Why does my phone keep saying phone not allowed for voice?

The message “Phone not allowed for voice” is a common error that can appear on Android and iOS devices. It indicates that your phone is restricted from making voice calls over the mobile network. There are several potential reasons why this message may show up:

• Insufficient balance on your prepaid account
• Issues with your cellular network connection
• Problems with your SIM card
• Account restrictions set by your carrier
• Software bugs on your phone
• Failing to update your phone software
• Hardware faults with your phone

This article will provide an overview of the various causes of the “phone not allowed for voice” error and suggestions for troubleshooting and resolving them.

Insufficient Balance

One of the most common reasons for the “phone not allowed for voice” message is having an insufficient balance on a prepaid wireless plan. Prepaid plans require users to add money to their account in order to use services like voice calling or text messages. If the account balance drops too low, carriers will block access to certain services as a way to prevent customers from overusing the little credit they have left.

Most prepaid carriers set a minimum balance threshold that must be maintained in order to make voice calls. This threshold can range from $5 to $25 depending on the provider. If your balance drops below that threshold, you’ll start getting error messages like “phone not allowed for voice” or “balance too low.” The carrier is essentially telling you that you need to add more money to your prepaid account before voice services can be restored.

According to one Reddit user, Red Pocket’s minimum voice balance threshold seems to be around $5 based on the error messages they were receiving. So if your Red Pocket balance drops below $5, you may start getting blocked from making voice calls.

The solution here is simple – add more money/top up your prepaid balance. Once the balance is restored above the minimum threshold set by your wireless provider, the “phone not allowed for voice” error should go away and voice capabilities will be reactivated. Just be sure to keep a close eye on your balance going forward to avoid running into issues again.

Network Issues

One potential cause of the “phone not allowed for voice” error is problems with your cellular network coverage. If you are in an area with poor signal strength or network connectivity issues, you may get blocked from making voice calls.

Network outages and coverage gaps occur when the cellular towers in your area go down or cannot provide adequate bandwidth to handle voice traffic. This can happen due to maintenance, hardware failures, severe weather interfering with signals, or heavy network congestion. In rural locations, coverage holes are also common.

If the “phone not allowed for voice” error corresponds with moving to a known bad coverage zone, switching carriers, or reports of a network outage in your vicinity, then insufficient connectivity with your provider’s voice network is the likely culprit.

To confirm a network issue is responsible, try toggling airplane mode on and off, toggling cellular data on and off, or moving to an area with better coverage. You can also contact your carrier and inquire about any outages for additional confirmation.

See: https://www.tenorshare.com/fix-android/phone-not-allowed-for-voice.html

SIM Card Problems

One potential cause of the “phone not allowed for voice” error is issues with your SIM card. The SIM card allows your phone to connect to your carrier’s cellular network and access services like calls and texts. If there is damage to the SIM card, improper insertion, or incorrect setup, you may receive this error.

First, check to make sure your SIM card is properly seated in the SIM card slot. If the SIM card is loose, damaged, or incorrectly oriented, it may not make the proper electrical connection with your phone. Remove and reinsert the SIM card to ensure it clicks into place securely.

Inspect your SIM card for any signs of physical damage like cracks, scratches, or bent connectors. If your SIM card is damaged, you’ll need to replace it with a new one from your carrier. Contact your carrier to get a replacement SIM card.

You should also double-check the SIM card is activated properly with your carrier’s network and provisioned with the correct data plan for calling and texting. Contact your carrier for assistance fixing any provisioning issues.

If the SIM card looks undamaged, is inserted correctly, and has no provisioning issues, the problem could be due to incompatibility with your specific phone model. In this case, you would need to get a different SIM card from your carrier. For example, newer 5G phones use different SIM card types compared to older 4G LTE models.

If these SIM card troubleshooting steps fail to resolve the “phone not allowed for voice” errors, then there may be other causes at play like insufficient account balance or network issues. For additional troubleshooting steps and information, see the full guide here: https://www.tenorshare.com/fix-android/phone-not-allowed-for-voice.html

Account Restrictions

Sometimes you may see the “phone not allowed for voice” message due to account restrictions placed on your line by your carrier. Common reasons for account restrictions include:

• Non-payment or insufficient balance on your account – If your phone bill is past due or you don’t have enough money in your account, carriers will often restrict voice capabilities while still allowing data. This encourages you to pay your outstanding balance.
• Parental controls – If you’re on a family plan, the account owner may have enabled parental controls that restrict voice calling and texting during certain times. This helps parents limit their kids’ phone usage.
• Carrier limitations – Some carrier accounts have voice restrictions enabled by default, like certain prepaid and MVNO plans. You may need to upgrade to a postpaid account to remove them.
• Call blocking settings – If you have certain numbers blocked from calling you, or if you’re blocked from calling certain numbers due to carrier restrictions, you may see the “not allowed” message.

