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iPhone 4 Call Failed

ssdeg7

ssdeg7

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 15, 2010
749
2
I have an iPhone 4 (4.2.1) and about once every two or three days when I try to call it just doesn't let me call and says: Call Failed instantly.

I've tried
Turning WiFi off
3G on and off
Turning Airplane mode on and off
Setting Date and Time manually
Restoring it
Resetting network settings

Some of these are just a temporary fix, but none permanent and now none work.

Any clues? Thanks
 
ssdeg7 said:
I have an iPhone 4 (4.2.1) and about once every two or three days when I try to call it just doesn't let me call and says: Call Failed instantly.

I've tried
Turning WiFi off
3G on and off
Turning Airplane mode on and off
Setting Date and Time manually
Restoring it
Resetting network settings

Some of these are just a temporary fix, but none permanent and now none work.

Any clues? Thanks
Click to expand...

Almost certainly a network issue, not an iPhone issue.

When this happens, just try to make the call again - there's nothing you'll be able to do about it.
 
smithrh said:
Almost certainly a network issue, not an iPhone issue.

When this happens, just try to make the call again - there's nothing you'll be able to do about it.
Click to expand...

My Mom, my Brother and my Sister have the same iPhone bought at the same place and none of them have this issues.

It just started working when I entered:
Settings / Phone / Show My Caller ID

But I have to do this every two days when the problem starts again.
 
Wifi issue

I've had this same problem and (after switching the handset and the simcard) was told by TELUS support that this is an issue they are aware of.

It was introduced in iOS 4.1 and is only present if you have an active Wifi connection. Try disabling the wifi and see if the problem goes away.

It's a bandaid solution, but until a software solution is available it's a solution.
 
it is possible that it is a problem with the sim card or the connection with the card. try making the card out, shooting a bit of compressed air inside the phone and reinsert it. if it still doesnt work, go to the apple store. they will give you a new phone that would fix it.

the same thing happened to me.
 
call failed

Just found the solution after getting nowhere with vodafone support.

basically select general then network then switch off 3G. it looks as though the iphone4 isn't happy contending with a phone signal and 3G at the same time for outgoing calls.

you'll have to manually enable 3G everytime you want to use the internet then switch off before making phone calls.
 
robbo5 said:
Just found the solution after getting nowhere with vodafone support.

basically select general then network then switch off 3G. it looks as though the iphone4 isn't happy contending with a phone signal and 3G at the same time for outgoing calls.

you'll have to manually enable 3G everytime you want to use the internet then switch off before making phone calls.
Click to expand...

wrong. this is not the solution.
 
robbo5 said:
Just found the solution after getting nowhere with vodafone support.

basically select general then network then switch off 3G. it looks as though the iphone4 isn't happy contending with a phone signal and 3G at the same time for outgoing calls.

you'll have to manually enable 3G everytime you want to use the internet then switch off before making phone calls.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't call that a solution lol
 
ssdeg7 said:
No, this area is the best in signal, and happens everywhere, not just here. From all iPhone users I know it just happens to me.
Click to expand...

Network signal strength is not an indicator of network congestion. I get 5 bars at the Louisiana Superdome on game days - doesn't mean I can make a call or use data!
 
IMO, there is no problem in your iPhone 4 because your phone is absolutely fine. I it is a network issue because one of my friends had the same issue on his iPhone and he changed his network after that the problem got solved.
 
I had this happen when calling people without call waiting. I don't think the phone knows how to handle busy signals. And I don't recall ever hearing the iPhone make the busy signal sound. Have noticed it on some small businesses that don't have the capability to handle multiple calls. But I could be wrong.
 
I think the best thing you can do in this situation is to try your sim in another iPhone for a period of 24-48 hours and see If you are having the same problem. If you are then the problem is with the sim. If your not then problem is with your iPhone.

If you can't get another iPhone 4 then I suggest you get a micro aim adapter that makes your sim into a regular sim and try that in another phone.
 
I had this issue when we moved to a crowded area and later I called them and they asked me to do few things and nothing happens..when I move out from that area..It was good.
 
I was assuming you were AT&T before, but maybe not?

I've been pretty good on AT&T overall, but I've noticed this started happening in the last couple weeks for me. Plus no data connection at all. I thought it was funny that they started having problems just before the Verizon iPhone was released. Bad timing there.
 
Had the same problem with my launch day iPhone 4 (back in June) and after a few weeks, I took it to the apple store. He say all the "call failed" in the log and immediately replaced the phone. Never happened again after that.
 
iPhone 4 failed calls

Recently had this same problem after having an iPhone for a few months.

I found that powering down the iPhone once in awhile (as you would your computer ... which is really what an iPhone is ...) cleans up memory, etc.

Push down the power/reset button on the top of the iPhone and HOLD it down until the screen goes blank while the device shuts itself down.

Wait awhile (at least a minute), then press down the power/reset button again until you see the Apple logo on the screen.

After a few seconds, it will be fully powered up, and usually, all functions will be restored and working properly.

Alot of us just assume when the iPhone screen goes blank after inactivity, or when we press the power/reset button quickly ONCE ... that we're actually turning off the iPhone. NOT! Either of those methods just puts the iPhone in a sort of "hibernation" or "suspended" state ... which is much different than an actual "hard" shutdown.

Hope this helps.

///iGOM///
 
Solution

Just go in Settings -> Phone -> Show My Caller ID - and wait it to load, turn it off and back on, and problem with Call Failed is no more :))
 
you can try entering Settings/Carrier and toggle the automatic off, hope I've been of assistance.
 
Solution

I would like to verify both Mario91 and ssdeg7's posts that the current best fastest quickest temporary band aid or fix is clicking on the "Show My Caller ID"

I was going nuts for two weeks to find out why sometimes it worked and sometimes not and after playing around with the network settings then call forwarding and call waiting and show caller ID I filtered it down to just show caller ID. u can call the operator 3 digit service number but no other number. We will not know the cause unless i upgrade or downgrade.

I have Iphone4 version 5.1.1 on BB 4.12.01 happily untethered jailbreak dont wanna upgrade.
 
helpful

your suggestion worked like a charm. thanks
ssdeg7 said:
My Mom, my Brother and my Sister have the same iPhone bought at the same place and none of them have this issues.

It just started working when I entered:
Settings / Phone / Show My Caller ID

But I have to do this every two days when the problem starts again.
Click to expand...
 
Thank you!

ssdeg7 said:
My Mom, my Brother and my Sister have the same iPhone bought at the same place and none of them have this issues.

It just started working when I entered:
Settings / Phone / Show My Caller ID

But I have to do this every two days when the problem starts again.
Click to expand...

Dude! You just made my life a little simpler :)
I had the same problem, although I had no problem using web or receiving calls I used to get call failed when making calls with 3g on almost every time.

This time I tried your method going in: Settings / Phone / Show My Caller ID and not doing any thing else, tried making a call with 3g ON and boom it worked!

Seems like the change in network needs to confirm caller ID setting or something :p
 
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