How to Fix WhatsApp Calling Not Working on iOS 14

Are your Whatsapp calls not working on iOS 14?

Calling and talking to our friends is an underrated commodity in this day and age. Similarly, our iPhones are a technological giant in the tech industry. So why do basic problems like ‘calls failing’ still happen?

You’d think that once we went into the age of unlocking our phones with our faces, calling our friends wouldn’t be such a hassle. Well, anything can happen. Here at Saint, we like to provide our readers with updated and thoroughly-researched solutions.

In this article, we’ll be going over multiple methods you can use to fix the WhatsApp calling not working on iOS 14 issue.

Let’s get started!

 

1. General Troubleshoot.

Let’s start by troubleshooting your device for common issues. A lot of the methods ahead can be a bit on the technical side. Later on, we’ll be fiddling and messing with your settings, but trying these simple fixes first might save you some time.

Check WhatsApp’s Servers.

Here’s one of the most important steps you can do: check WhatsApp’s servers.

How are the servers doing, and is it currently experiencing a problem? If WhatsApp’s servers are malfunctioning, you can save yourself a ton of future headaches.

More often than not, users think that there’s something wrong with their phone and scramble through the internet to try and fix it. When in reality, in such an issue like this, WhatsApp’s servers may be under maintenance or collectively down for other users.

You can check through Downdetector for reports regarding WhatsApp’s servers.


Close and Reopen WhatsApp.

If your WhatsApp program is experiencing a software issue or bug, reopening it can iron out any complications. Closing the application will terminate all software processes, including bugs like infinite loops, wrong catchers, and so on.

fix whatsapp calling not working on ios 14

Furthermore, we’ve listed this method up here because of how easy it is to do. Reopening WhatsApp will run all your processes like normal, which should fix any calling issues. However, if your WhatsApp file is corrupted, updating or reinstalling it may be the only way to fix your issue. More on this in the next methods.


Enable and Disable Airplane mode.

Another quick and easy solution is to toggle the ‘Airplane mode’ on your device, which will cut off all network connections. This feature was added so that airline passengers could have their network signals cut off while traveling through the air.

This is a useful way to forcefully disconnect all network connections made by your device. That way, when you reconnect to the internet, it simulates a network restart.

Here’s how you can enable and disable Airplane mode:

  1. First, swipe up on any part of your home screen to access the Control Center.
  2. Then, tap on the Airplane icon on the top-left corner of your screen. Your cellular signal should be replaced with an Airplane symbol.

fix whatsapp calling not working on ios 14

  1. Wait for a couple of seconds and tap on it again to turn it back off.
 

2. Turn on Local Network.

You might be using WhatsApp to call a friend who’s miles away. So, this next fix might leave you wondering as to why it works, if it does work.

Whenever you’re connected to the Wi-Fi, you can inadvertently communicate with other devices on that network. This is how devices like Alexa can control different parts of your home. The ‘Local Network’ feature is responsible for this function.

Despite being seemingly unrelated, turning this on for the WhatsApp application has worked as a solution for some Apple users.

So here’s how you can turn on your ‘Local Network’:

  1. Open up the Settings app on your phone.
  2. Once you’re there, locate and navigate to WhatsApp.
  3. Finally, try to look for Local Network and make sure it’s enabled.

fix whatsapp calling not working on ios 14

 

3. Turn Off Any VPNs.

In this day and age, internet security is just as important as physical security. Your online data could be mined and sold by illegal companies anywhere. To combat this, a lot of users have been installing VPNs on their devices.

VPNs are a great way to hide your digital IP by masking it with a server that you can connect to. However, hiding your IP is generally a suspicious move and can force WhatsApp to decline your calls. Turn off any VPN or third-party VPNs currently active on your iPhone.

Here’s how you can turn off the default VPN setting on your iPhone:

  1. First, open up your Settings.
  2. Next, look for and tap on the VPN.

fix whatsapp calling not working on ios 14

  1. Finally, make sure it’s disabled and try to make a WhatsApp call.

If you’re using a third-party VPN, turn that off or find someone familiar with the application. However, you can always do a quick google search regarding the third-party VPN on your device. This way, you’ll be able to shut it off on your own.

 

4. Restart Your Device.

An age-old technique for fixing software issues on your device is by restarting it. Software problems and bugs can build up in the background over time. These are usually small errors, but all it takes is one annoying one for you to feel its effects.

Restarting your device will terminate all your programs, operating system, and software bugs. This will iron out your device and hopefully run all software processes like normal when you boot your iPhone.

Here’s how you can restart your iPhone:

  1. First, hold the power button on your device for several seconds.
  2. Next, a red slider that says ‘Slide to power off’ should appear on your screen. Drag this to the right.

fix whatsapp calling not working on ios 14

  1. Once your device turns off, wait for a couple of seconds before holding down the power button again to reboot your iPhone.

If you’re wondering why we aren’t suggesting a ‘force restart’, it’s because it’s completely unnecessary. At the same time, doing so is potentially hazardous to your iPhone. If you want to find out why, continue reading here.

 

5. Reboot Your Wi-Fi.

Is your Wi-Fi constantly on? Or does it randomly cut off because of a faulty powerline? Whatever the case, your Wi-Fi network can encounter a lot of connectivity issues while it’s on. Restarting your modem is a good habit, just to flush out any problems with the internet.

