iphone not receiving calls

My iPhone 16 pro has only sporadically received incoming calls since I upgraded on launch day. I've tried everything under the sun to try and fix this - including:

reset network settings
fully resetting iphone and not restoring from backup
new esim
calling Verizon support and resetting plan, wifi calling, and other "Verizon side" settings

this is not a phone issue - I have an AT&T esim in my phone that is not having the same issues.

Are there any ideas of what I can say to tech support to get them to help fix this? I've spent 5 +hours on with tech support already and am at my wits end / ready to just port out to AT&T. The last time I called into support I was told they were filing a ticket with tier 2 but then was disconnected before she confirmed it was sent - so I'm currently in purgatory

thank you!

Accepted answers

Verizon_Support

pattibeal, thank you for the details. We don't want this to keep being an issue, and a network problem is a definitely posibility. If possible, can you find your device and go through the troubleshooting in the link here: https://www.verizon.com/support/devices/#mobile It also checks your area, so it's the best way to do a full check of possible issues. We're standing by for your update.

~Jesse

All comments

Verizon_Support

Making sure your phone is working correctly is always important. Is this an issue only happening with calls? How did you determine the problem with the calls?

~Freddy

In addition to the call issue, my text messages are also strangely delayed and occasionally come in batches (imessage is unaffected). I am not receiving calls from known contacts - or when I call myself from another number on my account.

Verizon_Support

Thanks for elaborating more on those details for us, SFAZ1. I'd like to gather some additional details still. What specifically happens when you try to call your phone and the call does not come through (error messages, voicemail, etc.)? You mentioned having an AT&T eSIM with the same device, which eSIM do you have set as the primary? Can you share the nearest cross streets and city where you primarily encounter this issue, or use the device?

-Joseph

Callers immediately get my voicemail. Verizon esim is set to primary (both voice and data). Happy to share address privately, though it happens both at home, office, and while in the car.

If your calls aren't coming in and texts are extremely delayed, and you've shown it's not your phone, could it simply be that the Verizon signal where you are is not very good? Being in a dead zone or poor signal strength area will cause those kinds of problems.

Is your phone an AT&T phone? Maybe it's been optimized to run on their network so won't do so well on Verizon.

it's not a signal issue - these are known working areas, and the issue is also happening while on wifi calling. current generation iPhones are not carrier specific

Verizon_Support

We're sorry to read about the issue with your incoming calls. Let's figure this out. Do you have issues with making calls? Have you restarted your device? ~Peter

Verizon_Support

I appreciate these additional details. We're trying to sort this since it having the issue over WiFi Calling indicates it's a hardware issue since WiFi Calling doesn't use the Verizon signal, but you also said you're using another carrier in the same phone and there's no issue. Did you have another phone with us previously? If so, were there any issues?

-Melissa

I am having the same issues for the last few weeks. Please help solve this issues

Verizon_Support

Hello Lilhig89, we hate to see that you're having issues with your phone service. I am going to send a private message so that I can gather some additional details.

-Joe

My Apple SE Cell Phone does not answer incoming calls. Outgoing call work just fine. Setting recommendations appreciated\. Al

Did you port your line into Verizon within the last 48 hours? If so, the reason why your incoming calls aren't working is because the port is still in progress and incoming calls are still going through your old carrier until the port finalizes.

I am having the same problem here with my new iPhone 16 pro max. Never had this problem with my old phone.

Verizon_Support

Hey, Erin5550. I depend on my phone every day and would be concerned too if I were having any issues. We are here to help! What exactly has been going on? When did this issue first begin?

-Christopher

Apparently as soon as I bought the phone at the end of January. I don’t even realize it’s not working most of the time because my kids FaceTime me (that works fine) but my sisters try to call and it just goes to voicemail. Both of them have texted me and informed me they can’t get ahold of me.

Did anyone get a solution to this? It is happening to my phone (iPhone 16 Pro) and my wife’s phone (iPhone 15) but only happens on WiFi at home. I can call out but for some reason 75% of the time people try to call me it goes straight to my voicemail and never rings on my end. It is becoming a major problem.

Verizon_Support

Hey, douger68, that must be so stressful to be dealing with, and we want to help get things resolved! Is this happening on all wifi networks, or specifically the one at home?

-Cait

I believe this is only happening at home. It happens when either of us are at home on Wi-Fi with WiFi calling enabled. It happens from phones call from phones from other networks, Verizon network, iPhones, and andriod phones. The weirdest part for me is this doesn’t always happen, it happens randomly so I have no idea how many calls I have missed because of this.

