Your iPhone won’t make calls after iOS 18 update and you don’t know what to do. No matter which number or contact you try to call, nothing happens. We spent some time searching and narrowing down the issue, so we thought we’d compile this quick and easy troubleshooting guide for what to do if an iPhone can’t make calls after iOS 18 update. If it works for you, feel free to pay it forward – send it along to someone else in need and collect your good karma. And so, without further ado, here’s what to do if your iPhone telephone app isn’t working after iOS 18 update.
How to troubleshoot your iPhone if it isn’t making calls after iOS 18 update
Toggle Airplane mode on and off
Often times, turning airplane mode on and off will set things right. By toggling Airplane Mode on and off, you’ll force the iPhone to request a new connection to the network, and calls should start going through again. Go to Settings and turn on airplane mode. Wait a few seconds, and then turn airplane mode off again.
Are you blocked?
The first question you should answer is whether you are having this problem with all of your outgoing calls or just with certain calls. If your iPhone won’t make any calls, move to the next fix. But if most of your calls are working, there is a possibility that you may have been blocked.
If certain calls are going to voicemail directly, and the Messages app says that texts are delivered as SMS instead of iMessage, the recipient may have blocked you. Your calls and messages will not be delivered to people who blocked you.
Update your iPhone and carrier settings
Ensure that your iPhone is using the latest version of iOS 18. Apple may have fixed related bugs. Also, ensure that the latest carrier settings updates are installed on your iPhone. Carrier settings updates are released by your cellular company.
- Update iOS by going to Settings > General > Software Update.
- Check for Carrier settings update by going to Settings > General > About. A Carrier Setting Update prompt will appear if there is an update. If you don’t see a popup, you’re good to go.
Restart your iPhone
Simply reboot your iPhone. Your iOS 18 calling problem may be due to a temporary software glitch that can be fixed with a simple restart. Restarting is easy, and you do not lose any data.
To restart your iPhone, activate Siri, say "restart my iPhone," and confirm when prompted.
Alternatively, on iPhones with Face ID, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen to reveal the Control Center. Tap the power button in the top-right corner and slide to power off. Whereas, for iPhones with Touch ID, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to reveal the Control Center. Tap the power button and swipe the power slider to switch off. You can then start the iPhone back again by long-pressing the Side key.
Remove and reinsert SIM card
If your iPhone has a physical SIM card, it’s a good idea to remove and reinsert it. This will deactivate and reactivates the card, hopefully removing any issues that were preventing your iPhone from making calls after iOS 18 update.
Reset Your Network Settings
As with your SIM card, you can try resetting your network settings if you still can’t make calls after iOS 18 update. This clears your iPhone of any stored data that might potentially interfere with its functioning. Please note that resetting network settings will delete all your saved network information like Wi-Fi passwords and carrier settings.
Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings, enter your password, and confirm that you want to reset your network settings.
Your iPhone will restart and once it’s back on, your network settings will be totally reset. Bear in mind, you’ll need to reconnect to any Wi-Fi networks or Bluetooth connections you use.
Contact your service provider to learn about your plan and ongoing outages
One reason why your iPhone can’t make calls after iOS 18 update may be that there’s a problem with your service provider. Contact them. Most of this info can also be obtained through the cellular provider’s mobile app or online account service if you are using them. There can be several issues you may need to address.
- Ensure that your account is still in good standing. Perhaps your account has been suspended because you have not paid your last bill.
- Ensure that there are no local outages affecting your account. Perhaps a storm damaged the cell towers around you.
- Ensure that you are not over your plan limit. You may be on a plan with limited call minutes. Check how much credit you have left, and if you’re fresh out, buy some more if you need to make a call.
Go to your carrier’s website or open its app and follow its support procedures.