Why does my Apple iPhone 6s keep dropping calls or getting call failed error and how to fix it? [Troubleshooting Guide]

Dropped calls have been transpiring among other device problems encountered by iPhone users including those with the iPhone 6s variant. What usually happens is that the call suddenly got cut-off and then the user is prompted with a Call Failed error. What causes the dropped call or call failed error to occur on the iPhone?

If you’re here to find out the answer to this main question, then you should consider reading this entire post. And to assist you further in troubleshooting the problem, a rundown of possible solutions and workarounds are also provided in the later section. Feel free to use this information when necessary. Keep reading and get some help.

If you’re looking for a solution to a different problem, visit our iPhone 6s troubleshooting page as we’ve already addressed a lot of problems with this phone. Browse through the page to find similar problems and use the solutions or workarounds we suggested. If you still need our help, fill up our iPhone issues questionnaire and hit submit to contact us.

Possible causes of dropped call problems on your iPhone 6s

A recommended approach in troubleshooting device issues is to identify the underlying cause beforehand. Doing so will help you obtain the best possible solution in a short period of time. Knowing what went wrong in the first place will help you decide on where to start when troubleshooting a problem. That being said, let us try to determine the possible reasons as to why calls keep dropping on your iPhone 6s.

A number of factors must be considered or scrutinized in this case. Calling involves network thus the main problem may also likely be associated with network issues. Among the possibilities would include but not limited to network outages and technical difficulties on the network system. All these are on your network provider’s end, thus you can do nothing but wait until your network people are able to fix it on their end. Network services shall resume when everything is working fine again with your network service provider’s network systems.

Dropped calls or call failed errors can also be due to a faulty SIM card in use on your iPhone 6s. In this case, the SIM card might have been damaged due to liquid exposure, scratches or dents. Incorrect placement or unsecured SIM card in the SIM card tray can also be the main trigger. In this case, a SIM card replacement might be necessary so contact your carrier for proper recommendations.

Incorrect network settings on the iPhone can also cause pertinent issues with calling. Sometimes you’ll be prompted with errors or alert message telling what went wrong and what needs to be done to make your call go through. A faulty update including major update to iOS can mess up your network settings as it often overrides your current configuration. There are also other cases where the problem is isolated to the Phone app that has gone rogue due to a bad update that is causing the app to glitch.

The worst possible cause is hardware problem. It is possible that some relevant components including the SIM card tray might have been damaged from a drop or liquid exposure. Symptoms of physical and liquid damage may surface sooner or later so it might be the culprit especially if there were prior instances when you accidentally dropped your iPhone or got it wet.

How to fix dropped call problems or call failed error on your iPhone 6s?

As much as possible, try to rule out the possibility of a defective hardware component causing your iPhone to keep dropping calls. Once you have done so, you can try some workarounds to attempt to fix the problem on your end. To help you get started, here’s a list of possible solutions for you to refer to. When troubleshooting, be sure to test your iPhone 6s and see if it’s already able to carry out calling functions properly and that you’re not having any more dropped calls afterwards. You may need to use another phone and a companion to perform and assess a test call by then.

Reboot your iPhone 6s (soft reset)

To rule out the possibility of a software glitch causing your calls to keep dropping, you can try performing a soft reset or simply reboot your iPhone 6s. It’s the simplest and by far most effective solution to minor device issues caused by random software malfunctions due to some corrupted apps or contents. Considering that the underlying issue is within the Phone app or iOS and that it’s a minor glitch, a soft reset will likely be able to rectify it.

  • To perform a soft reset, press and hold the Power button for a few seconds until the Drag to Power Off screen appears. Drag the slider to turn off your device completely. After 30 seconds, press and hold the Power button again until the Apple logo appears.

Your iPhone then reboots. After the boot up completes, try to perform a test call to find out if the problem has been fixed. If not, then try the next method and see what happens then.

Remove and re-install SIM card on your iPhone 6s

If a soft reset failed to fix the problem and you still experience dropped calls or call failed error on your iPhone, try to remove and then re-install/re-insert the SIM card. To make sure you’re doing it right, here’s how to properly remove and reinstall SIM card on your iPhone 6s:

  1. Power off your iPhone completely.
  2. When powered off, use the SIM eject tool or small paper clip to pop the SIM tray out.
  3. Remove the SIM card from the tray.
  4. Carefully examine the SIM card for any signs of damage like liquid traces, dents or scratches. Do the same thing with the SIM tray.
  5. If you see any signs of possible damage on either the SIM card or SIM tray, contact your carrier for proper recommendations.
  6. If there’s none, then place the SIM card back into the SIM tray. Be sure to keep it secured.
  7. Carefully place the SIM tray back into place.

After securing the SIM card and the SIM tray, turn on your iPhone then try to make a test call afterwards. This method is also recommended for iPhone issues manifested with errors like No service, No SIM card, Network error, and the like.

