There are a few reasons why you might not be able to make or receive a call:
If you've just joined, it can take 30 minutes for everything to fully connect. In rare cases, this can take up to 24 hours.
It's also worth checking the network status and coverage in your area. Issues with a local mast or weak signal can affect calls, even if texts or data appear to be working.
Since the 3G switch off in the UK, some phones that previously relied on 3G for voice calls may have trouble making or receiving calls. If your phone isn’t set up correctly for calling over newer networks, calls may fail even though signal bars are showing.
To help with this, check your phone’s settings and:
Look for VoLTE or 4G Calling and make sure it’s switched on
If available, also enable “Allow / Use 2G services”, which can act as a fallback for voice calls on some devices
The wording and location of these options can vary by phone, so using your settings search can help.
Make sure you have enough credit on your account. You’ll still need credit for certain numbers, such as premium or service numbers, even if you’re on a plan. You can check this in My giffgaff.
Try turning your phone off and back on again. This helps your phone reconnect to the network and can resolve temporary issues.
Additional steps to try (if the issue continues)
If you’ve tried the steps above and still can’t make or receive calls, you can try the following:
Reset network settings
This can help fix deeper connection issues, but it will remove saved Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth devices, so it’s best used as a later step.Manual network selection
Manually selecting the network can help if your phone hasn’t correctly re-registered on the network, which can sometimes happen since the 3G switch off.If you still can’t make a call then try contacting an agent. They’ll be able to check your account to see if there’s anything wrong. They should get back to you within 24 hours.
Did this solve your problem? If not, pop over to our friendly community or chat with our giffgaff HelpBot for a quick answer. Alternatively, ask one of our helpful agents for an answer within 24 hours.