iPhone Can’t Make or Receive Calls After iOS 18 Update? How to Fix

It seems that right after the iOS 18 update, many users notice that their iPhone started acting up. I experinced this as well. At first, I thought it was just me and a glitch or maybe my network acting weird. But then it happened again… and again. Suddenly, I couldn’t make calls. My friends said they tried calling me, but my phone never rang. Sometimes, even FaceTime and WhatsApp calls would fail showing signs of a network-related issue. Restarting the phone seemed to help—but only for a few hours. It further seems that many people experienced the similar issues.

I checked the Apple Forums and the Forums showed hundreds of other iPhone users were saying the same thing and these themes start to emerge: “call failed, like the screenshot below” “call ended errors“, “no missed call logs,” or “calls just disappear“. And this isn’t limited to older models. From iPhone 11 Pro to 16 Pro Max, this problem is affecting a wide range of devices.

What Exactly Is the Issue?

These are the most common symptoms reported by users:

You can’t make or receive regular phone calls over cellular.
Incoming calls go straight to voicemail without ringing. Note: We previously explained the reasons why your iPhone might not ring for incoming calls.
You miss calls, but they don’t show up in the call log, indicating no calls reached your phone. Note that your iPhone may silence your calls for variety of reasons.
FaceTime, WhatsApp, and even Teams calls drop suddenly or fail to connect. WhatsApp will say calling if the other party is not ringing.
SMS messages may not send, though iMessage continues working if it is turned on. Note: We previously wrote about a similar issue where you’re unable to make calls but can still send texts, and how to fix it.
Restarting the phone temporarily fixes it—but only for a few hours or a day.

Some users also reported that even when calls do go through, they drop as soon as the screen lights up or when switching from Wi-Fi to cellular.

In this article, I’ve listed 8 fixes that will hopefully help you fix the problem.

What Fixes Have Worked for Some Users?

None of these are guaranteed, but users have reported temporary or partial success with the following steps:

1. Turn Off Wi-Fi Calling and Wi-Fi Assist

Go to Settings > Cellular > Wi-Fi Calling and turn it off. Also go to Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Disable Wi-Fi Assist.

This workaround helped many users on AT&T, Verizon, and other carriers.

Note: We’ve previously explained what Wi-Fi Calling is, in case you’re wondering.

2. Reset Network Settings

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

Note: This will erase saved Wi-Fi passwords.

3. Switch to LTE Instead of 5G

Some users had better luck after changing their network settings: Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Voice & Data → Choose LTE instead of 5G. You can disable LTE.

4. Restarting Your Phone Frequently

While annoying, many users found that rebooting the iPhone every few hours helped calls temporarily go through.

5. Use Speakerphone or Bluetooth Devices

It sounds odd, but some people reported that using speakerphone or connecting AirPods helped reduce the number of dropped calls.

6. Contact Your Carrier

Some carriers were able to push network resets or updates to individual accounts, which fixed the issue for a few users—especially with AT&T.

7. Install the Latest iOS Update

Some people said the issue disappeared after updating to the latest version of iOS, while others said it made no difference or even worsened the problem.

8. Check for a Carrier Settings Update

Carrier settings updates help your iPhone connect better to your mobile network and enable features like 5G and Wi-Fi Calling. If an update is available, you’ll usually see a prompt—just follow the instructions to install it. It only takes a minute.

To check manually:

Connect to Wi-Fi or cellular.
Go to Settings > General > About.
If an update is available, you’ll be prompted to install it.
Updating these settings can help fix calling issues.

What Exactly Is the Issue?

What Fixes Have Worked for Some Users?