iphone 12 dropping calls

We have iPhone 12 and 12 Pro Max both on AT&T and not a single dropped call yet since launch of both.

This leads me to ask those who are having dropped call issues the following questions.

1. Did you transfer the sim from your previous phone to your new phone? If you did, you should get a new sim which is provisioned for 5g
2. Go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Voice & Data - What is it checked? If you live in an area with minimal to no 5G service (5G is still rolling out across a lot of the world), and your phone is set to 5G, you'll drop calls. Change it to 5G Auto or if you don't have 5G where you live to LTE

Otherwise it seems from those posting here, the common issue is Verizon. You should be hammering Verizon on this as it's most unlikely an issue with the phone. The entity who controls calls on your phone is not Apple. It is your cellular provider.

I had the same problem with a new iPhone 12 dropping calls. My husband and I are on Verizon; however, he has a Samsung with no dropped calls. I, on there other hand, had an iPhone 8 that was dropping calls, so decided to buy the iPhone 12. To my surprise, the iPhone 12 dropped calls immediately, like 3 times in 5 minutes. After checking his Samsung, I found he had WIFI Calling turned off, so I did the same on my iPhone 12. To my surprise, this has stopped the dropped calls. This means the issue appears to be with my WIFI service (Comcast). Try turning off your WIFI Calling (Go to Settings > Phone > Calls and turn off Wi-Fi Calling). Good luck!

When you go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Voice & data

What is it set to? It makes a significant difference on iPhone 12 for it to be set correctly for the service in your area.

When you got your phone, did you transfer the Sim Card from a previous phone? That too can make a difference and it would be advisable to have a Sim Card which is ready for 5G service.

I posted a while ago on this site and want to update my status with my iPhone 12 Max on Verizon. I thankfully found this site after I purchased my phone in December and was struggling with dropped calls, calls completely missed that were never recorded in missed calls, and other random things that were not right.

I contacted tech support and consistent with my experience over the years with Verizon support the person I worked with was very nice, patient and genuinely tried to help. We adjusted some settings, he checked things on his end and unfortunately I still had dropped calls.

My success came from this very site. Someone posted that when they turned off wifi calling the drops stopped and that was it for me. My Voice and Data settings are set to 5G Auto, Allow more data on 5G, and Wifi Calling is off, prefer wi-fi while roaming is on. With these settings on Verizon network in the Bay Area I am not having any problems with my iPhone now. Calls are clear, no drops, no problems.

I hope this advice might help any of you still struggling. I posted this before and some people said this did not work, but it has for me thankfully.

Verizon finally and said it’s because 5G isn’t completed everywhere. Look at the coverage maps for your areas, when you go from a 5G area to one that doesn’t have it, the service drops rather than smoothly switching to LTE or 4G. Until Verizon gets 5G completed in our area, the guys switched off 5G and problem solved. Makes sense because I have AT&T with no dropped calls because their 5G is completed here. Still think Apple should address it as well and make the switching smoother - they are the ones that make the phones!

Settings – Cellular – Cellular Data Options – Voice & Data

Options are 5G On, 5G Auto, and LTE – select LTE to switch off the 5G

I've had the dropped call issue since I got the phone late November. Someone on here mentioned turning off WiFi calling. After 3 trips to Verizon, hours on chat tech support, one Apple support call and yesterday's trip to Best Buy Geek Squad, it looks like turning off WiFi calling is the ticket. On the phone for hours after turning off WiFi calling, no drops. Try it.

Many have reported there is a new Verizon carrier settings update, 45.5.7, that is beginning to roll out across the network that has solved this for them.

Update your carrier settings on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

We were having the same issue with calls only lasting 10 seconds. After calling TMobile, I was directed to Apple. The tech at Apple instructed me to go to Settings, General, Reset, Reset Network Settings. Once that was complete I logged back in to our WiFi network and the phones so far have been working. No more dropped calls in our home office or away from our residence. I hope this was a long term fix, but it may be worth a try for others.

Go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Voice & Data

What is checked?

If you have 5G Auto or 5G turned on, that is likely your dropped call issue. Drop it to LTE

I read a suggestion on this thread a few days ago that worked. Turn off wifi calling, that was it. No dropped calls since making that one change. Thanks so much to all of you for your ideas and input. Please try that and see if it works for those of you still having issues.

Far fewer AT&T customers.

It also appears to be 5G related in some way.

Once again, I have a 12 Pro Max but 5G is not enabled on my plan, and I haven't had a dropped call or "No service" indication since the day I got it.

I have the same issues with Verizon and think it's related to 5G. I turned on Wi-fi calling as a workaround which handles most of my needs unless I'm out running errands. If you've not already done so you can turn off 5G: Open the Settings app then go to Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Voice & Data and tap LTE. Your phone will then turn off its 5Gconnection, reverting to (sometimes) slower LTE connection.

Hope this helps!

I just went to the Apple Store today. They told me to turn off the “private address” in the WiFi settings under the WiFi you’re connected to because of another issue I have where the phone will stop downloading and freeze the browser. I have to reset the phone to get the browser going again. The tech said he had the same problem. When they ran diagnostics it showed 9 of my 11 dropped calls were while on WiFi. So it’s possible the WiFi calling was being disconnected by this WiFi issue. At least this sounds like a logically connected issue. I’m hoping this is the fix, but I’m doubtful and certain during the weeks of phone calls with Apple we tried shutting off WiFi calling and that didn’t help.

Okay, here’s what I’ve done....I went thru the unpleasant experience of exiting Spectrum mobile service since they are, I’ve learned, considered a knock-off brand of cell service that’s rents from Verizon towers. Therefore I decided I couldn’t trust the strength of their signal. Next I joined T-mobile (2 weeks ago) and they have their own towers along with sprint towers they got thru a buy-out of them. At the same time I researched cell phone cases. What I learned there is that you cannot have any metal anywhere in the case as that too can interfere with signal. My case was clear plastic with a sliver of metal that one pulls out to instantly stand the phone up to read if you don’t want to hold it. So, I removed that case. And started using a flexible poured transparent case with nothing else in it, no glitter, no hard plastics either as I don’t trust some of the recycled components that may be a part of hard plastics. So far, in this 2 week time I have not had a single dropped call with my iPhone mini. I’m keeping my fingers crossed, but so far so good.....I do not want a return of that nightmare which was happening everyday. Since learning more about signal interference I do not hold the phone near my ear as I have small earrings that are metal. I also switched to lte in cellular settings as where I live it’s not up to 5G speed yet and 5G signal travels a shorter distance from what I’ve been told, you really need more towers......this experience is all really unfortunate and I shouldn’t have to be a guinnea pig, but I guess that’s what I am🤷🏼‍♀️

Yes, that is true. People are complaining about iPhone 12. But that doesn't mean iPhone 12 is the culprit. Phones drop calls through a cellular providers network. We have two iPhone 12 (12 and 12 Pro Pro Max). Both are on AT&T. Neither drop calls at all. There are three other people in my office with 12 phones (12, 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max). Not one of them is dropping calls. All are also on AT&T.

So your common denominator is only PART of the picture. Who delivers cellular service to the phone is more responsible for the quality of the calls the phone receives. That said, if anyone believes their phone is defective, there is nothing anyone here can do to help. Apple doesn't participate on this user to user only forum. People should schedule an appointment at their Apple Store Genius Bar for evaluation. If the cellular receiver is defective (not very likely, but certainly possible), Apple will determine whether the phone should be replaced or not.