Hi, I've had the same problem that everyone else has posted above since January 2025 to the best of my knowledge. It may have even started in Dec. 2024, but I was too busy with life to deal with it. I have an iPhone 14 Pro and have never had issues with it or any other iPhone during the past decade of having Verizon as a carrier until now. I have the exact same issues where people can't reach me and have to text me that they are calling. They say it either rings silently on their end (and obviously mine) and eventually goes to voicemail or goes straight to voicemail. Every single time this has happened, my phone has been 12 inches from me. It happens in my home, when I'm in the car - it doesn't matter where my phone is. And like others the problem is intermittent. I'm in Los Angeles and have (3) 5G cell towers all less than 1/2 mile from my home. That's insane and proves it's not a wifi issue... unless as douger68 mentioned that it's the wifi calling enabled that's the issue. Is it???? So it has nothing to do with wonky WiFi or 5G towers down, etc. I've spoken to (3) Verizon reps who all say they fixed it. I've also spoken to (3) Sr. Apple advisors who have all determined that it's not an Apple issue as they ran hardware and software diagnostics on my phone and the phone is fine. So it's clearly a Verizon issue. I have people (like others) in my favorites who cannot reach me. It's dangerous that family cannot reach me (especially if there's an emergency) and for my work. Why do I call Verizon and they have no clue that this is happening?????? We cannot be the only few people having this issue. Why doesn't Verizon figure this out?

Let me also add that they have turned on and off all parts of the phone to find the issue. I've shut down the phone and restarting. I then wiped the phone and reset to factory setting. Still the problem. Then I had Verizon change the virtual SIM card. Still have the problem. So what else can it be???? I've never dropped this phone, it hasn't fallen in liquid. It's got to be Verizon....

Commenting to say I am having the same problem and have gone through all the steps with multiple (>5) reps. I even upgraded from a 14 Pro Max to a 16 as I am in the middle of a job hunt and cannot afford to miss calls. This is a serious problem, where is the fix? I am unlocked, using a Verizon e-sim.

Verizon_Support

Being able to receive all of your calls is critical. We want to ensure that this gets resolved for you ASAP. A private message is being sent to you so that we can assist you further.

-Sean

Same issue here with my wife's iphone 16 plus.

Reported issue to verizon, they ran network tests, gave her a new e-sim, checked her settings - nothing worked. Still was intermittently not receiving calls from many different people in her contacts. Restart of phone helps temporarily, then same issue begins shortly thereafter.

Verizon issued her a warranty replacement, but the same issues surfaced with the new phone.

Called Apple tech support - they ran several tests and said it is not an Apple or phone issue.

So we went back to Verizon, to our corporate store this time. They tried disabling the Verizon Call Filter app, and also tried to start another warranty replacement because this replacement phone also has charging port issues.

The disabling of the call filter did not fix the call receiving issue, and for some reason Verizon had technical issues with their system that was preventing them from being able to officially initiate a second warranty replacement. They said to go to U Break I Fix the next day and have them process the warranty replacement.

This is unnacceptable and should have been resolved somehow by now.

Douger68 - any solution from Verizon yet? Same issues here.

Verizon_Support

Hello snissors1971, we want to take a look into the issues you are having with your phone. So we can better assist, we will be reaching out via Private Message. -Dee

I’m having the same exact issue. I work from home and my boss has given up on trying to call me. Makes me look super unprofessional. Happens both on and off WiFi and no matter where I am located.

Verizon_Support

Hi Fixitpls, we are sorry to hear you are having trouble with your iPhone not receiving calls. To better assist, we will reach out via private message.

-Dee

I also have this problem on my iPhone 16 pro max. The issue used to be sporadic but now it appears to be happening every day for hours. My boss calls me and my phone doesn’t ring. She says it is silent for about four seconds then goes straight to voicemail. I don’t see the voicemail appear until an hour or so later. The call never shows up as a missed call. My job requires prompt action in a fast-paced environment so this issue is significantly affecting my work.

I also cannot access my bank account because they text or call me with a code and I don’t receive either for hours. The automated phone message from the bank says they weren’t able to reach me. This is beyond frustrating.

Verizon_Support

Hello and thank you for bringing this concern to our attention. It's always our priority that you are provided with the best possible service. Im sending you a PN in order to assist with your service issue.

