iPhone Call Failed? (Try These Fixes FIRST!)

Why Does My iPhone Keeps Saying Call Failed?

We can’t pin down a single reason why your iPhone keeps saying call failed. Low signal quality, broken SIM card, some annoying software bugs, and SIM card tray damage may cause this problem.

Whatever the cause might be, the fixes below will help you start making phone calls again. Keep in mind these fixes can also be helpful if your iPhone says no SIM card installed.

1. Restart Your iPhone

Restarting your iPhone may solve many minor problems. To restart your iPhone, follow the steps below:

Using iOS 

1. Navigate to Settings. 

2. Then, tap on General.

3. Finally, choose Shut Down. 

2. Turn Airplane Mode On and Off

To reset iPhone’s cellular connection, you have to turn Airplane Mode on and off again. It may fix the problem when iPhone calls fail. Follow the steps below:

1. Head to Settings.

2. Next, toggle Airplane Mode to turn it on and then tap on it to turn it off. 

Alternatively, you can:

1. Swipe down the top right corner (in iPhones with Face ID) or swipe up the bottom of the home page (in iPhones without Face ID) to open the Control Center. 

2. Tap on the Airplane Mode button to turn it on or off.

3. Remove and Reinsert SIM Card

Most iPhones have the SIM Card tray on the right side of the body. Remove the tray with the ejector tool provided in the iPhone box or a thin pin or needle.

Gently clean and rub the SIM Card and reinsert it carefully into the SIM card slot. 

4. Reset Network Settings

If you think something is wrong with the network that caused your iPhone calls to fail, reset your iPhone’s network settings.

You can solve many network-related issues by resetting your iPhone’s settings. Network settings reset will not erase your data, but it will remove all saved connections, paired Bluetooth devices, and VPN setups.

Follow the steps below to reset network settings. 

1. First, go to Settings.

2. After that, select General. 

3. Scroll down and hit Transfer or Reset iPhone. 

4. Tap on Reset.

5. Choose Reset Network Settings. 

6. Enter your passcode to begin the process. 

5. Reset All Settings

If resetting your network settings didn’t solve your call failure or “No SIM Card Installed” error, you can reset all settings on your iPhone.

It will change all settings on your device and brings the default settings. Note that it won’t change or erase any of your data.

To reset all settings, check the following steps:

1. Navigate to Settings.

2. Now, tap on General. 

3. Scroll down and tap on Transfer or Reset iPhone. 

4. Tap on Reset.

5. Then, choose Reset All Settings. 

6. Enter your passcode to begin the process. 

6. Update Your iPhone

iPhone keeps saying call failed? What is the version of your iOS? Sometimes these types of issues are caused by outdated iOS versions.

You have to update your iOS immediately after Apple releases a new version. Software updates will fix bugs and improve the functions of the device.

To update your iPhone to the latest iOS version, follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings. 

2. Navigate to General.

3. Next, choose Software Update.

4. Finally, if you see any updates available, tap on Download and Install. 

If you find any issues updating your phone, check our guide on how to fix unable to check for update on iPhone.

7. Force Close All Apps

Sometimes your iPhone failed to call because of conflicts with other apps open in the background. You can solve minor software problems by force closing and reopening the apps.

If you have several apps open, close them all to solve the problem.

For iPhones with Face ID

1. Swipe up the middle bottom of the Home Screen to open the app switcher.

2. Swipe up on each app to close them.

8. Check Carrier Settings Update

Updates for wireless carriers’ settings can enhance the connection between iPhones and their network. It’s a good idea to update the carrier settings.

When a carrier settings update is available, you’ll usually get a pop-up on your iPhone. If you get that notification, tap on the Update button.

To manually check for carrier’s settings update:

1. Go to Settings.

2. Then, tap on General.

3. Choose About.

4. If a carrier settings update is available, a pop-up will appear within 15 seconds.

9. Dial *#31#

Dialing *#31# is a nearly foolproof and straightforward solution to fix the problem of call failure on your iPhone.

10. Turn Call Forwarding Off

The Call Forwarding feature on iPhone may cause interference, and your phone calls may fail. You can turn it off to see if this is the problem or not.

To turn off Call Forwarding, follow these steps:

1. Head to the Settings menu.

2. Choose Phone.

3. After that, tap on Call Forwarding.

4. Finally, make sure it is off. 

11. Contact Your Carrier

If none of the above solutions worked, you must contact your mobile carrier. There could be something wrong with your SIM Card related to the mobile carrier.

Pending bills, unpaid charges, and antenna issues in your neighborhood may cause the suspension of the service, and as a result, your phone calls fail. 

Wrap-Up: iPhone Call Failed

As you can see there’re a wide number of reasons why your iPhone calls are failing.

Software bugs, broken SIM Card tray, outdated iOS, crashed apps, suspension in the mobile carrier’s services, and iOS features such as Call Forwarding are the main reasons your iPhone call fails.

Hopefully, we have tackled the issue of your iPhone calls failing and have helped you to fix it.

If none of the solutions worked for you, we suggest you contact your mobile carrier or make a Genius reservation to get help from the pros.