My iPhone Won’t Make Calls But Will Text: How To Fix
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It’s both frustrating and confusing when your iPhone won’t make calls but will send texts. Why can it do one but not the other?
There are several reasons this could happen. It could just be a network issue, a faulty SIM card, or it could be something more frightening, like your SIM card being hacked
It can be difficult to tell what the root cause is and fixing the issue often requires trial and error.
This article explains why your iPhone won’t make or receive calls but can text, whether SIM hacking is the cause, and what steps you can take to get your device working again.
🔍My iPhone Won’t Make Calls but I Can Text: TLDR
Don’t have time to read this entire article? No problem; here’s a quick overview of what to do if your iPhone won’t make calls but can text.
Read on for detailed instructions on how to do each one.
- Check if there’s an issue with your carrier
- Check if you’ve been hacked
- Try again from another location
- Check your carrier plan
- Check your blacklist
- Turn off Do Not Disturb
- Turn off call forwarding
- Toggle airplane mode
- Restart your phone
- Check your SIM card
- Turn on Wi-Fi calling
- Download the latest iOS update
- Update carrier settings
- Reset your phone’s network settings
- Reset all your phone’s settings
My iPhone Won’t Make Calls but Will Text: Why?
There are four main reasons why you might be experiencing this problem:
1. Network error
Sometimes the problem isn’t with your iPhone but with your carrier. For example, there may be a power outage or a technical issue that means no one on the network can make calls.
If this happens, you need to either contact your carrier for advice or find another way to make calls in the meantime. For example, you could try using WhatsApp via a Wi-Fi connection.
2. iPhone software or hardware problem
Issues with your iPhone’s software or hardware can also lead to complications with making calls. One such problem can arise from outdated software. Software that isn’t up to date can have bugs or lack features necessary for smooth operation, including those related to voice calls.
Settings within your iPhone could also play a role in your call troubles. Incorrect settings, especially those related to network connectivity, could hinder your ability to make phone calls. Luckily, these problems are often easy to fix and we’ll cover the steps you need to take a little later in this article.
3. SIM card-related issues
One source of your calling problems may lie within the SIM card itself. Several factors can contribute to this situation. For example, a SIM card that has sustained damage or is inherently faulty can lead to difficulties in establishing voice calls.
Additionally, if you’ve recently changed your SIM card and haven’t installed it properly, this can cause problems with making calls. Ensuring that your SIM card is both in good condition and correctly installed is paramount for smooth cellular communication.
4. Your SIM card has been hacked
SIM hacking is when someone either tricks your carrier into switching your number to a new SIM card or physically gains access to it and copies it. Once they have done this, they can make and receive calls/SMS messages using your number.
Because your number has been switched to another SIM, you won’t be able to make phone calls or send standard SMS messages.
SIM card hacking is becoming increasingly common in the U.S. The FBI received 1,600 reports of so-called SIM swap fraud in 2021. This increased to over 2,000 in 2022.
Important
One thing that’s important to note here is that many text messaging services such as iMessage, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger use a WiFi connection and therefore will not be affected by any cellular or carrier issues that could be affecting your phone.
This can explain why you are able to continue to send messages but not make phone calls.
How to Check if Your SIM Has Been Hacked
It’s annoying if your phone doesn’t receive calls, but if you have been hacked, your entire digital life is at risk. For example, hackers could gain access to your bank accounts or commit fraud in your name.
It’s worth quickly assessing if you have been hacked. Here are some of the signs:
- Your phone says ‘No Service’ in a location where is normally does
- Unrecognized numbers on your phone bill
- You have received an SMS message asking you to restart your device
- You’re locked out of accounts that use two-factor authentication
What to do if your SIM is hacked
If you suspect your iPhone SIM has been hacked, contact your carrier immediately and ask them to suspend or cancel your current SIM and send you a replacement.
Your number will be transferred to this new SIM card and the old one will become useless.
The quicker you do this, the less time the hackers have to do any damage.
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My iPhone Won’t Make Calls but Will Text: Solutions
Try these fixes in order. If none of them work, contact your carrier.
Try again from another location
The simplest explanation for not being able to make calls is that your signal is blocked. A good solution is to move to another location. Some buildings or natural obstacles block tower signals. If you can, try going outside or moving to a higher location.
Check your carrier plan
Another simple explanation is that you’ve run out of minutes on your phone plan without realizing it. Check the app you use to manage your carrier plan or log on to your carrier’s website and you should be able to find out about your plan and how many minutes you have remaining.