-Will

I am having the same exact issue. This has been going on for almost a year. The only calls that seem to come through are actually spam calls (the ones I DON'T want) and nothing else. Text messages are delayed, if I receive them at all. Phone calls go directly to voicemail even when the phone is sitting right next to me. I have tried to call and get this issue resolved in the past with no resolution. This started happening when I switched phones to the 14 ProMax and it's been horrible ever since. I feel hopless

Verizon_Support

nmgh1968, don't lose hope - we are here to help get things connected. We're sending you a private message now so we can get these calls working.

-Cait

I have a 2-line Verizon plan and have this "sometime missing call and imessage texts" on only 1 of my 2 phones. My iPhone SE gen 1is working fine; but my new iPhone 16e misses random calls and texts. Both phones have their latest respective IOS software updates. Bothe are set for WiFi calling and are using the same WiFi network. The 16e lock screen sometimes shows "Verizon" rather than "VZW Wi-Fi", but I'm not sure if this correlates with the missed call/text problem.

Verizon_Support

We don't want you to have any problems with your service, and we're sorry about the ongoing issues with your calls and texts. Firsti, we recommend troubleshooting using our troubleshoot guide here: https://www.verizon.com/support/devices/#mobile Just search up your phone and it'll give you a list of issues you can troubleshoot for. Please let us know if the troubleshooting guide is able to help you.

~Jesse

I'm wondering if the reason why your iPhone 16 misses calls sometimes is because it's disconnecting from the WiFi and going back to cellular service, which I presume doesn't work well in the location you're using the WiFi. If cellular isn't working well and the phone has reverted to that, then it can certainly cause calls and texts to be dropped/lost. Have you tried putting the iPhone 16 in airplane mode and then turning on WiFi so it can only use WiFi?

I've been through the checklist provided by the trouble shooting link, and most settings appear to be related to calls that are received but not answered. My problem is that calls/texts are not received.

I did however, do a "hard reboot" and am monitoring to see if there is any improvement. Since this is an intermittent problem, it will take some time to evaluate the results. So far, so good...

Thanks for your response. You are spot-on with your suggestion that this may be a problem with marginal reception levels. My location is within 2500 feet of the Verizon cell tower; however, it is over the horizon because I'm in a mountainous region. I get 3 bars while on the 3rd floor, but 1 bar on the ground floor.

Yet, since I have WiFi calling enabled (and the WiFi signal strength is good) I would expect that it would not be trying to use cellular. My iPhone SE doesn't have a problem in the same locations.

As I have mentioned, I have done a "hard boot" of the 16e, and so far things look good...

Verizon_Support

Thank you. Please keep us in the loop to ensure that this is resolved once and for all.

~Gina

Exact same issues. I phone 16 plus. Calls don’t come through. No missed calls show. Delayed texts. I’ve tried all the suggested fixes. Who can help me?

Same issues. I’ve tried all the recommended fixes. What do I do now?

is the an I phone issue or a version issue?

Verizon_Support

Hey there, KSJoan, we want to make sure you are able to receive calls! So we can better assist, we will be reaching out via Private Message.

-Lauren

Verizon_Support

Hello KSJoan, we want to make sure we get to the bottom of this. Be on the lookout for a private message so that we can get started.

-Joe

Verizon_Support

Hi KSJoan, tell me a little more about what is happening. How long has this been going on?

-Joe

I am having the exact same issues ! people are texting me telling me they are trying to call me and it’s going straight to voicemail. My phone never rings and I have no missed calls? This started a few months ago and when I do get text, I get like 10 at one time. Very frustrating missing so many calls and not knowing it.

Verizon_Support

We know it's important to get your calls and texts when you need them. We are sending over a private note so we can get additional details and take a look at this with you.

-Meg

I also am having the same issues-not receiving calls, they go straight to email, no record of anybody even trying to call me, texts go thru, but at certain times of the day and weekends, they come in clumps, I also cannot place a call from my phone unless I restart it after someone notifies me that they can't get thru on my phone. Also, have had issues with my camera. When you try to take a photo, the camera screen is black and you can't use the camera at all. Once again, I need to restart it. I had an Iphone 11Pro up until about three weeks ago, and was also experiencing calls not going thru and text clumping, so I'm suspecting this is a network issue and not a phone issue. I have done all of the "fixes" and nothing works--please get to the bottom of this

Verizon_Support

pattibeal, thank you for the details. We don't want this to keep being an issue, and a network problem is a definitely posibility. If possible, can you find your device and go through the troubleshooting in the link here: https://www.verizon.com/support/devices/#mobile It also checks your area, so it's the best way to do a full check of possible issues. We're standing by for your update.

