Phone app freezes/gets stuck since iOS 12

Hi there, Valentinissimo!
Thanks for reaching out to the Apple Support Communities! It sounds like you have issues with your Phone app freezing and I am happy to help! You’ve tried excellent steps so far and, at this point, it would be a good idea to be sure there is not a software issue as the root cause of this for you.

1. Check out this article for the steps for How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
2. Use this article for the steps to Use iTunes on your Mac or PC to restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings.
3. Once that is done, set the device up as new and test to see if the issue is still going on. Then, follow this article to Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup

I'm having this exact same issue. Phone app works fine after a reboot, but after some unknown time, it freezes. I can launch the phone app, but I am unable to scroll, or move to a different screen in the app. I can exit the app and force quit it, but I can't do anything in the app itself.

I can make calls using Siri, and I can receive calls; however, I cannot access visual voicemail, so I have to either call my number to get voicemails, or I have to reboot the iPhone.

I reached out to Apple, and they say that they have received additional reports of this issue, but there is no current workaround other than rebooting. They suggested resetting all settings, but that seems to be more of a "stab in the dark" method of troubleshooting rather than an actual workaround or solution.

I've been having this problem more and more on my 128gb iPhone 7. It was happening often before the iOS 12 & 12.0.1 updates. Placing calls through Siri works perfectly fine. However, at random times, the 'Phone App' will freeze and remain in that state, regardless of the last time it was launched. I am experiencing a lot of the same issues as others on this thread (i.e. disappearing icons, unresponsive to touch, etc.)

For Apple Support: my phone had a logic board replaced on it to account for a jacked-up LTE chip that would quit working without notice (my phone was repaired without cost to me through the repairprogram). Since the servicing and return of my iPhone 7, the problem has continued even after it was "set up as a new iPhone". I went through manual installation of ALL apps and reconfigured every setting on it. A factory reset, or any other type of reset has not worked to prevent this issue from cropping back up at random times, even if there are no background apps.

I would prefer not having a very "generic solution" to a problem that will only provide temporary relief of the issue. That's like taking aspirin for a broken arm; may help for a little while, but the issue still remains.

I've had this same problem and found the quickest way to restore phone app function without rebooting or resetting the phone is to do this:

1. Kill the app (double tap home button and swipe up)
2. Switch the phone to Airplane mode. Wait 10-15 seconds, then switch out of airplane mode
3. Open the phone app and it works normally

I've tried all the previous steps including installing the iOS 12.1.2 update from iTunes and I continue to have this same problem. The above procedure works so far, and hopefully this will be resolved in the next iOS update.

I earlier reported suffering from this problem on this thread. The problem persisted even after one or more system updates (done while wired to my iMac using iTunes). But, now I have not experienced this problem in several months. On the other hand, since there was no reliable way to reproduce the problem, there's no reliable way to know if the problem is solved. I once before thought the problem was gone, with my phone app freezing up shortly afterwards.

So, again, I don't fully know if the problem is resolved, or if it is resolved for my, what change may have fixed it. Here are some things that are true for my iPhone.

• I'm updated to iOS 12.2, done via iTunes while my phone was wired to my desktop.
• I deleted all of my old voicemails, even deleted them from the "deleted messages" list. I, like others, suspected there might be some connection with voice messages, though of course not definitive.

I hope I am not tempting fate with this message and have this problem resurface tomorrow.

David

Interesting that the common point of the issue being reported was the iOS 12 update. It is inherent within that update and what it did to the stable build before. By the shear numbers of people reporting this it is clear that it is not just a configuration issue. IMHO

I'm having the same issue with my iphone 8, It's random and not all the time. I was hoping that the 12.1 update would fix it, but a few hours after the update it did it once again.

I noticed to that a weird thing is happening on my phone. My Iphone has the Jabber app on it that is connected to my work land line number. So when someone calls me on my work phone it can ring on my cell phone. Today I received a call on both phones, I was right by my desk so I picked up the office landline phone. When I hung up with the person I was talking on my work landline phone, my cell phone jabber app opened and begin ringing as if someone was calling me from the number I had just finished hanging up. But there was no call on my work landline. It was weird to say the least.

But this continues to be a problem. My wife has a newer iphone 8 (Brought it recently as I brought mine 1 year ago) and it hasn't happened to her as of yet.

The start and restart works to fix it, but for a phone that cost $$$ this shouldn't be happening at all. And I shouldn't have to restart my phone to use my phone.

Having the same problem iPhone X 256GB iOS 12.0.1. I was also hoping the update would fix the issue, but it does not. I have noticed though that if I keep the phone app open on the screen it gets itself unstuck in 5-15 seconds and then I can scroll or move from tab to tab in the app.

Hmm, that has not been my experience. My experience has been that if the phone app gets stuck, it remains stuck. If I leave the app open, it eventually just quits on its own. I don't recall it ever becoming unstuck. To be honest, though, I no longer wait...:)

Maybe I'll have to load 12.0.1 to see if this is a (slight) change.

I have this exact problem with a 7. Lots of memory and everything else seems to *mostly*work. The core app, the phone, freezes all the time and the only thing I can do is reboot or use Siri to call. Doesn’t seem to matter what page - it freezes soon as you open it. Contacts, recent calls, etc. I updated to 12.01 hoping it would fix it but nope. I hope they fix soon!

Me too. I have iPhone X. I have had every iPhone from the start. This has never happened before. It is definitely iOS 12. Apple just fix the **** thing and stop telling us to reboot , restore , etc.

Also - 4 of my colleagues have different iPhones but all have iOS 12 and they have the same issue.

Wow - that is a strange coincidence!

I have new xr max 512 gB. Has had this problem since I first got it Sept 21 and did the load from (updated 6+) backup. If I open the phone app and leave it alone a while, it will eventually work. If it doesn’t eventually work, I close the app, swipe up and close it comepletely, reopen it, wait, and repeat.

Hard restart works once, or twice, then back to same situation.

Apple support said reset to factory and then reload. I hoped first update would fix it, so I haven’t done the reload from scratch yet. But first update had no effect. I’m leary of resetting and I live too far to go to a Genius Bar and let them do it.

If the contact image is blank, I know it isn’t working. If I leave it alone and pics come back, it has a good change of working.

iPhone 7, 256gb on ios12. Locks up almost any time that i listen to voicemail. Only solution is to restart. Exiting the phone app does not resolve. not sure if i’m missing calls when it’s frozen. Really great that an iPhone doesn’t actually work as a phone any more.... you had one job, Apple...

I have a 5SE with the same issue ever since updating to 12.0.0. The 12.0.1 update didn't seem to fix anything and restarting only worked the first few times. At least now it is suck on "Recents" so I can see what calls I've missed. Would be nice to hear voicemails though...

I've never had an issue like this before with other phones. I happened to be looking at upgrading when these freezes started occurring and this is really making me consider switching from Apple for my next phone. I'm just not sure if I am ready to give up the ability to place phone calls from my phone just yet.