Because you’re interested in getting the first experience the latest features of iOS 13, you’ve decided to get the iOS 13 beta update installed on your iPhone. However, things didn’t turn out good as your iPhone is suddenly unable to receive phone calls. That is such a bummer but it’s inevitable. But on a positive note, the iPhone can’t receive call issue is most likely attributed to software errors and therefore possible to fix at home by some workarounds. If you’re here because you too faced the calling issue post-update dilemma on your iPhone XR, XS, or X, then this post is for you. Read on and feel free to refer to this short walkthrough on how to troubleshoot call reception errors on your iPhone after the iOS 13 beta update installation.
Before we move on to our troubleshooting, if you are looking for a solution to a different issue, make sure you drop by our troubleshooting page as we’ve already addressed some of the most common problems reported by our readers. Find issues that are similar to yours and use the solutions we suggested. If you still need our help after that, then feel free to contact us by filling up our iOS issues questionnaire.
Troubleshooting an Apple iPhone that can’t receive phone calls after iOS 13
Before troubleshooting, check the signal indicator on the status bar of your iPhone and make sure that the signal strength is strong. A weak or poor signal reception could be the main reason why your iPhone is unable to receive or make phone calls at the moment. If the signal strength is good but you still can’t receive incoming calls on your iPhone, then it’s time for you to troubleshoot your device. Don’t forget to place a test call after performing each procedure to determine whether or not the problem is solved.
First solution: Remove then reinstall the SIM card.
The phone’s SIM card system might have gone corrupted after the recent update and that could have resulted in problems with phone’s calling functions or the iPhone calls drop. To correct this issue, reinstalling the SIM card can help. Aside from refreshing the SIM card system, it also rules out the possibility of the SIM card being dislodged or loose which causes phone calls not received. Other network-related glitches are also corrected by performing this tweak and hence, this can be considered among the first possible solutions to try on. Before removing the SIM card, turn off the phone completely. This is recommended to prevent damaging the phone. After turning the phone off, proceed to these steps to remove and reinstall the SIM card on your iPhone:
- Insert the SIM removal tool into the tiny hole on the SIM tray. The SIM tray is located on the lower right side of your iPhone.
- Gently push the SIM removal tool to eject the SIM tray.
- Then pull the SIM tray out to access the SIM card.
- Remove the SIM card and examine it for any visible signs of damage like scratches and liquid traces. If everything looks good, place the SIM card back into the slot in the same orientation before you removed it.
- Then re-insert the SIM tray and push gently until it clicks into place.
You can turn your iPhone back on after locking the SIM tray and then wait for it to acquire a stable signal from the network.
Then place a test call using a different phone and see if you are now able to receive the call on your iPhone.
ALSO READ: How to fix your iPhone or iPad that’s stuck on Recovery Mode after iOS 13
Second solution: Toggle Airplane Mode on and off.
Another simple and effective solution to random problems affecting wireless services is the so-called Airplane mode trick. It works by simultaneously turning off the phone’s wireless features and then turning them back on again. Various types of wireless issues are remedied through this process so it wouldn’t hurt to try this trick on your end. Here’s how it’s done:
- Go to Settings-> Airplane Mode menu.
- Toggle the switch to turn Airplane Mode on. Wireless radios and relevant functions are simultaneously disabled.
- While Airplane mode is enabled, reboot/soft reset your iPhone.
- When the boot-up sequence is complete, go back to Settings-> Airplane Mode menu.
- Then toggle the switch to turn Airplane Mode off again.
Wait for your iPhone to re-establish signal from the cellular network. Once the signal indicator becomes stable, retry placing a phone call using a different phone and see if the problem is solved.
Third solution: Update carrier settings (if available).
Aside from iOS and app updates, carrier settings on your iPhone also receive separate updates called carrier settings update. These updates are issued by your carrier periodically just like Apple does with iOS. Carrier updates are primarily intended to maintain and enhance network-related services on your device. And just like other updates, carrier updates also embed fix patches to get rid of existing problems affecting network services like calling issues. Some carrier updates implemented mandatorily while others require manual installation. If your iPhone is able to access Wi-Fi Internet, then you can try checking for new carrier updates to implement through these steps:
- From the Home screen, tap on Settings.
