Your iPhone won’t make calls after iOS 17 update and you don’t know why. No matter which number or contact you try to call, nothing happens. In this article, I’ll explain what to do when your iPhone is not making calls after iOS 17 update!
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- iPhone not making calls after iOS 17 update could be a problem with your cellular provider or your phone.
- To fix the problem, you should toggle Airplane mode, restart your phone, and reset your SIM card.
- You can also reset your iPhone’s network settings, but that will erase passwords.
Did you try to make a call from your iPhone after iOS 17 update, but it’s not going through? You probably find that you can’t hear the outgoing dial tone or the call attempt ends abruptly. Your screen may also show an error message, saying Call Failed.
If this has happened to you, we’ve put together a list of things you can try when your iPhone is not making calls after iOS 17 update. This spans everything from the simple to the more involved. Regardless of why your iPhone won’t make calls after installing the latest version of iOS 17, the steps below should get you back up and running again.
How to fix iPhone not making calls in iOS 17
Toggle Airplane mode
One of the most common reasons iPhone can’t make calls after iOS 17 update is because of a glitch with your cellular connection. You can generally fix this by toggling it off and then back on again. To do this, enable Airplane Mode.
- Swipe down from the top right of the screen to bring up the Control Center.
- Tap the Airplane mode icon at the top left, and then wait about 30 seconds.
- Tap the Airplane mode icon again to re-enable your cellular network.
Try moving your location
It’s possible that you’re in a location that has poor service — good enough that your phone thinks it has cellular service, and you’ll see a bar or two of signal strength at the top of your phone — but bad enough that it can’t actually complete a connection. Sometimes you may see “No Service” or “No Signal” at the top of the screen. If you’re indoors, go outside, or otherwise try to change your location and dial again.
Are you blocked?
The next 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
Ensure that your iPhone is using the latest version of iOS. Apple’s iOS software updates often come with bug fixes that fix minor software bugs. Sometimes, you can resolve your iOS 17 call issues by simply keeping your iPhone up to date.
- Open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Select Software Update.
Check for Carrier settings update
If your iPhone still can’t make calls, ensure that the latest carrier settings updates are installed on your device. Carrier settings updates are released by your cellular company. Here is how you can check this:
- Connect your iPhone to Wi-Fi or enable cellular data.
- Open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Select About. A Carrier Setting Update prompt will appear if there is an update.
Restart your iPhone
Simply reboot your iPhone. Your iOS 17 calling problem may be a simple issue that can be fixed with a restart. Restarting is easy, and you do not lose any data.
If your iPhone (iPhone XR and later) does not have a Home button, then press the volume up (or volume down) button and the Side buttons together until you see the power off slider. If you have an iPhone model with a Home button (iPhone SE 2nd and 3rd generation) then press and hold the side button until you see the power off slider. Drag the slider to turn off the device. Wait a few seconds and then press and hold the side button to turn it back on.
Remove and reinsert SIM card
Similar to the perennial reboot advice you get from IT departments, it’s usually worth removing your SIM card and reinserting it again. Doing this effectively de- and reactivates the card, hopefully resolving any issues that were preventing your iPhone from making calls.
The SIM card tray is located on the left side of your iPhone. To eject the tray, you can use the SIM-eject tool that is included in your iPhone box (or a straightened paper clip).
After removing the SIM card, gently dust it off, and then place it back on its tray and re-insert it in your iPhone.
Reset network settings
As with your SIM card, you can try resetting your network settings if you still can’t make calls after iOS 17 update. This clears your phone of any stored data that might potentially interfere with its functioning.
- Open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Select Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Reset.
- Tap Reset Network Settings.
Contact your service provider to learn about your plan and ongoing outages
When your iPhone won’t make calls after iOS 17 update, the issue could be with your service provider. For example, your phone contract may be for only a limited amount of minutes per month, and you may have previously set a block on going beyond that limit (so that you’re not charged). As such, you may need to contact your carrier in order to change your monthly limit and/or block.
Much the same goes if you’re using some kind of prepaid or pay-as-you-go SIM, which limits calls in terms of how much credit you’ve purchased. Check how much credit you have left, and if you’re fresh out, buy some more if you need to make a call.
The above causes usually prevent you from making calls. However, in rare cases, your SIM can be deactivated or blocked, particularly if you’ve repeatedly failed to pay monthly bills on time. You may therefore have to contact your carrier in order to resolve any issues.
Even if you don’t have any issue with your contract or SIM, it may still be worth contacting your carrier in case there are any network outages. Alternatively, you can check sites such as Downdetector for third-party updates on network statuses.
Factory reset your iPhone
If you’ve tried all of the above solutions and your iPhone still can’t make calls, you may want to consider a factory reset. This is basically the nuclear option as far as any problem or bug is concerned, but it can resolve issues in certain cases.
- Open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Select Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Choose Erase All Content and Settings.
Fixed iPhone not making calls after iOS 17 update issue
If you’ve been stuck wondering why you can’t make calls on your iPhone after iOS 17 update, we hope this list of fixes and suggestions has helped you to fix the phone call problems you were experiencing. If the issue persists, it’s better to contact Apple Support for further assistance.