Check your blacklist
Perhaps you accidentally blacklisted the number you are trying to phone. If so, here’s how to unblock it:
- Go to Settings
- Tap Phone Select Blocked Contacts or Call Blocking and Identification
- Tap Edit
- Choose which numbers you want to unblock
Turn off Do Not Disturb
You may have accidentally turned on Do Not Disturb mode or forgotten it was on. Here’s how to check it and turn it off:
- Swipe down from the top right of your iPhone screen
- Tap Focus
- Tap Do Not Disturb
It’s also worth checking if you have assigned certain people, apps, or time periods to Do Not Disturb.
Turn off Call Forwarding
This is another setting you may have forgotten about or accidentally switched on. It forwards your calls to another number, so if it is enabled, you won’t get any notifications or hear a ringtone when people call.
Here’s how to switch it off:
- Go to Settings
- Tap Phone
- Tap Call Forwarding
- Toggle Call Forwarding to the off position
Toggle Airplane Mode
Toggling Airplane Mode switches off your phone’s cellular connection. Switch it back on and it will establish a new connection to the network. This can often fix calling issues.
Here’s how to do it:
- Swipe down from the top right of your iPhone screen
- Tap the airplane icon so it turns orange
- Leave it for a few seconds
- Tap it again and wait for your phone to reconnect to the network
Restart your iPhone
Your iPhone might be running a background task or experiencing an error that prevents it from making calls.
Restarting your device can quickly solve the problem if this is the case. Simply hold down the power and volume down buttons and then drag the “slide to power off” slider to the right. Once it’s off hold down the power button to power it up again.
Check your SIM card
If your SIM card isn’t working properly, then you won’t be able to make calls. It’s therefore worth checking if yours is dirty, broken, or incorrectly inserted.
- Locate the SIM tray on the side of your iPhone
- Insert a pin into the hole and push to eject it
- Clean the SIM card and gently replace it correctly
Turn on Wi-Fi Calling
This isn’t actually a fix, but if your cell reception is poor, then switching on Wi-Fi calling can help. Now, if your phone cannot connect a call via its cell connection, it will automatically try to connect via your Wi-Fi connection. This will also help avoid your calls being cut off halfway through.
Here’s how to do it:
- Go to Settings
- Tap Phone
- Tap Wi-Fi Calling
- Toggle Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone to the on position
Download the latest iOS update
Sometimes not having the latest version of iOS can stop critical functions (like calls) from working.
Here’s how to check you have the latest software and download an update:
- Go to Settings
- Tap General
- Tap Software Update
- Your phone will tell you if your device is up to date
- If it isn’t, you can choose to download and install the latest iOS update
- You can also go to the automatic updates menu and toggle your settings there
Update carrier settings
Your iPhone software isn’t the only thing that is updated regularly. Your carrier settings might also need to change.
Here’s how:
- Make sure your device is connected to Wi-Fi or a mobile network
- Go to Settings
- Tap General and then About
- If a carrier update is available you’ll be prompted to install it.
Reset your iPhone’s network settings
Resetting your network settings deletes all nonessential data related to networks stored on your device. This includes saved Bluetooth connections, WiFi passwords, and VPN information.
Like using Airplane Mode or restarting your iPhone, this technique fixes problems by establishing fresh network connections.
You’ll need to reconnect to all your networks afterward, but this isn’t difficult. Here’s how to do it:
- Go to Settings
- Tap General
- Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone
- Tap Reset
- Tap Reset Network Settings
- Enter your passcode
Reset all your iPhone’s settings
If nothing has worked so far, it’s time for more severe measures. Try resetting all phone settings. This won’t delete any data on your phone, but it will reset things like your home screen layout, passcode and Apple Pay saved cards. It’s therefore important to make sure you’ve tried all the measures above and that you’re sure your iPhone is the problem.
Here’s how to do it:
- Go to Settings
- Tap General
- Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone
- Tap Reset
- Tap Reset All Settings
- Enter your passcode
⚠️Do not select Erase All Content and Settings. Doing so will delete all data on your phone.
Protect Your iPhone with Certo
Not being able to make or receive calls is frustrating, but it’s also worrying, and you may be concerned that someone has tried to hack your SIM.
But SIM hacking is rare. A more common way for cybercriminals to hack your iPhone is using spyware.
You can protect your device and get peace of mind using Certo’s award-winning AntiSpy for iPhone.
With AntiSpy you can:
- Check your system for tampering
- Scan for vulnerabilities
- Detect and remove spyware
- Review phone app permissions
Sophia is a Senior Content Manager at Certo Software, showcasing her deep-rooted expertise as an accomplished writer in the tech industry. With a genuine passion for cybersecurity, Sophia is a trusted source of insight and information.