To resolve account restrictions, check your balance and payment status. Contact your carrier if the issue persists – they can remove limitations or block settings causing problems.

Phone Software

Software bugs and glitches in the phone’s operating system can sometimes trigger the “phone not allowed for voice” error message. This often happens after a faulty OS update that causes issues with calling and cellular network functionality (1).

For Android devices, a buggy update to the baseband firmware that controls the cellular radio can block voice calls with this cryptic error. Factory resetting the device or flashing an older firmware version may resolve it in this case (1).

On Samsung Galaxy phones specifically, problems with the Phone app after a OneUI or Android OS update are a known cause. Clearing app cache/data for the Phone and Messages apps or wiping the phone can fix the problem (1).

Overall, software faults impacting cellular connectivity permissions, SIM card detection, or default calling apps tend to underlie phone not allowed errors. Updating, resetting, or reflashing the device often helps mitigate these OS and firmware issues.

Update Issues

Failing to update your phone software can sometimes lead to the “phone not allowed for voice” error message. When important updates are released, they often contain bug fixes and patches meant to address issues just like this one. If your phone software is outdated, you may start to experience problems that were already addressed in newer updates.

Updating your operating system ensures you have the latest security protections and feature improvements as well. Being multiple versions behind can expose you to vulnerabilities or lead to compatibility issues with apps and services as they evolve over time.

To rule out an outdated OS, be sure your phone is running the newest software available from the manufacturer. You can check for and install updates by going to Settings > System > Software update. If an update is waiting, tap “Download and install” to get your system fully up to date, then check if the voice calling issues persist.

Hardware Faults

Sometimes an issue with your phone’s physical hardware can trigger the “phone not allowed for voice” error message. This could indicate damage, wear and tear issues, or defects with components involved in cellular connectivity and calling functions.

For example, the antenna, radios, SIM card reader, microphones, or speakers could be damaged, preventing your device from making and receiving calls properly. Issues with solder connections, flex cables, charging ports, or motherboard components could also be to blame.

If your phone suffered recent physical damage like being dropped, got wet, or experienced other trauma, inspect closely for any cracks, dents, scratches, or fraying that could indicate a hardware problem. Worn charging ports are another common culprit.

If the phone is older and heavily used, general wear and tear over time could render calling features unusable. Unfortunately hardware deterioration can’t always be reversed or repaired cost effectively.

Trying basic troubleshooting steps may help narrow down if hardware failure specifically relates to the “phone not allowed for voice” symptom. But typically replacing damaged parts or the device itself is the ultimate solution for resolved harder faults.

Check if your phone is still under warranty or device insurance when evaluating repair costs. For older phones, purchasing a replacement altogether is often best if the issue stems from unfixable physical defects or component failures.

Troubleshooting

If you see the “phone not allowed for voice” error, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can try:

1. Remove and reinsert the SIM card to make sure it is seated properly. Power cycle the phone by turning it off completely and turning it back on.
2. If using an unlocked phone, contact your carrier to make sure the device is provisioned properly on their network for voice services. The carrier can check and update your account settings (source).
3. Check for any pending software updates for your phone and apply them. Software updates may fix incompatibility issues.
4. Reset network settings on your device to clear any problematic cached data (source).
5. Use the phone manufacturer’s diagnostic tool or boot into safe mode to see if any third party apps are causing issues with voice services.

If the problem persists after trying these troubleshooting steps, contact your carrier or phone manufacturer for further support. A hardware or software fault may be preventing voice services from working properly.

When to Get Help

If you’ve tried the troubleshooting tips and your phone still says “phone not allowed for voice”, it’s time to contact your carrier for further assistance. Signs it’s time to get help include:

• The error persists after reinserting your SIM card and restarting your phone
• You see the error message on multiple phones on the same carrier and account
• Your phone is unlocked or you have no SIM restrictions
• You recently switched carriers and details like your account number have changed

When you contact your carrier, be prepared to provide your account number, phone model, and any details about when the issue started occurring. They can use this information to look into potential account restrictions or updates that may resolve the “phone not allowed for voice” error.

If it’s determined that your phone has a hardware issue that is preventing calls, getting a replacement phone or repairing your current device may be the next step.

The key is to reach out for support if basic troubleshooting has failed. Customer service can investigate and resolve any underlying account, software or hardware issues.