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Shwnster Author

Level 1

32 points

iphone 12 dropping calls

My iPhone 12 Pro has been dropping nearly all calls since receiving after launch. The tech said "Oh, the diagnostic reported 13 out of 18 calls dropped recently, so that's not good". I purchased through Verizon, and have since gone through multiple resets, SIM card replacements and phone replacement and still have the same issues. All of the support was through Verizon and ultimately Verizon said this was a known issue with Apple and that I should take it up with them. So I just finished testing with an Apple tech, after over an hour on another phone I had to borrow to get this addressed. The Apple tech took it to his level 2 who ultimately said it was a Verizon issue, without a doubt because there is zero chance 2 new phones would have the same issue. They then placed me on hold because they said they wanted to bring Verizon on the call because I told them Verizon said to take it up with Apple. The Apple tech gave up after 35 minutes of being on hold and said we could try again later. Ha!

So no one is owning this known issue and I am stuck with a $1000 piece of garbage. Never again! I am going to have to shell out more money to get another phone and I am absolutely dropping Verizon as well. I would really like to know through all of this, is there anyone with the new iPhone 12 that is not having any dropped calls?

Posted on Dec 3, 2020 2:58 PM

Top-ranking reply

lobsterghost1

Level 10

150,246 points

Posted on Dec 30, 2020 4:15 PM

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.

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
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.

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445 replies

May 1, 2021 10:00 AM in response to lobsterghost1

This isn't the place to air grievances about carriers, phones or each other.

We are supposed to be here to help each other!

I do appreciate then help and advice! :)

That was a backhanded way of saying, "thank you" but I still express it.... Thank you!

May 1, 2021 10:14 AM in response to Wappaloochie

Huh? If you interpreted my response as backhanded, you completely misinterpreted what I wrote. I was genuinely happy to see that I was able to offer any help to you. Nothing backhanded at all. You mentioned you got some good points from my posts and I was telling you I was glad you did.

May 1, 2021 10:24 AM in response to Shwnster

I just dropped a phone call with Verizon Tech Support... they refused to take my call (on hold for along time) and my phone was sitting in the same spot, never moved... so I know this is NOT an Apple issue.

Ugh, carriers!

May 1, 2021 11:40 AM in response to Wappaloochie

I truly believe it would be a great phone if all carriers had 5 G in all areas, sadly that is not the case, iPhone 12 would be awesome if it allowed you to lock onto 3G but it does not, so I’m my opinion my old iPhone 8 was far superior to 12 as you can actually use it as a phone.

May 18, 2021 7:43 AM in response to SmittyMN

I submitted my issue about the iPhone 12 Pro months ago. My drop calls are still not resolved and neither T-Mobile or Apple can give any support or answers. Only our engineers are looking into the issue and someone will reach out to you. When they happen to reach out over 30 days later, they simple say we are still working on your issue.

Meanwhile I am still paying for phone bill and phone lease that I cannot fully use. Can anyone help?

May 18, 2021 10:15 AM in response to iPhone123gissues

I'm not sure where in the world you live? Here in the US carriers are working to decommission 3G service and most if not all 3G services will cease to exist next year. Perhaps the issue for you is buying a 5G phone, when you may not have access to 5G service consistently?

May 18, 2021 11:27 AM in response to Shwnster

Update:

Here's what has happened.

I went into Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options

I set Voice and Data to LTE

Turned on Data Roaming

Data Mode > Allow More Data on 5G

I then reset my phone and still experienced dropped calls.

I began experiencing data drops, as well. I could call but I was getting ZERO DATA with 4-5 bars.

Sooo.... I called Verizon and got a Senior Technician (I'm guessing high level tech)

We talked about all my settings and he said he was going to "send some codes to my phone"

He also warned one of them would disconnect the call. No biggie!

He also told me the phone would drop the call and then it -should- reconnect to the network.

He told me he would call me back to make sure everything was working good.

He sent the codes and it disconnected the call and then refused to reconnect to the network...

UH OH CRAP!

I waited a half an hour and then put the phone in airplane mode and then turned off airplane mode.

The Senior Tech called me back and my phone has only dropped 3 calls since.

Hope that helps!

janel299

Level 1

4 points

May 20, 2021 9:51 AM in response to lobsterghost1

I have AT&T as my carrier and an IPhone 12. The past 4 weeks my phone has been a problem. It drops calls, others say all is well the. Sounds like I went in a tunnel and finally drops the call. I can only make a call that connects by totally shutting the iPhone down and rebooting. When I do that, I get a message that I have a voicemail. However, that voicemail doesn’t show up for another 5 minutes. Today, one call dropped so I rebooted. Then, another friend called, we were talking and the. She was gone. I would have kept my IPhone 8 had I known this was an issue.

May 20, 2021 2:37 PM in response to Dogcow-Moof

Dogcow - mine is not a carrier issue. NOW Apple Engineers say it’s the ISP. Lol! Changed routers and all just to prove the point. Still works terribly. Common denominator here is the 12 Pro you keep defending.

sberman

Level 10

268,263 points

May 20, 2021 2:55 PM in response to iPhone123gissues

iPhone123gissues wrote:

no one in Alberta Canada are saying anything but what what an absolute disappointment this phone is.

Somehow I suspect that of the >4,000,000 folks there, there is at least one soul enjoying her/his iPhone 12.

Please do not speak for anyone other than yourself.

May 20, 2021 3:54 PM in response to iPhone123gissues

iPhone123gissues wrote:

No carrier issues with iPhone 8,9,10 or 11

sounds like a carrier issue doesn’t it!!

And iPhone 8, (there has never been iPhone 9), X, Xr, SE or 11 do not have 5g. The issue is with carriers NOT rolling out 5g effectively (each carrier is rolling it out themselves) and users often not setting up 5g on their phone optimally. You simply cannot compare none 5g phones with a phone which is 5g.

In my city, 5G has been rolled out quite well. I'm on AT&T and I have yet to experience a dropped call on either of our iPhone 12 or 12 Pro Max phones. And I make my living being on my phone. My phone is used all day, every day for phone calls.

If 5g is causing issues for you because you may live in a place or are served by a carrier who has not effectively rolled out 5g well, turn 5g off on your phone. Set it to LTE exclusively, which is very simple to do, by going to:

Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Voice & Data > Set it to LTE

May 20, 2021 4:17 PM in response to lobsterghost1

That’s correct, I’m sure with full 5G coverage it would be awesome, phone is just to ahead of rural areas, it will be years not months before we have 100% 5G coverage in Alberta, Edmonton and Calgary have 5G.

May 20, 2021 4:31 PM in response to iPhone123gissues

Which is a shame as 5g service is pretty awesome, tbh. We had these same issues when 4G/LTE rolled out and people were struggling to transition off 3g service. In the meantime, it's best to just turn 5g off and stick with LTE if it works better where you are. It's still not an issue with the phone. It's an issue with the service provided by the carrier. And Apple cannot fix that.

May 20, 2021 4:40 PM in response to lobsterghost1

LTE is also very limited in rural areas, 3G seem to be best option and the iPhone 12 keeps dropping calls on 3G where as the 8 works flawless, you can lock it into 3G only, newest Samsung phones also allows you to lock onto 3G, I am also using a 3 watt booster.

May 20, 2021 4:43 PM in response to iPhone123gissues

I don't know about carriers in Canada, but next year we've been told 3G will cease to exist in the US. I can't believe Canada is that far behind the US? Have you asked your carrier about locking onto 3G on your phone?

iphone 12 dropping calls