Why can’t my iPhones make or receive calls and texts?
Answer
When both iPhones lose calling and texting together, the cause is often the carrier account or an outage rather than one bad phone. Confirm signal status, SIM/eSIM activation, and account standing before another full reset.
Before you start: stop right away if…
- A network settings reset removes saved Wi‑Fi passwords.
Follow these steps
Check signal on both phones
Confirm whether each iPhone shows a carrier name, No Service, or SOS Only.
You should see: You see the same outage-like status on both, or a difference that points to one SIM.
Toggle Airplane Mode once
Turn Airplane Mode on for 15 seconds, turn it off, and wait up to a minute.
You should see: Service returns, or both phones stay without cellular.
Verify Cellular plan status
Open Settings > Cellular and confirm a plan is listed and on. Reseat physical SIMs after powering off if needed.
You should see: A plan appears active, or the phone reports the SIM cannot be read.
Check the carrier account
Sign into the official carrier account or call support and ask whether either line is suspended, porting, or in an outage.
You should see: The carrier confirms account status and next steps for both numbers.
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Extra tips
What to look for: Status text such as No Service, Searching, or SOS, and whether Wi‑Fi still works.
Before you change anything: Note the carrier and both phone numbers. Avoid repeated erases that wipe data without fixing account issues. Use official carrier support only. Do not share account PINs with unexpected callers.