna.
- An FM radio app: Even with an FM radio chip, you’ll need an app like NextRadio to access it.
FAQ
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What is ANT radio on Android?
ANT and ANT+ apps are, basically, functions that allow your Android phone to connect to fitness devices like various monitors and pedometers. But unlike other smartphone functions that are worked into Settings, ANT radio services appear as a separate app.
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How do I check to see if my phone has a functioning FM receiver?
The easiest way to verify whether or not your phone has a working FM receiver built into it is to download the NextRadio app, then let the app tell you if it’s compatible.
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What do I do when my Android phone shows “radio off” and can’t find a connection?
If your phone begins to behave as if it’s in airplane mode—meaning no connections are functioning—even when it’s not, and it displays “radio off,” power down your phone and remove the battery. Wait a few minutes, then reinsert the battery and turn the phone back on. The method for removing the battery varies based on your phone’s make and model. If your phone’s design prevents easy battery removal, let the battery drain completely until the phone shuts itself down. Wait a few minutes, then recharge and power it back on.
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