A dropped call can be immensely frustrating, whether it is with a friend, coworker, or client. But if you run a business and this is becoming a consistent problem, it can be more than just frustrating. If it repeats, it can significantly impact your bottom line and hamper your ability to run your business.
But what is a call drop, and why does this happen? How to fix dropped calls and save your business from dropping into the technological abyss? Here, we will address all those questions (and more) so you can equip yourself to handle this annoying problem.
What is a dropped call?
A dropped call is a call that “fails” by ending early without any of the participants electing to hang up the phone. It just abruptly stops, often without warning (though sometimes the connection can seem choppy beforehand). Sometimes the call will actually hang up, and other times it will just go silent.
All calling devices can experience this issue: cell phones, landlines, laptops, tablets, and even virtual phone systems.
What causes dropped calls on cloud phone systems?
Well, call drop reasons can depend on the type of system you are using; in this and the next few sections, we will be going over them point by point. Starting with cloud phone systems. These are incredibly reliable systems, but like any other technology, they can still have issues. Here are some issues that can occur and how to solve them to prevent frequent call drops when using VoIP-based phone systems.
A Wi-Fi router is not working
If you rely on Wi-Fi to access your cloud (to make calls), it doesn’t matter how fast your computer is or how strong your internet is if the router stops working altogether. Without the router, Wi-Fi won’t reach you.
Make sure that your router is properly plugged in. If it is exceedingly old, it might be time to order a new one. You can also, if you have the proper plugs and it is possible for your chosen device, plug an Ethernet cable into what you are using to make calls to get yourself an alternative means of connecting to the internet.
Your provider is having issues
This is rare, but call drops can happen due to your service provider. Maybe your provider is updating their technology, or maybe there is some other problem at play. For whatever reason, when something goes down on their end, it can often result in something going down on your end.
Unfortunately, there is not much you can do with this one. If you notice the service is down, contact their support team as soon as possible, in case they are not aware of the issue. But if they are aware, you will probably just get a type message: “We are aware there is a problem and are sorry for the inconvenience.”
Your internet is slow
Having working internet may not inherently save you; slow internet can cause call drops. This can be annoying, as slow internet can cause problems unrelated to calling. But it also causes problems with calling: sometimes it is so slow it’s choppy, which makes calls lag or stop altogether.
First, check out how fast your internet is. There are many sites you can use to check your speed (Google offers one; click here to find it). If it is too slow, talk to your provider about increasing your internet speed. If they cannot or refuse, perhaps consider getting a different provider.
Your internet is weak
Similarly, a weak internet connection can cause your calls to drop because it is not strong enough to maintain the connection. This can be frustrating, as telling the person on the other end of the line that it is due to a weak internet connection can make you come across as unprofessional or unprepared.
How to fix it:
If the problem is that the router simply isn’t designed to deliver a strong signal, get a new router. If you cannot, try moving your setup closer to the router so you get a stronger signal (signal strength decreases the farther you move from the source).
If you still have a dropping call issue, try switching to a different plan from your provider, which may provide a stronger internet connection.
Your settings are too strict
Everyone is aware of privacy issues today, and some manufacturers have taken this to heart by making the default settings of some devices/software programs quite strict. But this can result in calls not connecting or, if your system is slow to kick in, in calls ending unexpectedly. This can be particularly frustrating if you did not set these settings yourself, because you might not realize they’re the ones causing the problems!
If you keep losing calls and cannot figure out why, it might behoove you to check your settings. Audio, visual (if video calls are dropping), and other security settings can all be culprits.
Your devices are too old
“It gets the job done,” you say about your old computer or phone. But does it? While you may have had it for a long time and it may feel like a technological friend, you cannot automatically assume it is not causing you any issues. Old computers that do not get along well with new software can be a major cause of dropped calls.
One good way to reduce call drops in this instance is to get yourself a new device. Yes, these can be expensive money sinks – but sometimes you need to spend money to make money, and if you purchase a strong device now, it can last you for years (some laptops can work genuinely well for a decade or more).
You do not have enough memory or hard drive space
Even if you have a new device, those of us who live cluttered lives can often find that they clutter up their RAM/hard drive quite quickly with things you don’t need. When computers run out of hard drive (or nearly do so), they get very slow and very difficult to work with, which can mean that they freeze up and freeze your calls too.
Some operating systems offer built-in system cleaners. Make sure to run them regularly. If that does not do the trick, you might need to manually go through your files to see if there are large, space-hogging files (or, as is often the case, programs) and delete or move them to a separate hard drive. Computers can also lose space when operating systems are not updated, so make sure you are running the latest version of the operating system.
What causes dropped calls on a cell phone?