Configure or switch between cellular data options

Some people who encountered the same problem on dropped calls and called failed error on the same iPhone were able to find remedy by switching between cellular data options on their device settings. For example, if your iPhone is currently set to use LTE, you can try changing it to other options like Data only. In case you want to try it, here’s how it’s done:

  1. Tap Settings.
  2. Tap Cellular.
  3. Tap Enable LTE option. LTE allows you to get fast Internet connection so make sure you select that option again after making calls.
  4. Select other options like Data Only.

After making changes to the settings, reboot your iPhone then try to perform a test call.

Note: This is only a temporary solution though. Contact your carrier for other options.

Reset network settings on your iPhone 6s

If you’ve made some changes to your network settings before the problem on dropped calls instigate, then probably something’s wrong with the current changes. If possible, try to revert the changes back to its prior configuration. That might be difficult though especially if you’ve configured a lot of options. As alternative solution, you can just reset the network settings instead. All your previous changes will then be erased as the network settings are set back to default options. Just be sure to take note of your network passwords as you will be needing them in the network setup process. Here’s how to reset network settings on your iPhone 6s:

  1. Tap Settings.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Tap Reset.
  4. Scroll to and select Reset network settings.
  5. If prompted, enter your passcode to proceed.
  6. Wait until your iPhone is done with the network settings reset then reboots.

After it boots up, try to make a test call and see if the problem has been resolved.

Toggle Airplane mode on and off

This simple trick has also done wonders to many of those who were having trouble with network-related problems on the iPhone including dropped calls and call failed error. If you haven’t already, then you too should take your chances as you’ve got nothing to lose anyway.

  • To configure Airplane mode, head over to Settings-> Airplane mode-> then tap the switch to turn the feature on and then back off. Make sure it is turned off.

Now perform a test call and make necessary assessments on the call quality.

Perform a factory reset or master reset on your iPhone 6s.

A factory reset can be your last option if none of the given workarounds is able to solve the problem. Although you have to note that all your information including your personal contents, apps and customized settings will be erased in the process. The reset will wipe everything from your iPhone system including bugs. After the reset, your iPhone restores to its factory defaults and so you need to set it up again as new. You can do a factory reset through the Settings menu on your device or using iTunes.

Factory reset using the settings menu

  1. Tap Settings.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Tap Reset.
  4. Select Reset All Contents and Settings.
  5. If prompted, enter the correct passcode.
  6. Tap Erase iPhone confirm factory reset.

Your iPhone will then be erased and later restored to factory defaults.

Factory reset using iTunes

If the previous method is not applicable, you can use iTunes to factory reset your iPhone 6s instead. In order to proceed, you need to secure a computer (Windows or Mac) with the latest version of operating system and iTunes software installed. Then follow these steps:

  1. Connect your iPhone 6s to the computer using the supplied USB or Lightning cable.
  2. Open iTunes on the computer then wait until it recognizes your device.
  3. Otherwise, tap the option to Trust This Computer on your device screen to proceed.
  4. Select your iPhone 6s in the list of iTunes devices.
  5. Click the Summary section.
  6. Click on Restore [Device].
  7. Click Restore again to confirm action. iTunes then erases your device to factory settings then restarts. At this point, you can set it up as new.

Other options to consider

  • Update carrier settings on the iPhone 6s. Carriers usually release periodic updates to keep all related services optimized and running smooth with the latest iOS. These settings are related to your carrier and Apple, as well including network call, cellular data, messaging, hotspot, and voicemail settings. If you haven’t already, then it won’t hurt to give it a try then see what happens.
    • To check for/install carrier settings update on your iPhone 6s, go to Settings-> General-> About section. Typically you will see an alert message or notification if an update is available. Just follow the onscreen instructions to implement updates then. Also make sure that your iPhone has Internet connection through Wi-Fi.
  • Update software to the latest version available. While post-update issues do exist, keeping your iPhone software up-to-date is still highly recommended so as to ensure that everything in your device system is optimized. Aside from bringing in new features and enhanced functions, software updates also contain bug fixes. So if ever the dropped calls or call failed error you are facing is triggered by some complex bugs, an update should be able to deal with it. Just make sure your iPhone has stable Internet connection and enough power or battery to complete the entire iOS update process.
    • To check for/install iOS update, go to Settings-> General-> Software Update. If an update is available, follow the onscreen instructions to download and install the update file.
  • Try to make a call in a different location. In case the problem is caused by poor/weak network signal, try to make a call in another location with good signal strength. It’s possible that you are already too distant from or even out your network coverage area, thus your device could not establish a strong signal in the first place.
  • Contact your carrier/service provider. If you are certain that the problem is not on your end especially if it just occurred so suddenly without you changing anything on your device settings whatsoever, then contact your carrier or service provider to check whether the network system is currently up or down.
  • Escalate the problem to Apple Support. If the problem occurs after installing an iOS update on your iPhone 6s and that none of the prior methods is able to rectify the glitch, then at this point you should escalate the problem for further assistance and recommendations from Apple. Doing so will also allow them to tag it among other post-update issues that should be addressed in the next iOS version.

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