- Tap General.
- Tap About.
- Scroll down to the Carrier section and see if a new carrier update is available for your iPhone.
Follow the onscreen instructions to download and install any carrier settings update available. After installing updates, reboot the phone to apply the recent changes to its network system. Then place a test call on your iPhone to see if it fixes the can’t receive incoming calls problem.
ALSO READ: How to fix Touch ID that’s not working on your iPhone after iOS 13 update
Fourth solution: Reset network settings on iPhone iOS 13.
Network-related problems that could not be resolved by the initial tweaks often require a network reset. This is likely what’s needed if the problem is inflicted by network settings errors brought by the recent update to iOS. Performing a network settings reset deletes all your current network configurations and then restores the default network values. All saved Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth connections are also deleted. But what’s more important is that all network services are refreshed afterwards. Here’s how it’s done:
- From the Home screen, tap Settings.
- Select General.
- Scroll down to and tap on Reset.
- Choose the option to Reset network settings.
- Enter your device passcode when asked to proceed.
- Then tap the option to confirm that you want to reset network settings on your iPhone.
Your iPhone will reboot automatically when the reset is finished and then loads up with the default network values. To reconnect to the Internet and used online services, you will need to re-enable Wi-Fi and join or connect to your wireless network like the first time you did. Just check if the iPhone calls drop by performing a test call.
Fifth solution: Reset all settings.
If the network settings reset doesn’t solve the problem, then you can try to reset all settings on your iPhone instead. This reset will erase all your customized settings including all automatic overrides from the recent iOS update that caused some conflicts to your iPhone’s cellular functions. This reset however doesn’t affect any saved information on the internal memory, thus creating backups won’t be necessary. Here’s how it’s done:
- Tap Settings from your Home screen.
- Tap General.
- Scroll down and tap on Reset.
- Choose Reset all settings from the given options.
- Enter your passcode when asked to proceed.
- Finally, tap the option to confirm all settings reset.
All customized settings will then be deleted and the original values and options are restored. Any associated errors are likewise obliterated. Allow your device to complete the entire reset process and then restarts automatically when done. To use the features that are disabled by default including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and cellular data, you will need to re-enable them on your phone individually.
Last resort: Erase your iPhone and restore its factory defaults.
A factory reset or master reset can be considered among the last option if all else failed to resolve the calling issues on your iPhone. This will erase everything from your iPhone including complex system errors brought by the recently installed iOS 13 beta update. To recover important files and personal information from your iPhone, be sure to back them up before you start the reset. You can back up files from your iPhone to iCloud or iTunes on a computer. If you have secured the backup, then you’re all set to factory reset your iPhone through settings. Just follow these steps:
- Tap Settings from the Home screen.
- Select General.
- Scroll down to and tap on Reset.
- Choose the option to Erase all content and settings.
- Enter your device passcode when asked to proceed.
- Tap the option to confirm that you want to erase and restore factory defaults.
After the reset, all settings are restored to factory defaults. To use your phone again, you will need to set it up first. You can use the start-up wizard to use automatic settings and set up everything as new on your device. After setting it up, verify if the phone calls not received problem has been rectified.
ALSO READ: How to fix iPhone Cellular Data that’s not working after iOS 13 update
Still cannot receive calls on your iPhone after iOS 13 beta?
The remaining options you’ve got to eliminate major system flaws inflicted by the recent iOS 13 beta update on your iPhone are recovery mode restore and DFU mode restore. These methods are carried out through iTunes on a computer, so you have to secure either a Mac or Windows computer with the latest version of iTunes software installed beforehand. Once you have the equipment ready, you can connect your iPhone to the computer via USB/Lightning cable and then instigate the restore process. A more detailed walkthrough on how to carry out a recovery mode restore and DFU mode restore on an iPhone can be found on this site’s tutorials section.
If none of that works, then it’s time to escalate the problem to your network service provider for further assistance and more advanced solutions. Just let them know exactly how your iPhone ended up being unable to receive phone calls. Or you can also report the can’t receive incoming calls problem straight to Apple Support so they can make further assessments on their end. Should this be found and confirmed to be an iOS bug, then that denotes a dedicated fix patch is needed.
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