How to fix iPhone “Call Failed” issue on iOS 18

Several users have reported that they can’t make phone calls on their iPhone. They are getting the error message “Call Failed” when they attempt to make a call on their iPhone. They have further said the problem started after the iOS 18 update. This article lists several simple steps you can try to solve the iPhone call failed error in iOS 18.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• If you’re iPhone is saying call failed any time you tried to make a call on iOS 18, you should toggle Airplane mode, restart your phone, and reset your SIM card.
• You can also reset your iPhone’s network settings to fix iOS 18 call failed issue.

Why does my iPhone keep saying call failed on iOS 18?

A call failed error on iOS 18 could be because of a problem with your cellular provider or your iPhone. Whatever the cause, here are all the different ways to fix a call failed error on your device.

How to fix call failed on iPhone on iOS 18

Try these steps in order. After trying each step below, open the Phone app and try to make a call on your iPhone to see if you’ve fixed your issue.

Try your call again

I know this sounds obvious, but the first thing you should do is to try calling again. Often, a call will fail as a result of a temporary network glitch, and the call will work just fine a minute later. Before trying other troubleshooting steps mentioned below, tap the dial button to redial your last number.

Close and reopen the Phone app

Often, a software glitch is easily solved just by restarting the program that’s misbehaving. Simply close the Phone app and then start the Phone app a second time. If the app was suffering a minor software problem, it might now work. Here’s how:

iPhones With Face ID including iPhone 16

1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app switcher. You should see all of your apps represented as cards.
2. Swipe side-to-side through your apps until you find the Phone app.
3. Swipe up on the Phone app. When it disappears off the top of the screen, it’s closed.

iPhones Without Face ID including (iPhone SE, 3rd generation)

1. Double-press the Home button. This starts the app switcher, where you should see all of your apps represented as cards.
2. Swipe side-to-side through your apps until you find the Phone app.
3. Swipe up on the Phone app. When it disappears off the top of the screen, it’s closed.

Toggle Airplane mode

One of the most common reasons a call may fail on iOS 18 is because of a glitch with your cellular connection. You can resolve this by toggling your cellular connection off and back on again. Here’s how:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap the switch next to Airplane Mode to turn it on.
3. Wait about 30 seconds.
4. Tap the Airplane mode switch again to re-enable your cellular network.

Try moving your location

While relatively rare, dead spots still exist and you might see No Service error on your iPhone. You might encounter this when underground (in a basement or on mass transit) or in a rural area. Reception issues can also happen if you’re near another country’s border and your phone thinks you’re roaming. If this is the case, you should try moving to an area or location with a stronger signal and dial again.

Restart your iPhone

If you have gotten this far and your iPhone keep saying “Call Failed,” restart your device. There might be a glitch with your Phone app or your phone’s network connection that turning it off and back on again will solve.

iPhones With Face ID

1. Press and hold both the Side button and either of the Volume buttons.
2. When a slider labeled slide to power offappears at the top of the screen, drag it to the right.
3. Wait a few seconds, then press and hold the side button to turn your iPhone back on.
4. Release the side button when the Apple logo appears.

iPhones Without Face ID

1. Press and hold the Power button.
2. When the slide to power off appears at the top of the screen, drag it to the right.
3. Wait a few seconds, then press and hold the power button again to turn your iPhone on again.
4. You can release the power button when the Apple logo appears on the screen.

Check For An iOS Update

If you are still having trouble making calls, ensure that your iPhone is running the latest version of iOS. Here is how you can check for iOS update:

1. Make sure your iPhone is connected to a Wi-Fi network.
2. Open your phone’s Settings app, tap General, and then tap Software Update.
3. If there is an update available, tap Update Now.

Check For A Carrier Settings Update

While rare, it’s sometimes possible that your phone’s carrier settings might be to blame for the call failed error. That’s especially true if your cellular provider has recently updated its configuration and the changes failed to update automatically on your phone for some reason. To check for a carrier setting update, follow the steps below:

1. Make sure your iPhone is connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network.
2. Open your phone’s Settings app, tap General, and then tap About.
3. Scroll down to Carrier. Next to Carrier, if a new update is available, you’ll see an option to perform this update.

Remove and reinstall the SIM card

If you still see call failed error message, it’s possible that there’s a problem with the way your iPhone’s SIM card is seated in its tray, and the phone is having trouble reading all the contacts on the card. You can resolve this problem by reseating your SIM card. Here’s how:

1. Locate the SIM card tray on your iPhone.
2. Gently press the tip of your ejection tool or paperclip into the hole and press into the bottom of the SIM card tray until the tray pops out.
3. Make sure the SIM card is seated properly in its tray and then reinsert it carefully.

Reset your network settings

If you’ve tried everything else in this list and you still can’t complete any phone calls due to the Call Failed error, it might be time to reset network settings on your iPhone. It’s worth noting that this troubleshooting step will erase all your network settings, including any saved WiFi network passwords and paired Bluetooth devices.

Nonetheless, this might resolve call failed issue. Follow the steps below:

1. Open your phone’s Settings app, tap General, and then tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
2. Tap Reset, and then tap Reset Network Settings.
3. When asked, enter your iPhone passcode, and then tap Reset Network Settings to confirm.

Contact your carrier

There are many reasons why calls might be failing on your iPhone. And, if after troubleshooting things for yourself, you find that you are still unable to complete any phone calls due to the Call Failed error, it’s time to contact your phone carrier. They should be able to walk you through your options, and, hopefully, fix the issue.

In case you are unable to call them using your iPhone, you might need to visit the provider’s store.