iPhone Won't Make Calls After iOS 26 Update? 8 Fixes That Work

Solutions to fix iPhone can't make calls after the update.

If your iPhone won't make calls after an iOS 26 update, the problem is usually caused by one of the following issues:

• Outdated carrier settings
• Incorrect network configuration
• SIM card recognition errors
• Temporary iOS update system glitches

Below are eight proven troubleshooting methods to fix the issue when your iPhone can't make calls, receive calls, or when your iPhone won't make calls but can text after an update.

1. Do you have sufficient network coverage?

If your iPhone is outside your carrier coverage area, it won't be able to place or receive calls. In many cases when users think an iOS update caused the problem, the real issue is unstable network connectivity. Check the signal bars at the top of your screen. If your iPhone shows “No Service” or very weak signal, move to another location or contact your carrier to verify whether there is a temporary network outage.

2. Turn the Airplane Mode on and off again

This is one of the easiest solutions when your iPhone won't make calls after an update. Turning Airplane Mode on and off forces your iPhone to reconnect to the carrier network, which can resolve temporary connection errors.

To enable it, open the Control Center on your device and tap the Airplane icon. Wait for about 30 seconds and turn it off again. Your iPhone will automatically search for the carrier signal again, which often fixes issues where the iPhone can't make calls or receive calls.

3. Use a third-party solution

There are plenty of third-party tools that claim to fix issues like the iPhone can't make calls after the update. Sadly, only a handful of them provide the desired results. For instance, you can use Dr.Fone - System Repair to resolve any major issue related to your iPhone without causing any harm to your device. It is a part of the Dr.Fone toolkit and can resolve issues related to the screen of death, an unresponsive device, a phone stuck in recovery mode, an iPhone update that won't update, and so on.

After following its on-screen instructions, you can reboot your phone in normal mode without losing your important data. The tool is known for its high success rate in the industry and is already compatible with all the leading iOS devices.

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4. Reinsert your SIM card

Reinserting the SIM card is another effective fix when your iPhone can't make calls after an update. Sometimes the SIM card may not be properly detected after installing a new iOS version, which can prevent the device from connecting to the carrier network. To do this, you need to assist a paper clip or the SIM eject tool that comes with the phone. Press it into the small opening of the SIM tray to eject it. Afterward, you can check if your SIM tray is damaged or dirty. Clean your SIM with a cloth (no water) and insert it back into your device. Wait for a while, as your device will recognize it and search for a network.

5. Restart your iPhone

If even after following these suggestions, you are not able to resolve iPhone won't make calls after iOS 26/18 update, then you can simply restart your device as well. This will make your phone search for the network signal once again and might fix this issue.

Simply hold the Power (wake/sleep) button on your device. It will display the Power slider on your screen. As you would slide it, your device will be switched off. After waiting for a few seconds, press the Power key again to restart your device.

6. Update your carrier settings

Carrier settings control how your iPhone connects to your mobile network. After an iOS update, outdated carrier settings may cause problems where the iPhone won't make calls or receive calls. Therefore, there are times when users need to update these settings manually. When my iPhone doesn't make calls but texts, I contacted my carrier and was asked to update my network settings. Most of the time, users get a pop-up message whenever the carrier releases an update. Nevertheless, you can go to your device's Settings > General > About and tap on the "Carrier" section to get the update.

7. Check the blocking status of the number

Whenever your iPhone can't make or receive calls, try to call a handful of numbers to check whether the problem is general or related to certain numbers. The chances are that you could have simply blocked the number a while back and must have forgotten about it afterward. To do this, you can visit your device's Settings > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification. This will provide a list of all the numbers you have blocked. From here, you can make sure that the number you are trying to call isn't blocked.

8. Reset network settings

If none of the solutions above work, resetting the network settings can resolve deeper configuration problems that prevent the iPhone from making or receiving calls after an iOS update. In this technique, you would be resetting the saved network settings on your device. This means the saved Wifi passwords, network settings, etc., would be deleted from your device. Nevertheless, the chances are that it would fix the iPhone won't make calls after iOS 26/18 update problem.

To do this, go to your device's Settings > General > Reset and tap on the "Reset Network Settings" option. Confirm your choice and wait for a while, as your phone will restart with the new network settings. Most probably, this will also fix the iPhone won't make or receive calls problem.

You may also want to learn how to fix iPhone no service issues if the problem persists.

Conclusion

If your iPhone won't make calls but can text after an iOS 26 or iOS 18 update, the solutions above usually resolve the issue quickly. Problems like incorrect carrier settings, blocked numbers, or outdated network configurations are among the most common reasons an iPhone can't make calls after an update. If the issue is caused by deeper iOS system errors, Dr.Fone – System Repair can repair the system without data loss and restore normal calling functionality. Try the fixes above and your iPhone should be able to make and receive calls normally again.

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