To fix the “last line no longer available” error, make sure your phone is updated to the latest version of iOS. Next, try manually switching lines by tapping “Call” after your call fails. You can also try restarting your iPhone or limiting your cellular data to your secondary line under Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data. Then, toggle your primary line off.
iPhone users with an eSIM may see a “last line no longer available” error when trying to place a call. So what does this mean, and what can you do about it?
What Does Last Line No Longer Available Mean?
This error appears to affect the preferred line on an iPhone that uses dual-SIM functionality. If you have more than one cellular plan linked to your iPhone using a standard SIM and an eSIM, you may encounter the problem.
The error seems to appear most often when attempting to dial out from the “default” SIM using the recent call log under Phone > Recent. You’ll see an error that offers you the alternative of calling using your “remaining” line. You can tap “Call” in the box that appears, but keep in mind that this will call from whatever number isn’t set as your default.
Which iPhone Models Are Affected?
This error first reared its head with Apple’s first dual-SIM iPhones in 2018, namely the iPhone XS and XS Max. Since then, any iPhone with dual-SIM capabilities has been susceptible to the issue. This includes all versions of the iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone SE (2022), and the iPhone 14 (including Pro and Max models).
Apple
You won’t encounter this issue unless you use your iPhone’s dual-SIM functionality. The first and second-generation iPhone SE doesn’t have dual-SIM capabilities, so you shouldn’t encounter the problem with that device.
Some Fixes You Can Try
We weren’t able to replicate the error since it’s not possible without more than one SIM in your iPhone. That makes testing potential fixes hard.
That said, there is a range of potential fixes out there, most of them anecdotal, all with tales of “this worked for me” attached to them. So your mileage may vary on each, but if you’re seeing this error a lot, you’ll probably have plenty of opportunities to test these solutions.
Manually Switch Lines
When your call fails, and you see the “Last Line No Longer Available” error, you’ll see an option to “Call” using your remaining line. Tap the “Call” button to place the call using your other SIM card.
This doesn’t so much as “fix” the issue as make it possible for you to make a call. Remember that if you want to keep one of your numbers private, this is a bad idea since the person will see the number.
You can also switch between lines on the “Keypad” screen in the “Phone” app or tap the “always use:” setting in a contact entry information to toggle between your primary and secondary line.
Update Your iPhone to the Latest Version of iOS
The first is an obvious one: make sure you are running the latest version of iOS. Errors such as this are often linked to bugs, so updating your iPhone under Settings > General > Software Update will remove a potentially large variable. You can also try updating your available carrier settings by visiting Settings > General > About and tapping “Update” when prompted.
Restart Your iPhone (or Use Airplane Mode)
Two other common and simple fixes involve enabling Airplane mode under Control Center and restarting your iPhone. Both of these will reset your network connection, which may resolve the issue.
Unfortunately, the issue is likely to return, even if this provides a temporary fix.
Limit Cellular Data to Your Secondary Line
Some report encountering the issue when using cellular data on their preferred line, so if it’s possible to limit this to your second line, you may reduce the likelihood of seeing the error.
You can do this under Settings > Cellular > Cellular data, and by setting your primary line to “Off” to only use cellular data on your secondary line. Make sure you have a data plan in place on the preferred line if you decide to do this. If you find it resolves the issue permanently, you might want to save some money and drop cellular from your primary line plan.
Toggle or Eject SIM Cards Before Dialling
You can also try toggling between your SIMs before dialing under the Settings > Mobile/Cellular Data menu by tapping “Turn On This Line” next to the plan you want to use.
Alternatively, try removing and reinstalling your physical SIM card. You can do this on an iPhone using a SIM tool or any thin pointy object like a paperclip.
Toggle (or Disable) Wi-Fi Calling Before Dialling
Some users have reported that enabling (or disabling, then re-enabling) Wi-Fi calling helped resolve their issue. To do this, head to Settings > Mobile/Cellular Data and tap on “Wi-Fi Calling,” then toggle the setting off and on again.
You can also try disabling Wi-Fi Calling altogether if you don’t have a use for it.
Clear Recent Call Logs
You can also try clearing your recent call log under Phone > Recents by tapping “Edit” then “Clear” followed by “Clear All Recents” in the pop-up that appears. We’re not sure why this would work, but many seem to swear by it, so it’s probably worth a shot if the issue persists.
Try Forcing a Carrier Update
Occasionally you may see the “Carrier Settings Update” alert appear on your iPhone, with an option to update now. Sometimes, these updates aren’t pushed to your phone, but you can try manually forcing them instead.
Head to Settings > General > About, where you’ll find information about your carrier. Wait on this screen for a minute or so to see if the update notification appears, then tap “Update” and try again.
Reset Your iPhone’s Network Settings
Finally, if you still haven’t had any luck, you can reset your iPhone’s network settings under Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone by tapping “Reset” followed by “Reset Network Settings.” This will reset all cellular settings, VPN and APN settings, and Wi-Fi credentials to factory defaults.
Learn More About eSIMs
An eSIM makes it easy to add more than one number to your iPhone without requiring more than one SIM card. You can switch between eSIM providers relatively easily, provided your carrier of choice supports the technology.
RELATED: What Is an eSIM, and How Is It Different From a SIM Card?
Source by www.howtogeek.com
