Why Is Call Waiting Not Working on iPhone? Reasons & Solutions
Although email and social media can handle multiple conversations at once, phone calls remain more efficient and direct, especially when network connections are weak, reducing misunderstandings caused by text-based communication. Call Waiting is an important feature that alerts you to incoming calls during a conversation, improving communication efficiency.
However, some users experience the issue of iPhone call waiting not working, making it necessary to understand what Call Waiting means, why it may fail, and how to fix it.
Part 1: What Does Call Waiting Mean on iPhone?
Call waiting is used to alert iPhone users that another call is coming while they are on the phone with someone. A new call is put on hold and will not be answered until the user has finished the ongoing call. Call waiting is a significant reminder making people not miss any important calls. It allows you to:
- Put the current call on hold and answer the new one.
- Switch between the two calls.
- Merge both calls into a conference call.
- Decline the incoming call.
Part 2: Why Is Call Waiting Not Working on My iPhone?
Call waiting not working on iPhone can be caused by several factors.
- Unstable Signal. As we know, phone calls work well when the communication signal is stable and strong enough. So if you stay in a place with no better signal, call waiting will not work on your iPhone.
- Disabled Call Waiting. Have you enabled a call waiting in your settings? It won't work for you if you do not turn call waiting on.
- Some System Issues. Call waiting can also be disabled with some system bugs or issues due to the older system version.
Part 3: How to Fix iPhone Call Waiting Not Working?
Now that you understand what Call Waiting is and why the iPhone call waiting not working issue may occur, it's time to focus on the practical solutions. The following methods will help you troubleshoot and fix the problem step by step, so you can restore this useful feature and avoid missing important incoming calls.
Method 1: Enable Call Waiting
Call waiting is enabled by default, but some users may carelessly turn it off or have reset all settings so that call waiting is off. So, it's necessary for you to make sure you've already enabled call waiting feature on your iPhone. Follow the tips to enable your call waiting.
- Step 1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone, then tap the Apps option.
- Step 2. Scroll down the list of options and tap on Phone.
- Step 3. Look for the Call Waiting option in the "Calls" section and tap it.
- Step 4. Tap on Primary or Cellular Data, and tap the toggle switch next to Call Waiting to turn it on (it will turn green).
Method 2: Upgrade iOS
Apple regularly updates the iOS version with new features and fixes some bugs that appeared in previous releases. If you have enabled your call waiting on your iPhone and are still having problems with iPhone call waiting not working, it's best to upgrade your iOS version to the newest one. Here's how to upgrade your iOS version to the latest version.
- Step 1. Tap on Settings app displayed on Home Screen.
- Step 2. Navigate to General, and tap Software Update. You can check your iOS version and tap on Update Now button to access the latest version.
Method 3: Fix Call Waiting Not Working on iPhone with TunesKit iOS System Recovery
Have you tried all the setting ways to fix the problem and none of them worked? There may be some issues with your iOS system. Try to fix your system with the professional iOS system recovery tool highly recommended. TunesKit iOS System Recovery, a high success rate and muti-functional iOS system recovery tool, can help you fix over 150 system issues on iOS device, including iPhone and iPad stuck on Apple logo, iPhone bricked, iTunes error code 75, blue screen, etc.
In addition, downgrading the iOS version without iTunes can be easily achieved with TunesKit iOS System Recovery. What's more, the tool is designed with a simple, understandable interface that allows you to successfully and easily fix call waiting not working on iPhone. There is no need to worry about the arduous process of using the tool, as TunesKit iOS System Recovery has streamlined all operations to better assist users in fixing issues.
Repair Call Waiting Issues Without Data Loss
TunesKit iOS System Recovery fixes iPhone call waiting not working and other iOS glitches quickly without erasing your data, restoring normal call functions in just a few clicks.
600,000+ Downloads It only takes 3 steps to fix the call waiting problem on your device. Figure out how it can be done with the following details.
Step 1: Connect Your Device
To fix call waiting not working, you have to connect your device to a computer and keep connected until your iPhone is fixed completely. Click on "iOS System Repair" clearly displayed on the interface, and then click the Start button to move on.
Step 2:Choose Repair Type
iOS System Repair comes with two repairing modes, Standard Repair and Deep Repair. Standard Repair is recommended to you first as it will not lose any data of your device while you fix call waiting not working on iPhone. And Deep Repair will recover your system deeply, but it will erase your iPhone data. If the former does not work for you, try to use the Deep Repair to fix your iOS system.
Step 3: Download Firmware Package & Begin to Repair
Your iPhone's info will be recognized by this tool, so you only need to check the info of your device shown on the interface. And go ahead to download the firmware package. After finishing verification, click on "Repair" button to fix the issue on your iPhone. The whole process only takes you a few minutes.
Part 4: FAQs About Call Waiting Not Working on iPhone
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1. Why is Call Waiting grayed out in my iPhone settings?
When the toggle for Call Waiting appears gray or unresponsive, it usually indicates a communication issue between your device and your cellular carrier. This setting is not actually stored solely on the phone; the iPhone queries your carrier’s network to see if the feature is active on your account.
If the switch is stuck or spinning, your device might be having trouble fetching your account details, or the feature might be disabled on the carrier side. -
2. Does Do Not Disturb block Call Waiting?
Focus modes, such as Do Not Disturb, can effectively silence Call Waiting alerts if they are active while you are on the phone. While the feature technically still "works" in the background, you won't hear the beep or see the screen notification because the system is suppressing interruptions.
Check your Control Center to ensure you don't have a Focus mode active that restricts notifications. You can also customize your Focus settings to allow calls from specific people or to allow repeated calls to break through the silence.
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3. How do I know if Call Waiting is broken?
If the feature is not working, incoming calls will go directly to voicemail without any notification on your end, or the caller will hear a busy signal. You might only realize someone tried to call you if you receive a "Missed Call" notification or a voicemail alert after you hang up your current call.
Part 5: Conclusion
In general, the iPhone call waiting not working can be fixed with a few steps to reset your settings. If it's still not working, you need to take system repair into account. The issue can be easily fixed with TunesKit iOS System Recovery, the practical tool highly recommended in this article. Hopefully, this article will show you a way to fix your iPhone.
