Your iPhone XS is brand new, but for some reason, you’re not getting phone calls—and that’s a problem. Whether calls are going straight to voicemail or never show up at all, this issue can be frustrating. Fortunately, it’s often caused by a simple software glitch or settings misconfiguration and can be fixed with a few steps.
Below are tried-and-true troubleshooting tips to help you fix your iPhone XS when it’s not receiving phone calls.
✅ 1. Restart Your iPhone (Soft or Force Restart)
A quick reboot can fix minor glitches with the Phone app or network services.
Soft Reset:
- Press and hold the Side button and Volume Up or Down until the Power off slider appears.
- Drag the slider to turn off the phone.
- After 30 seconds, press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
Force Restart:
- Press and release the Volume Up button.
- Press and release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.
✈️ 2. Toggle Airplane Mode On and Off
This refreshes your cellular connection and can resolve minor signal issues.
- Go to Settings > Airplane Mode, toggle it on, wait 10 seconds, then toggle it off.
- Wait for your iPhone to reconnect to the network and try receiving a call again.
🔇 3. Turn Off Do Not Disturb and Call Forwarding
These features can silently block or redirect your incoming calls.
Disable Do Not Disturb:
- Go to Settings > Do Not Disturb.
- Make sure it’s turned off.
Disable Call Forwarding:
- Go to Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding.
- If it’s enabled, tap to turn it off.
Then try calling your iPhone from another device to see if the issue is resolved.
🔄 4. Check for Carrier & iOS Updates
Outdated software or carrier settings could prevent calls from coming through.
Check for Carrier Settings Update:
- Go to Settings > General > About.
- Wait a few seconds—if an update is available, you’ll be prompted to install it.
Check for iOS Update:
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
- If available, tap Download and Install.
🌐 5. Reset Network Settings
This will reset all your network-related settings without erasing your data.
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
- Enter your passcode and confirm.
Your iPhone will restart. Reconnect to your network and test by making a call.
🔄 6. Remove and Reinsert SIM Card
A misaligned or damaged SIM card can cause cellular issues.
- Turn off your iPhone.
- Use a SIM eject tool (or paperclip) to remove the SIM tray.
- Gently remove the SIM card and reinsert it.
- Turn the phone back on and check if calls are now coming through.
☎️ 7. Still Not Receiving Calls?
Try these final steps:
- Test with another SIM card: If a different SIM works, your original SIM may be faulty.
- Call your carrier: Ensure your line is active and there are no outages or account issues.
- Contact Apple Support: If the issue persists, a hardware problem (like a faulty antenna) may be to blame.