~Jesse

I am having the same problem. I rarely receive my incoming calls both on and off wifi and in multiple locations. A voicemail message will appear but there is no missed call. My boss and multiple others have reached out to me saying they've tried calling and it goes directly to voicemail. Outgoing calls have worked fine.

Can someone please help?

I'm having the same issue, does anyone have a fix for this? I did not have this issue with my iPhone 13, I upgraded to an iPhone 16 Pro Max and when I'm home my phone will randomly not receive calls it acts as it was turned off. Very frustrating as I don't know that I missed a call. I work form home and rely on my cell.

I called Verizon and they said it was hardware so I went to Apple store. My phone passed all the hardware test, so they reset it thinking it was a software issue, they did not restore from backup and I had to add all my apps and lost all my passwords and still had the same issue. Then Verizon swapped my eSim same issue, Verizon then replaced my phone with a refurbished phone and still same issue.

Please let me know if anyone has a fix. This only happens when I'm on Wi-Fi.

Verizon_Support

I know how important it is for me to have my phone working when I need it, Jlo66. It sounds like you've done a whole lot of troubleshooting so far. You did mention that this only works when you are connected to Wi-Fi. Does this happen on all Wi-Fi networks, or only when you are on your home Wi-Fi network? Did this issue start immediately after the iPhone 16 Pro Max, if not, when specifically did this start?

-Joseph

Verizon_Support

The last thing we want is for you to worry about missing calls, rzlproperty! We're sending a private message your way to help get things working right.

-Cait

It’s hard to tell how much it happens, the only reason I know is that my wife tells me and shows me on her phone that she tried calling me and my phone acted as it was off. But mostly on my Wi-fi at home and it is not consistent. This started happening immediately after I upgraded to the iPhone 16.

I have the same problem on two different iPhones. 15 max pro and 16 max pro

Verizon_Support

Hey, cdoan. I depend on my service every day and would be concerned too if I were having any issues. Is this happening in a specific location? Are you able to receive any calls at all? When a call doesn't connect, does the caller get to your voicemail message?

-Christopher

Were you ever able to resolve this issue? I’ve had my iPhone 16 for about 2 months and I’m having to reboot my phone at least once a day. A call into Verizon resolved nothing and I’m missing calls from my elderly parents. I’m at my wits end.

Verizon_Support

We definitely don't want you to have to worry about missing important calls. We will be sending over a private note so we can get additional details and take a look at the signal issue together.

-Meg

I have been having this issue for months. The worst was when I was international and could even make calls

but I still get delayed texts and people can’t call me I get told later that they have been trying to call me and I never even get a missed call.

I have had the EXACT same issues since upgrading (3 months ago) 2 phones to Galaxy s25s . I've been with Verizon for well over 20 years (10+ on my account and 10+ on my ex's) and NEVER experienced any of this until I activated the first S25. If there is no fix, what are my options? One of my phones is my business phone and and I NEED service!!!

Verizon_Support

Hey there Aa547117. We completely understand how importnat it is to have a reliable connection to family and friends and want to help. We will send you a private message so we can troubleshoot this issue with you.

-Toni

I’ve had this same issue for 6 months now. Called Verizon customer service just about 20 times (wish I was kidding) they are tried so many resets and what not, sent me another new phone and everything twice. Nothing has solved it. I’m at an absolute loss. I don’t even know what to do.

I have also had this issue as soon as I upgraded to the iPhone 16 pro max. I never had issues prior before this last upgrade. Hours of not receiving calls and not even knowing that someone is trying to reach me. Both my daughters and husbands phone can sit right next to mine and work completely fine. I have missed many calls from the school and have delayed text messages as well. This is extremely frustrating as I have done all the “fixes” and it still is happening.

Verizon_Support

We are sorry to hear you're having issues with your service Kelpefcra102. We will send you a private message to further assist.

~Ivone

Verizon_Support

Having service issues isn't something we want any of our customers to deal with and we're going to make sure you find a solution to your call service issues. Is the only problem the phone is having with calls? For example, are you able to stream and text without any issues? Do you notice this happen in multiple places or usually just in one place?

~Jesse

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