Level 1

25 points

16.4.1 update now phone calls drop.

I have an iPhone 11 that worked perfectly. I did the recent 16.4.1 update and now my phone calls drop constantly. I have rebooted. I have reset network settings. I have no interest in a full reset that will cause me to start from scratch. I've had this phone for years. I love this phone. I can't tolerate that every 2 to 3 minutes phone calls disconnect. This only started after that update. It doesn't matter if it's incoming or outgoing. Anyone else have this issue? Any ideas?

Posted on Apr 19, 2023 3:02 PM

Top-ranking reply

sriram277

Level 1

13 points

Posted on May 23, 2023 8:16 AM

As colopaly suggested and few others had also confirmed. I did the below today after much hesitation and doubt. I really don’t want the hassle of setting everything back again but I do desperately want the issue to be resolved at any cost.

General >> Transfer or reset iphone >> Reset >> Reset all settings

I’m in iOS 16.5 version. And it did fix the issue. I made multiple long duration calls and none of the calls dropped. Hoping this will remain the same throughout.

Also really hesitant to due any software updates further.

I had to redo my Face ID, mark all notifications for the apps, my screen time set up was erased, all my Wi-Fi details and paired devices details are lost. Basically whatever changes we had already done in “Settings” app is reset to defaults. I took a lot of time for me to do those again. I’m not sure I’ve missed anything else. May be I’ll set them up whenever I discover.

Thank you every one for your valuable inputs. It was really helpful. Please try this step once and take your chance.

Thanks again.

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71 replies

May 19, 2023 4:22 PM in response to Chill890

It has nothing to do with touching the screen or anything, it just happens.

I always test it with my phone lying on the desk.

The 16.5 update didn't fix it.

An Apple support advisor contacted me and advised me to take the phone to an Apple service provider (after trying every possible solution) since the phone is still under warranty but I don't think it's a hardware-related issue because everything functions the way it is supposed to be in any other application.

odg112

Level 1

8 points

May 21, 2023 9:43 AM in response to pwoodies

I have been on the phone with a very nice person at Apple Support many times over the past week. Kudos to her for really trying to help and for the continuity. The engineers now told her to tell me to contact my carrier again. I explained that I spoke with my carrier in the past, they reset, I changed my SIM, etc. etc. More importantly, if so many people with the iPhone 11 are having the same problem all over the world since the last update, and we obviously have different carriers, it's not a carrier issue.

Sami2330

Level 1

8 points

Apr 21, 2023 5:11 PM in response to pwoodies

Yes I have the same issue after 16.4.1 update calls keeps dropping after 2 to 3 min...

mcmackme

Level 1

10 points

Jul 25, 2023 3:40 PM in response to pwoodies

If I leave it on speaker phone, it's much less likely to drop a call. Too bad that's an impractical way to make/take all phone calls! It's wrong. Apple needs to fix this.

Alancito

Level 7

30,000 points

Apr 20, 2023 7:45 AM in response to pwoodies

Apple says: "Importance of service by trained technicians using genuine Apple batteries – For most customers, visiting a professional repair provider with certified technicians who use genuine Apple parts is the safest and most reliable way to get a repair." Source:

About genuine iPhone batteries

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Apr 20, 2023 7:51 AM in response to pwoodies

pwoodies wrote:

Thank you. Is that something I can do on my own if I buy a new battery or do I have to take it to the so-called geniuses at Apple?

Well, if you do it yourself and you mess it up (easy to do if you're not experienced) then you'll have to pay for any resulting repairs yourself. If, on the other hand, you have Apple or an Authorized Apple Service Provider do the replacement, it's unlikely that they will do damage in the process. If they do, they will be responsible for fixing it. And, the replacement is covered by warranty for 90 days.

I had Apple replace the battery in my 11 Pro in the fall. It felt as if it were a brand-new phone.

pwoodies Author

Level 1

25 points

Apr 21, 2023 5:15 PM in response to Sami2330

I talked to a local repair store, and they told me not to put more money into the phone with a new battery, and to just tolerate it as long as I could, and maybe consider eventually buying a new phone. He said Apple's next update might fix it. I appreciated his honesty, given that he could've made money off me going to get a new battery at his store. I'm trying to just tolerate the reality that my phone calls drop constantly. Luckily my work laptop (i work from home) has zoom and I can make phone calls on that in a crunch. The whole thing is extremely annoying.

pwoodies Author

Level 1

25 points

Apr 23, 2023 4:05 PM in response to Sami2330

Good to know. Thank you. I will keep my fingers crossed that a future update will cure the problem. It's extremely irritating not to be able to use one's phone reliably. And to know that if I just had not done the update, it would've been fine....

pwoodies Author

Level 1

25 points

May 1, 2023 8:48 AM in response to Sami2330

Nothing I have tried has resolved the problem. I am hoping, perhaps apple and it's next update will fix whatever the heck they screwed up with this one. I cannot use my phone as a phone effectively at all anymore.

Chill890

Level 1

8 points

May 16, 2023 2:41 PM in response to pwoodies

Just wanted to give update on my experience. Called apple support they ran tests. Results normal? Said I was hanging up with my face! I’ve had this iPhone 11 for 3 years now my face has decided to hang up continuously! I’ve loved iPhones but maybe it’s time to move on.

pwoodies Author

Level 1

25 points

May 16, 2023 4:33 PM in response to pwoodies

If it were not so aggravating and sad, that would be funny. I have had iPhones for years and loved them. But now I have to acknowledge that I can't use it as a phone much anymore because of this last update. I think they're maybe trying to make us buy new phones.

May 19, 2023 9:01 AM in response to odg112

So I just updated to iOS 16.5 and the problem STILL exists. This is totally unacceptable Apple! What good is a phone where you can’t reliably make a phone call??? Especially if it was ever an emergency situation.

pwoodies Author

Level 1

25 points

May 19, 2023 11:11 AM in response to RedLime101

I agree with you. I don't know what to do at this point, other than learn to live with it. I did notice that of the various fixes Apple did not list the problem with phone calls as one of them in the 16.5 update.

Chill890

Level 1

8 points

May 19, 2023 4:06 PM in response to Colopaly

I personally think support needs to get it together. They tell one person one thing then someone else different. We pay a lot for these phones, we need them for things in our daily lives. If they don’t know what’s wrong, just say hey we don’t know! But we’re working on it. I see so many have posted the same problem, but as I said before they tell me it’s my face touching the screen! Hard to talk without contact with the phone. I hope for all of us there will be a solution soon.

pwoodies Author

Level 1

25 points

May 19, 2023 4:27 PM in response to mahmodusaad

It is ridiculous. It was THEIR update. This notion that all of a sudden all kinds of people's phones stopped working properly and it is individual to each person and some weird coincidence just speaks to Apple not being accountable to its customer base. It is not hardware; it is not battery; it is not something we are suddenly doing with our ear; it is APPLE's 16.4.1 update. But they'll not take responsibility. VERY frustrating.

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16.4.1 update now phone calls drop.