Are you struggling in fixing iPhone call failed error right now? This issue can be really annoying, especially when you have to make a phone call with an important person. No matter what your iPhone version is, when it comes to any issue, you want to get rid of it as soon as possible. We have discussed so many iPhone problems that may occur, and this time, we are going to list the solutions that will help you fix iPhone call failed error.
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What Does Call Failed Mean?
This error occurs when you are trying to make a phone call, but your iPhone shows “call failed”, as it has been reported by many users. Some of them said they found the error in the middle of having a conversation. When the iPhone is dropping calls, it is usually because the signal in the particular area is weak. Even though the poor signal is the most common reason why the issue occurs, sometimes the SIM card that is damaged or not properly placed or some software bugs are to blame.
Ways To Fix iPhone Call Failed Error
Toggle Airplane mode
Let’s start with the easiest solution. Turn On the Airplane mode by swiping up from any screen of your iPhone in order to access the Control Center. Then, tap the Airplane icon on the upper-left corner of the Control Center. Wait for a few seconds, then turn back off the Airplane mode.
Date & Time
Check if the Date & Time on your phone are set properly, especially if you have just traveled from a different time zone. It can change some related settings. Enabling “Set Automatically” is the best way to adjust this. First, make sure your iPhone is connected to WiFi. Next, go to Settings >> General >> Date and Time. Then, turn on “Set Automatically”.
Dial *#31#
This is one of iPhone’s hidden codes used to disable your outgoing anonymity status. Perhaps you accidentally have set your iPhone number to be hidden in all outgoing call and this cause call failure every time you make or receive a call. Dialing *#31# is the fastest way to do this. Else, you can also check by opening Settings >> Phone >> Show My Caller ID, and make sure the button color next to it is green.
Restart iPhone
This is one of the simple solutions, but yet powerful. Many issues can be easily fixed after restarting the iPhone. To do it, you can just press and hold the Sleep/Wake button of your device for a few seconds until the red slider appears. Move the slider from left to right and let it completely off. Wait for at least 20 seconds or more. Then, turn it back on by pressing the same button until you see the Apple logo shows up on the screen.

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Carrier Settings Update
Carrier Settings on the iPhone is all the settings related to carriers and Apple, which includes network, call, cellular data, messaging, hotspot, and voicemail settings. Updating the iPhone Carrier settings can fix iPhone dropping calls issues. Here is how to do that:
- Make sure your iPhone is connected to a stable Internet connection.
- Go to Settings >> General >> About.
- If the update is available, you will see the notification about it.
Disable LTE
If you want to get a faster Internet connection on your iPhone, you can turn on the LTE. However, it can also impact battery life, calls, text messages, voicemail, and cellular data. To check if this feature is responsible for your iPhone call failed error, try to disable it for a while. You can open Settings >> Cellular >> Cellular Data Option >> tap Voice & Data. Here, choose 3G.
Reinsert SIM card
Your SIM card can be one of the reasons for iPhone dropped calls issues. Check your SIM card if there is any damage or scratches, foremost if you have been using it for a long time.
- Open the tray using a paper clip or the SIM-eject tool.
- Take out the SIM card.
- Try to insert the SIM card into another smartphone and see if it works fine.
- The other option, try to insert another working SIM card into your iPhone and see if you are still getting the iPhone call failed error.
Call your carrier
If you have tried the “Reinsert SIM card” method and find damage on your SIM card, or if it doesn’t work on the smartphone as well, call your carrier. Ask them if there is an issue on the carrier network so that you are not the only one who get this error. Otherwise, ask them for a SIM card replacement.
Update iOS
Sometimes, a bug can make some errors on your device, including iPhone call failed issues. Updating your iOS is essential because it always comes with bug fixes and improvement. Many iPhone issues can be fixed using this method.
- For preparation, make sure your iPhone has connected to a stable Internet connection and that is charged (at least 50%).
- Open Settings >> General >> Software Update.
- If there is an update, your iPhone will load fast to download it first.
- When the Update is ready, tap “Install Now”.
Reset All Settings
One setting can impact the other ones. Try to perform reset all settings because it will bring your iPhone to its default settings. This won’t delete any of your data. Go to Settings >> General >> Reset >> Reset All Settings. After you enter the passcode, choose Reset All Settings to confirm.
Erase iPhone
If the previous solution did not fix the error, try to erase your iPhone. This technique will not only reset all the settings, but will also erase the content and apps on the device. That’s why you should back up your data beforehand. Here are the steps to erase the iPhone:
- Open Settings >> General >> Reset >> Reset All Contents and Settings.
- Enter the passcode.
- Tap Erase iPhone to confirm.
Restore iPhone
The restoring process on iPhone will wipe all the things on your iPhone completely and will bring your iPhone as new. Don’t forget to back up your data before following the steps.
- Make sure your iPhone is full of charge.
- Ensure your iPhone is connected to stable WiFi. This is important, otherwise, you may get iPhone stuck in recovery mode.
- Connect iPhone to Mac/PC with the latest iTunes version installed inside by using a lightning cable.
- Click Restore on the Summary tab.
- Before the process starts, iTunes will download the firmware first.
- Wait until the restoring process is completed.
All the solutions above are found effective to fix iPhone call failed error on iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE, iPhone 7, and iPhone 7 Plus.
If you tried the solutions above, and nothing works, contact Genius Bar or the nearest Apple Authorized Service Provider.
See also: iPhone And Apple Errors And Fixes