At the same time, it’s also good to give these devices a rest once in a while. Just because you’re connected to the Wi-Fi network doesn’t mean you’re connected to the internet. Your Wi-Fi network is a connection between you and your phone, while your Wi-Fi’s connection to the internet is different altogether.

wifi restart reboot network

Rebooting your modem will restart your Wi-Fi’s connection to the internet. This should fix any issues with the internet in general.

Here’s how you can reboot your Wi-Fi:

  1. First, internet modems come in different models. If you aren’t familiar with your modem, try contacting your provider or a knowledgeable family member.
  2. Next, most modem power switches are usually located at the back of the device. Look for a small button and click on it. If that was the power button, then your modem’s lights should all be turned off.
  3. Wait a couple of seconds or a minute. Go ahead and press the same button to turn your modem on again.
 

6. Update WhatsApp to The Latest Version

Have you recently updated WhatsApp? After transferring to iOS 14, a lot of your applications may be outdated. If you haven’t updated all your apps already, it would be best to do so to avoid future problems.

Furthermore, if the WhatsApp running on your iPhone is an old version, that could explain the issue you’re facing. Since these applications are suited for iOS 13, the lack of an update might be what’s causing the issue.

Here’s how you can update WhatsApp through the App Store:

  1. Start by opening up the App Store on your device.
  2. Next, navigate to the search bar and type in ‘WhatsApp’.
  3. Once you’ve located the application, simply tap on the Update button if an update is pending.
 

7. Reinstall WhatsApp.

Updating your application works by downloading a set of files that can be integrated into older already-existing files. This way, your phone doesn’t have to download the entire application again from scratch.

However, if your WhatsApp already had a corrupted sector in its main and older files, these will not be fixed by an update. For cases like this, you will have to uninstall WhatsApp and reinstall it into your device.

Here’s how you can uninstall WhatsApp:

  1. On your home screen, look for and press on WhatsApp. A quick actions menu should appear on your screen.
  2. Next, tap on and select Remove App.
  3. Once you’re done with that, you’ll be asked to confirm your decision. Tap on Delete App to finish the process.

reinstall delete install snapchat


Next, here’s how you can reinstall WhatsApp:

  1. Begin by opening up the App Store on your iPhone and searching for ‘WhatsApp’ in the search menu.
  2. You should be directed to WhatsApp’s page, tap on the Install button to proceed.

Now that WhatsApp has been completely reinstalled on your iPhone, try and make a call to see if the issue has been resolved.

 

8. Reset Network Settings.

Apple allowed its users to retain their preferences pre-iOS 14. Meaning all your settings from iOS 13 were carried over to the next update on your device. This is a great move on their part, but sadly it can have its drawbacks.

It’s not uncommon for the transition between iOS versions to have hiccups, thereby resetting some settings on your iPhone. These settings can also be corrupted and configured without your knowledge.

Resetting your ‘Network Settings’ will clear all Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections, so you’ll have to reconnect these later.

Here’s how you can reset your ‘Network Settings’:

  1. With your Settings app open, scroll down and look for General.
  2. Next, navigate to Reset.
  3. Once you’re there, a list of all the settings you can reset should be displayed. Simply tap on Reset Network Settings for the purpose of this method.

reset network settings

  1. You might be asked to enter your PIN or Passcode, fill this in.

Restart your iPhone once you’re done with these steps for full effectiveness.

 

9. Update Your iOS.

iOS 14 has been a huge collection of great features and annoying bugs. Unfortunately, the new operating system is far from perfect.

Apple realizes this and has been dedicating their future patches to bug and glitch fixes. As of October 6, 2020, Apple’s latest iOS release is 14.0.1. If you’re still rocking iOS 14.0.0, updating your iOS might be in your best interest.

Here’s how you can update your iOS:

  1. First, open up your Settings app and then tap on General.
  2. Once you’re there, tap on Software Update to proceed.

update ios software update

  1. A clear indication should show on your screen if an update is available. Simply tap on Install Now to continue.

With that out of the way, hopefully, your problem has been resolved. Unfortunately, if it hasn’t, you might be thinking about doing a factory reset. A factory reset will nuke your entire phone, operating system and all.

Keep in mind that applications can take weeks or even months to fully adapt to new major iOS updates. If you’re willing to wait, WhatsApp might have an incoming update that will fix your problem. But if you’re still interested in doing a factory reset, you can refer to our step-by-step guide.

Now that you’ve reached the end of this article, we hope to have helped you fix your ‘WhatsApp calling not working on iOS 14’ issue. If you have any questions regarding the article, feel free to leave a comment down below.

If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂

Author

  • Mako Young

    Mako is a staff writer at Saint. He's been writing about tech for more than a decade. When he isn't reading about the latest news on Apple, he's busy studying cybersecurity, cryptocurrency, cloud computing, and other IT-related sectors. His exceptional work graces technology and Apple-related blogs like How-To Geek, VEED.io, Macgasm, onMac, PhotoWorkout, GameRant, and many more. He also has a Bachelors in Computer Science and has been writing since 2018, with over 400 posts published. LinkedIn X (Twitter)

1 comment
  1. HI
    Managed to replicate the WhatsApp call connection/reconnection problem. When both parties using Wi-Fi network, this issue arises. When either party uses the 4G network, the problem goes away.
    I think it is IOS 14 issue. I am currently on IOS 14.4
    I try all methods that you have recommended: resetting network: delete WhatsApp apps and reinstall and on/off Apple phone etc… Does not work.
    Appreciate your thoughts and inputs.
    Many thanks!
    Jan 29 2021

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