You bought a Safelink phone, and now you want to make calls and stay connected. But for some reason, it’s just not cooperating—your Safelink phone won’t call.
Don’t panic, though. This is a pretty common problem, and there are some simple steps you can take to get your phone working again. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most likely causes of why your Safelink phone won’t call and how to recover quickly. Whether you have a basic or advanced model of the device, by the end of this guide you’ll be able to confidently answer: “why isn’t my Safelink phone dialing out?”
Overview of Safelink Wireless
Are you having trouble with making or receiving calls on your Safelink phone? You’re not alone. This common issue can be caused by a variety of things, and it’s important to understand what’s causing the problem in order to find the right solution.
So, let’s start with the basics: Safelink is a wireless service that offers free government cell phones to low income households in the United States. It also provides affordable voice, text and data services to those in need. And if you’re experiencing difficulty with making or receiving calls from your Safelink phone, there are some key troubleshooting steps and solutions that you should consider first.
These include rebooting the device in Safe Mode, removing and reinserting the SIM card, and uninstalling any 3rd party applications that may be interfering with its performance. Reasons for not being able to make or receive calls can also include Airplane Mode being on, having a weak or no signal, or 3rd party applications not working properly. Solutions may include moving to an area with a better signal, turning on Airplane Mode when needed, and changing from automatic network search to manual network search instead.
Troubleshooting Your Phone Settings
There are a few settings on your device that might be preventing you from making calls. Start by checking if Airplane mode is turned on—if it is, you won’t be able to make or receive calls.
Next, check if Do Not Disturb is blocking incoming calls. Just go to your phone’s settings, select Do Not Disturb and make sure “calls” and “calls from anyone” are enabled.
Finally, make sure the Voice Call option on your Call Barring settings is enabled. On some phones you can access this setting by going to Settings > Call Barring > Voice Call – here, you’ll need to ensure that both Outgoing Calls and Incoming Calls are set to Allow. If they’re set to Block then your phone won’t be able to make or receive voice calls.
If none of these solutions fix the problem, then you may need to contact a customer service representative for further troubleshooting advice or assistance.
Why the Phone Isn’t Connecting to a Network
Not being able to make and receive calls is no fun—and it can happen for many reasons. One of them is that your phone might not be compatible with the Safelink network. To check, you should look into the type of cellular frequencies supported by your device.
Phone Compatibility Checklist
To ensure that your device is compatible you can run through this checklist:
- Check the cellular frequencies listed in the user manual and on the manufacturer’s website.
- Look up the frequency bands used by Safelink—if there’s a match between the two, then it’s likely compatible.
- Confirm with your phone carrier as to its compatibility with Safelink’s Nationwide Network Coverage Map.
If you find out that your device isn’t compatible, then you can look into getting a new one that does support the Safelink network—or if you already have one, try rebooting it in Safe Mode or checking to see if there are any available software updates for it, too!
Checking Your Balance and Plan
Wondering why you can’t make a call with your Safelink phone? It might be because of your plan and balance. You see, plans can change over time, and it’s important to keep track of how much money is left in your plan so that you don’t get caught off guard.
Luckily, it’s easy to check the balance on your plan. All you need to do is text “BALANCE” to 611611, or click a link when you’re logged into your account, and you’ll immediately get an update on how much money you have left in your plan.
If you don’t have any money left in your plan, then it goes without saying that you won’t be able to make any calls or texts. Don’t forget that even if you don’t use the phone very often, making at least one phone call or sending one text a month is necessary in order to keep the benefits of using Safelink.
So if nothing else is wrong with your Safelink phone, double-check that the problem isn’t related to having no funds in your account.
Adjusting Call Settings in the App
Another thing you can do if your Safelink phone won’t call is to adjust the settings in the app. There might be some issues with the app or its settings that are preventing your device from making calls.
Here are some of the most common problems and solutions:
Airplane Mode
If you have enabled Airplane Mode on your phone, that can prevent calls from being made or received. Be sure to check if this option is enabled and disable it if it is.
Weak or No Signal
A weak signal or no signal at all can prevent your device from making calls. If it looks like there’s no service in your area, try restarting the phone and/or moving to an area with a stronger signal.
3rd Party Applications Not Working Properly
If you’re using any third-party applications, make sure they are running properly — if not, disable them or delete them altogether. Some of these apps can interfere with basic call functions, so ensure they are working properly before trying to make a call again.
Other Solutions: Updating the Phone, Resetting APN Settings
If your SafeLink phone is still not making calls, there are a few more solutions to try.
Updating the Phone
Make sure your phone is running on the latest software. Technology evolves quickly, and software updates can allow your device to take advantage of recent improvements. The exact steps for updating your phone will depend on the specific model and make of your device—check your user manual or contact customer service for assistance.
Resetting APN Settings
You may also need to reset the Access Point Name (APN) settings for your device in order to make calls. This is because the settings tell the phone which service it should use in order to make voice calls and access the internet. Different carriers have different APNs, so double-check that you have selected the correct one for SafeLink’s network.
If you’re still having trouble, try resetting your SafeLink settings—this way, you ensure that all of your information is accurate and up-to-date. To do this, go into Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile Network > Advanced > Access Point Names (APN). Select “Reset to default” under “APN type” — if this doesn’t help, you might want to contact customer service for further support.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, if you are having trouble making or receiving calls with your Safelink phone, the solutions listed above will help you figure out the cause of the problem and get your phone working again. Remember to check your phone settings, make sure you have enough minutes on your plan, reset your phone, or contact your service provider if needed. With these tips, you can quickly get your Safelink phone back to working order and make and receive calls to your loved ones.
