If your call fails or you can't receive calls on your iPhone

You may not be able to make or receive calls on your iPhone if you have certain settings turned on, if your software isn’t up to date or if there’s a problem with your network.

Contact your network provider

When you contact your network provider, make sure that:

  • Your account has been set up to use your iPhone.

  • There aren't any localised service outages.

  • Your account doesn't have a billing-related block.

  • Your calls don't have errors on the network provider system.

Update your software

  1. Check for a network provider settings update.

  2. Check for an iOS software update. Some updates might require a Wi-Fi connection.

Check your settings

If you can’t make or receive calls on your iPhone, follow these steps, testing after completing each step.

Check your network settings

  1. Reset your network settings. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This will erase all currently saved settings, including Wi-Fi passwords, preferred networks, and VPN and APN settings that you've used before.

  2. Try to make or receive calls in another location.

Check your iPhone settings

  1. Turn Airplane Mode on and off. Go to Settings and turn on Airplane Mode, wait five seconds, then turn it off.

  2. Check Do Not Disturb. Go to Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb and make sure it's off. Find out how to use Focus on your iPhone or iPad.

  3. Check for any blocked phone numbers. Go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts.

  4. To avoid missing calls from a contact, add their number to Contacts to ensure that your phone rings.

  5. Check Call Forwarding. Go to Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding and make sure it's off.

  6. Check Silence Unknown Callers. Go to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers. If this setting is turned on, a caller must be listed in your Contacts or Recents. Or they must have shared their number in the Mail app or sent you a message using that number in order for their call to go through. Add their number to Contacts to ensure the phone rings. Calls from some third-party apps may not go through.

Find out more

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