Verizon calls may not be going through for several different reasons, and most of them are fixable from your side unless there is a bigger network outage affecting many customers at once.
1. Network outages on Verizon’s side
Sometimes the problem is not your phone at all. Verizon’s own network can have an outage that stops calls from going through for many users at the same time. During large outages, people often say their phones are stuck in “SOS” mode and that they cannot make or receive calls or use mobile data.[1][2] In events like this, Verizon usually posts a short statement saying that its engineers are working to fix issues affecting wireless voice and data services.[2][3] When this happens, your calls may fail no matter what you try until Verizon restores service in your area.
2. Weak signal or no coverage
If you are in a place with weak coverage, such as a basement, a rural area, or inside a large building, your phone may show just one bar or no bars at all. With very low signal, calls can drop or never connect. If you see “No service”, “Emergency calls only”, or “SOS”, your phone is not properly connected to the Verizon network and normal calls will not go through. Moving closer to a window, going outdoors, or traveling a short distance can sometimes be enough to pick up a usable signal.
3. Temporary network congestion
Even when Verizon is not having a major outage, the network can be overloaded in certain locations at busy times. This can happen at concerts, sporting events, big public gatherings, or during emergencies when many people try to call at once. In those moments, calls might ring and then fail, or you might get a message saying the call cannot be completed. Usually this is temporary and improves once fewer people are using the network in that area.
4. Phone stuck in SOS or emergency mode
When some Verizon users report that their calls will not connect, they also mention that their phones are stuck in “SOS mode”.[1][2] This means your device sees that some mobile networks are around, but it cannot register normally and will only allow emergency calls. This can happen during a Verizon outage, but it can also appear if your SIM is damaged, your line is not active, or your phone is trying to connect to the wrong network type. Restarting the phone, turning airplane mode on then off, or reinserting the SIM card are simple first steps that may get you out of SOS if the problem is on your side and not a wider outage.
5. Account or billing problems
If your Verizon account has a past due balance or has been suspended for another reason, your calls might stop working even though your phone and the network are fine. People sometimes find their device shows a signal, but every call fails or goes straight to an error message. Checking your Verizon account status, making sure your bill is paid, or contacting Verizon customer support can clear up account issues that silently block calls.
6. Wrong network settings on your phone
Your phone’s settings control how it connects to Verizon’s towers. If these settings are not right, calls might fail while text and data still work, or the other way around. Common things to check include:
– Airplane mode: If it is turned on, calls will never go through. Turn it off and wait a few seconds for the phone to reconnect.
– Preferred network type: For example, if your area has only 4G LTE for voice calls but your phone is locked to a network mode that does not support that properly, calls may fail. Setting network selection back to automatic usually helps.
– Roaming and carrier settings: If you recently traveled or changed carriers, your phone might be using old settings. Updating carrier settings or resetting network settings can often fix calling issues after a move or a software update.
7. Problems with Wi Fi Calling
If you use Verizon’s Wi Fi Calling and your Wi Fi connection is unstable, calls may drop, sound bad, or not connect at all. Your phone might try to place the call over Wi Fi even though the Wi Fi signal is weak. Turning Wi Fi Calling off for a test, or switching to mobile data only, can show whether Wi Fi is the cause. Restarting your router or moving closer to it can also help if the wireless signal is the weak point.
8. Software glitches and outdated phone software
Sometimes a simple software bug on the phone can block calls from connecting. This can show up after an operating system update, after installing certain apps, or if the phone has been running for a long time without a restart. Turning the phone off and back on can clear temporary glitches. Checking for and installing the latest software updates may fix deeper calling problems that others have reported and the manufacturer has already patched.
9. SIM card issues
Your SIM card is what links your phone to your Verizon account on the network. If the SIM is loose, dirty, damaged, or not properly activated, calls may not go through. If your phone shows messages like “No SIM” or “Invalid SIM”, or keeps jumping into SOS mode while others around you have normal service, the SIM may be the problem. Power the phone down, remove the SIM carefully, gently clean any dust, reinsert it firmly, and power back on. If that does not help, ask Verizon for a replacement SIM and have them check the activation.
10. Call blocking, Do Not Disturb, or number specific issues
Sometimes calls fail only with certain numbers. This can happen if:
– You or the other person has accidentally blocked a number.
– Do Not Disturb or Focus modes are turned on, which can send callers straight to voicemail.
– There is a problem with the other person’s carrier or phone, not yours.
If you can call most numbers but not one specific contact, check your block list and Do Not Disturb settings, try dialing that number manually instead of from contacts, and ask the other person whether they can receive calls from others.
11. Local equipment problems like cell towers or home signal devices
Even if Verizon’s national network is fine, a nearby cell tower or local equipment can fail. This can affect only a neighborhood or a small area. People may report in that one city that their phones are not making or receiving calls, while other cities are normal.[1][3][4] If you use a Verizon extender or a similar device at home to improve signal, a problem with that box or with your home internet can also block calls. Restarting such devices and checking whether calls work when you are away from home can help identify if that is the cause.
12. How to troubleshoot when your Verizon calls are not going through
Here is a simple order of steps you can follow when your calls will not connect:
– Check signal bars and see if your phone shows SOS, No Service, or Emergency calls only.
– Toggle airplane mode on for 10 seconds, then off, and see if the phone reconnects.
– Restart your phone.
– Try calling a few different numbers, including a landline if possible.
– If you have Wi Fi Calling on, turn it off and try again, or move to a place with better Wi Fi.
– Check your Verizon account and make sure your service is active and paid