When an iPhone user with an eSIM tries to make a call, they may get an error message saying “last line no longer available.” What does this mean, and what can you do about it?
What does it mean that the last line is no longer available?
On an iPhone with dual-SIM functionality, this error seems to affect the preferred line. The problem could happen if you have more than one cell phone plan linked to your iPhone using both a standard SIM and an eSIM.
Most of the time, the error seems to happen when you try to make a call from the “default” SIM using the recent call log under Phone > Recent. You’ll get an error message that gives you the option to call from 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 your default.
What kinds of iPhones are affected?
This mistake first showed up in 2018 with the iPhone XS and XS Max, which were Apple’s first phones with two SIM cards. Since then, the problem has affected any iPhone that can use two SIM cards. All versions of the iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone SE (2022), and iPhone 14 are included (including Pro and Max models).
You won’t have this problem unless you use both SIM cards on your iPhone. The first and second-generation iPhone SE don’t have dual-SIM capabilities, so you shouldn’t have this problem with them.
Some ways to fix it
We couldn’t make the error happen again because you can’t do that without more than one SIM card on your iPhone. This makes it hard to test possible fixes.
Still, there are many possible fixes out there, most of which are based on personal stories and end with “this worked for me.” So your experience with each may be different, but if you see this error a lot, you’ll probably have a lot of chances to try out these fixes.
Also Read: What exactly is Google Gravity? And How does it work?
Change lines by hand
When your call fails and you get the message “Last Line No Longer Available,” you’ll see an option to “Call” using your remaining line. Tap the “Call” button to use your other SIM card to make the call.
This doesn’t really “fix” the problem, but it lets you make a call. Keep in mind that this is a bad idea if you want to keep one of your phone numbers private since the person will see the number.
You can also switch between your primary and secondary lines on the “Keypad” screen of the “Phone” app or by tapping the “always use:” setting in a contact’s information.
Get the most recent version of iOS for your iPhone
The first is an obvious one: make sure you are using the latest version of iOS. Errors like this one are often caused by bugs, so updating your iPhone’s software by going to Settings > General > Software Update will remove a large variable. You can also try updating your available carrier settings by going to Settings > General > About and tapping “Update” when asked.
Start Your iPhone Back Up (or Use Airplane Mode)
Setting your iPhone to “Airplane mode” in the Control Center or restarting it are two other common and easy fixes. Both of these will reset your connection to the network, which may fix the problem.
Even if this fixes the problem for now, the problem is likely to come back.
You should only use data on your secondary line
Some people say they see the error when they use cellular data on their preferred line. If you can only use cellular data on your second line, you may be less likely to see the error.
You can do this in Settings > Cellular > Cellular data, and you can only use cellular data on your secondary line if you set your primary line to “Off.” If you decide to do this, make sure the preferred line has a data plan. If it fixes the problem for good, you might want to drop your cell phone from your main line plan to save money.
Switch SIM cards on or off before dialing
You can also try toggling between your SIMs before dialing by tapping “Turn On This Line” next to the plan you want to use in Settings > Mobile/Cellular Data.
You could also try taking it out and putting it back in your SIM card. You can use a SIM tool or any thin, pointy object like a paperclip to do this on an iPhone.
Also Read: How to Block Messages on Iphone
Toggle (or Disable) Wi-Fi Calling Before Dialling
Some users have said that turning on Wi-Fi calling or turning it off and then turning it back on fixed their problem. To do this, go to Settings > Mobile/Cellular Data, tap “Wi-Fi Calling,” and then turn the setting off and on again.
Clear Records of Recent Calls
You can also try clearing your recent call log under Phone > Recents by tapping “Edit,” then “Clear,” and then “Clear All Recents” in the pop-up that appears. We don’t know why this would work, but many people swear by it, so if the problem keeps happening, it’s probably worth a shot.
Try forcibly updating your carrier
You may see an alert on your iPhone that says “Carrier Settings Update” and gives you the option to update now. Sometimes these updates aren’t sent to your phone automatically, but you can try to force them yourself.
You can find information about your carrier by going to Settings > General > About. Wait about a minute on this screen to see if the update notice shows up. If it does, tap “Update” and try again.
Reset the network settings on your iPhone
Lastly, if you still haven’t had any luck, you can reset your iPhone’s network settings by going to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone and tapping “Reset” followed by “Reset Network Settings.” All cellular settings, VPN and APN settings, and Wi-Fi passwords will be reset to their factory defaults.
Find out more about eSIMs
With an eSIM, adding more than one number to your iPhone is easy, and you don’t need more than one SIM card. You can switch between eSIM providers pretty easily, as long as the technology is supported by the carrier you want to use.
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