How to fix call failed on iPhone (iOS 18 updated)

There you are, about to make an important call when your day is derailed by the error message “call failed.” You may be frustrated, searching online, and wondering why my iPhone says the call failed.

You have landed at the right place because I have compiled a list of quick and easy solutions to fix the iPhone call failed error.

Why does my iPhone keep saying call failed?

If calls fail immediately or repeatedly on your iPhone, the usual suspects are cellular connectivity or Wi-Fi issues, a Phone app issue, AirPlane mode, and a change required in your Network Settings.

While not being able to make your call is annoying, the solutions are fairly straightforward if one of these pesky roadblocks causes your misfortune. Let’s get into the fixes.

Note

If you haven’t already, it may be worth recalling the number to make sure your iPhone’s calls are actually failing and that this wasn’t a one-off issue.

How to fix call failed on iPhone

It can be frustrating when your iPhone repeatedly displays ‘Call Failed.’ Don’t worry, we’re here to help. Below are some troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue.

1. Force close the Phone app

One of the simplest solutions to fix any app-related issues on your iPhone is to force close and relaunch the app. Here’s how to do so for the Phone app:

1. Open the App Switcher on your iPhone by swiping up from the bottom of the screen.
2. Swipe up on the Phone app to close it.

   

3. Then, relaunch the Phone app to see if you can place calls again.

2. Check your cellular reception

If relaunching the Phone app didn’t help eliminate the “Call Failed” error, the next step is to check your iPhone’s cellular reception. This makes sure you’re not unreachable; it’s best to have at least three bars of signal strength.

If you have weak cellular reception, you can try moving to a different room or location to see if that helps. However, if you continue to face issues, follow the steps given below to reconnect your iPhone to cellular services.

1. Open the Control Center on your iPhone by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen.
2. Tap and enable Airplane mode for a few seconds → Then turn it off.

3. Force restart your iPhone

If your calls are still failing, try the tried-and-true method of turning your iPhone off and on again.

This will help resolve any temporary glitches that may prevent your iPhone from working correctly. However, if you don’t know how to do so, check out our in-depth guide on how to hard reboot any iPhone.

4. Turn off Wi-Fi calling

Disabling Wi-Fi calling can also help you get rid of the “Call Failed” error on your iPhone. This error can sometimes be caused by issues with your internet network.

If you turn off Wi-Fi calling, the calls will be routed over the mobile network instead, which might resolve the issue.

1. Go to Settings → Cellular.
2. Tap Wi-Fi Calling  → Toggle off Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone.
   If you have dual SIMs, you must select a SIM to access these options.

   

You can also toggle it off under Settings → Phone → Wi–Fi Calling.

5. Check for carrier updates

Most providers deploy regular carrier updates that can help improve your iPhone’s connectivity and make it compatible with newer technologies. However, if you’ve never installed a carrier update, you may encounter the Call Failed error. We also have a detailed guide for if a cellular update fails on your iPhone.

1. Go to Settings → General → About.
2. Tap Update if a carrier update is available.

   

6. Enable automatic network selection

The “Call Failed” error on iPhone can also occur due to a weak or congested cellular network. However, enabling automatic network selection can help eliminate this issue by allowing your iPhone to automatically switch to a different network in case the current network fails to work as expected.

1. Go to Settings → Cellular.
2. Tap Network Selection → Toggle on Automatic.
   If you have dual SIMs, you must select a SIM to access these options.

   

If automatic network selection is already enabled, you can try turning it off to select a mobile network manually to see if that can help you fix the issue. However, if that doesn’t stop your calls from failing, try the next solution.

7. Select the correct network mode

The “Call Failed” error can also occur because your iPhone is connected to the wrong network mode. For example, if your iPhone is set to 5G, and you are in an area with only 4G coverage, you may get the Call Failed error.

To prevent this issue from occurring, you should select the correct network mode. Here’s how:

1. Go to Settings → Cellular.
2. Tap Cellular data options → Voice & Data.
   If you have dual SIMs, you must select one to access these options. In this case, voice and data will be under the SIM chosen rather than Cellular data options.
3. Select 5G or any other network mode supported by your SIM.
   You may disable VoLTE if you’re using 3G instead of 4G or 5G.

