Missing calls on your iPhone after iOS 18 update? You’re not alone.
In this article we discuss some simple issues that may be causing iPhone not to receive incoming calls after installing the latest iOS 18 update, and explain how to fix them.
See also: How to fix iPhone not making calls after iOS 18 update
How to troubleshoot your iPhone if it isn’t receiving calls after iOS 18 update
Check for an iOS software update
Before you start changing settings or hassling your network provider, it’s worth checking that your iPhone is running the latest version of iOS 18. Occasionally an update will fix your issue.
Open the Settings app and tap "General." Then, select “Software Update." if an update is available, follow the instructions to update your iPhone.
Check for a carrier settings update
It is possible that outdated carrier settings may cause this call issue. Updating your carrier settings may fix this problem.
Open the Settings app and tap "General." Then, select “About."
A popup will appear asking you to update the carrier settings if there is an update.
Tap Update. Updating will be very quick and will be completed within about a few seconds.
Check your network connection
Not having cellular reception will prevent people from being able to reach you, so consider that a possibility if you’re not receiving calls after iOS 18 update. You can see your cellular reception in the top-left corner of the screen at most times. On some devices, you may need to swipe down from the top-right side of the screen to enter Control Center to see more information.
If there are no signal bars, go outside your room or closed area, and hopefully, your phone will latch on to a signal.
Running a manual network selection can also help. To do that, go to Settings > Cellular > Network Selection and turn off Automatic to force your iPhone to do a signal search. Next, tap your carrier’s name when and if it appears.
Check you haven’t turned on silent mode
Another possibility is that you have turned your phone to silent mode and are missing calls because your phone doesn’t ring.
Check the switch on the side of your iPhone and make sure that it’s not muted.
Alternatively, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and check a few things: such as whether the volume is at a reasonable level, and whether you’ve chosen a suitable (i.e. recognisable and audible) ringtone.
Check the Caller Isn’t Blocked by Mistake
If you’re expecting a call from a particular number, but it never comes (even when the other person tells you they’re trying to phone), you may want to check if you’ve previously blocked it. Blocking a number prevents that person from calling you, so if you want to receive calls from the number, it’s time to unblock. To check if this is the case, open the Phone app and tap on the "Contacts" tab.
Find the person in question and then scroll down to the very bottom of the contact card to see if they are blocked. You’ll be invited to "Unblock this Caller" if they are blocked. If you see "Block this Caller" instead then they aren’t on your list of blocked contacts.
You can also review your full list of blocked contacts under Settings > Apps > Phone > Blocked Contacts. If you see any entries you want to unblock, tap the Edit button, then the appropriate red button(s) to remove them.
Disable Call Forwarding
Call forwarding allows you to pass calls on to another number automatically. With the setting enabled, you won’t receive phone calls on your iPhone but rather on the number you’ve nominated to forward to instead. Go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Forwarding. If it’s turned on, shut it to resume receiving calls on your device.
Disable Focus Modes like Do Not Disturb
You can use Focus to prevent distractions from interrupting you while you work, exercise, drive, or sleep. Focus can be set up under Settings > Focus and controlled using the "Focus" button in Control Center (swipe down from the top-right-hand corner of your iPhone’s screen).
Depending on the Focus mode you have enabled and how you have set the feature up, only certain contacts may be able to contact you when Focus is enabled. Head to Settings > Focus to customize your settings, whitelist contacts, or allow all calls. You specifically want to change the "Allow Calls From" setting within a Focus mode’s settings.
Some Focus modes can be triggered automatically whenever you start a certain activity. For example, if you have set up the Fitness profile within Focus settings calls may be silenced whenever you start any type of workout on your Apple Watch. You can disable a mode, or set specific parameters to avoid it blocking your calls.
Check Silence Unknown Callers.
Sometimes an intended change that comes with a new version of iOS could be the root of your problem.
If Silence Unknown Callers feature is turned on, all calls from people not in your Contacts will be going straight to voicemail.
Go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers. If the setting is on, a caller must be listed in your Contacts or Recents. Or they must have shared their number in Mail or sent you a message using that number in order for their call to go through. Add their number to Contacts to ensure the phone rings. Calls from some third-party apps might not go through.
Reset Network Settings
If you’re still not receiving incoming calls in iOS 18, it’s possible that the issue has to do with your network settings. In this case, resetting your network settings might help. Be aware that resetting network settings will erase all current saved settings, including Wi-Fi passwords, preferred networks, and VPN and APN settings that you’ve used before.
Open the Settings app and tap "General." Then, select "Transfer Or Reset iPhone."
Tap "Reset."
Choose "Reset Network Settings."
Enter your device passcode and tap "Reset Network Settings" again.
Check your network provider
The last reason you are not receiving calls in iOS 18 is that your network might be down or you’re suffering reduced access.
In this case the fault lies with your network provider and not your iPhone. But before calling to complain, turn your iPhone off and on again and see if that fixes the problem.
Sometimes you can get a better signal just by turning Airplane Mode on and off again by opening Control Centre and tapping on the plane symbol so that it’s orange, which means the setting is on, and then again so it goes white/black.