   

8. Check your SIM

If you’re using dual SIM on an iPhone wherein one SIM supports calling while the other SIM is reserved only for data, make sure you’ve chosen the correct SIM or Default Voice Line that can be used for calls.

1. Go to Settings → Cellular → Default Voice Line.
2. Select your preferred SIM for voice/call.

   

Although the steps above can help you choose the default voice line, you can still change the SIM you’re using for specific contacts in the Phone app. Here’s how to ensure you’ve selected the correct SIM before placing calls:

1. Open a contact in the Phone app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the always use option above the contact’s name.
3. Select your preferred SIM for calls → Tap Done.

   

9. Reinsert the SIM

If you’ve never removed a SIM card since the day you completed setting it up, it may need to be removed and cleaned before it can start working again.

If your iPhone uses eSIM instead of a physical card, you can delete the eSIM in Settings and add it again to fix the issues.

Aside from iPhone 14 and later models sold in the United States, all iPhones have a physical SIM card slot on the left side. Check out our guide if you don’t know which iPhone model you have.

Use the ejector tool or a pin to remove the SIM card. Then, clean it with a soft dry cloth before reinserting it.

If your iPhone uses an eSIM, follow these steps to delete and re-add it:

1. Go to Settings → Cellular.
2. Select the eSIM you want to Delete → Tap Delete eSIM.
3. Tap Delete eSIM again to confirm your action.

   

4. Tap Add eSIM → Follow the instructions to set up the eSIM again.

   

10. Check for iOS updates

Glitches in iOS can also cause calls to fail on you. If you think that’s the case with your iPhone, follow the steps below.

1. Go to Settings → General → Software Update.
2. Tap Update Now if an update is available.

   

11. Reset Network Settings

Unnecessary changes you might’ve made to your iPhone’s network settings can also cause calls to fail unexpectedly. If you think this could be the case with your iPhone, try resetting the network settings to their default values.

1. Go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone.

   
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2. Tap Reset → Reset Network Settings.
3. Enter your iPhone’s passcode.
4. Tap Reset Network Settings again to complete the process.

   

12. Check if you’re blocked

If your number has been blocked, you may receive the “Call Failed” status on your iPhone.

One of the easiest solutions to see if you’ve been blocked is to place a call to another number. If that call goes through without a hitch, and you try to call the original number again only to get a “Call Failed” error, there’s a good chance you’ve been blocked.

Give our in-depth guide on how to know if someone has blocked you and look for more information.

13. Factory reset

If the previous fixes didn’t work for you, your last resort is to perform a factory reset on your iPhone. This will delete the user data and preferences to restore your iPhone to factory settings and fix any issues along the way.

Since factory resetting erases all photos, videos, files, and user settings, it’s important to back up your iPhone before doing so. Otherwise, your stored data will be lost without a way to recover it.

1. Go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone.
2. Choose Erase All Content and Settings.

   
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3. Tap Continue → type the iPhone Passcode. Once the automatic iCloud backup is complete, you may follow the on-screen instructions.

   

Video: 7 Ways to Fix Call Failed on iPhone

Contact your carrier for support.

If none of the previously mentioned solutions were able to help you resolve the “Call Failed” issue, you will have to contact your carrier to see if they can assist you. Additionally, you can request a replacement SIM card for your existing number to phase out the possibility of SIM card-related issues.

If your carrier isn’t able to do much, try contacting Apple Support to schedule a Genius bar appointment at a nearby Apple Store. This way, you can get your iPhone diagnosed for potential hardware and software issues that might be causing the calls to fail unexpectedly.

Wrapping up…

Calls failing on iPhone can be a really frustrating issue when you’re in the middle of an important conversation. However, the fixes listed in this guide should help you resolve this issue quickly. If you found this guide helpful, let us know which solution did the trick for you in the comment section below.

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