Mobile phones can also suffer from dropped calls. While some phones may drop for different reasons than others, all cell phones share some common reasons. Below, we will go into all three possibilities.
Common issues with cell phones
You can experience dropped calls on your cell phone, regardless of the type of phone you have. Here are a few reasons why (and, like before, how you can fix them).
No signal because you’re not near a tower
This is probably one of the most common reasons that conversations end pre-emptively. You’re driving, or you are out walking, and suddenly – silence. That’s because your cell needs one of two things to make a call: a phone signal or Wi-Fi (to access the internet for Wi-Fi calling). If it does not have either, then no calls are getting made.
When you are too far from a cell tower, your smartphone may have difficulty connecting. Even if you are not in a dead zone, when the signal simply does not reach, getting near a dead zone can cause problems.
If you are traveling or walking, simply walk back to where you had a signal. But if you have an office far from a signal tower, consider purchasing a signal booster, which can help improve signal strength and prevent dropped calls.
Faulty SIM card
Most people never worry about their SIM cards, especially if they do not leave the country or if they rarely change providers. But the SIM card is in a way the “nerve center” of your phone – if it is not working and cannot send instructions to your phone, then your phone will not be making calls. If your SIM card is faulty – due to damage, age, or otherwise – it could result in calls prematurely ending.
Troubleshooting this one is hard, as it is not always obvious that the SIM card is the culprit. Your phone SHOULD tell you if your SIM card is not detected outright. But if it detects it, it may not be able to tell you that the card is faulty in some way. If you have tried other means, take your phone to your provider or to an IT expert. They can help determine whether it’s the SIM card. Or, if you have another SIM card, try inserting it. If you do not have any further signal problems, you can be reasonably sure that the original card caused you trouble.
The signal is being blocked
No, this does not mean someone is trying to hack into your devices and prevent them from receiving a signal. But signals, while they come from far off, can be stopped by something as simple as a thick wall. Likewise, being in a basement or elsewhere underground can cause issues. If, when you drive through a tunnel, your cell phone drops calls, it’s because the signal is being blocked.
It depends on the seriousness of the blocking. If your signal is extremely weak, you can purchase a signal booster, which should help you get a better signal. But if you have occasional issues, try moving to a spot near a window, or away from whatever is causing them (sometimes just moving from one room to another can help).
There are too many people around
Yes, really! Have you ever been in a serious crowd – say a packed concert audience – and noticed that your signal is weak or that your phone keeps ending calls? That’s because there are too many people “sucking up” (to put it colloquially) the signal, making it weaker for everyone else. If it’s a sudden surge of people, that can make it even weaker.
This can’t be helped if it suddenly happens when a large crowd gathers. You simply either have to leave the area or wait it out. If you are in a building with lots of people, the signal should be ok – but if it is not, you can always buy a signal booster to help you out.
iPhone-specific issues (and how to solve them)
There are some iPhone-specific reasons why calls drop on your mobile phone. Here’s what they are – and what to do about them.
Your iOS is not updated
Many people do not update their iOS because they like what they have. Maybe they heard the new one made a weird change, maybe they do not want to take the time to update it, or maybe they just put it off. For whatever reason, sometimes people’s phones get really, REALLY out of date. When this happens, if it goes on long enough, the system might not be able to handle calls like it used to.
Update your iOS! If you are worried about losing time, set it to update overnight while it’s plugged in and you are asleep.
You updated your iPhone but did not restart it
This may sound counterintuitive after our last entry, but this is another issue people run into: they have updated to a new iOS version, and then call disconnections occur. This can be frustrating, because you may feel that you did everything right. But you still have a phone to end calls.
As you may have gathered from our subtitle, simply restart the phone after updating. This usually solves this particular issue.
You have not updated your Carrier Settings
Carrier Settings make your iPhone work best with your particular carrier. They cover all sorts of details, from frequencies to other things most non-tech people will never need to worry about. Usually, your phone should give you a notification to update them when they change, but sometimes it may not. When they are not updated, it can cause an iPhone to drop calls.
Head to Settings and scroll up until the search bar appears. Search “Carrier Settings.” From there, you should be able to find an option to update them.
Android-specific issues (and how to solve them)
Like Apple-produced phones, Android phones can encounter troubles as well. There are also unique call drop issues related to this type of phone, but don’t worry – as before, below you can read on for them.
Caller ID & Spam is Set to “None”
This sounds like an incredibly odd reason, but users have reported that the caller ID function sometimes automatically sets to “None,” which means it never works. As a result, when you try to make a call, it drops immediately. This can be very, very frustrating for users who have not set it up that way themselves, as they may not be aware that this is an issue.
Set Caller ID & Spam to “Phone.” This will be in a different section for each phone type, but it should be in the Caller ID section.
Your operating system is no longer being supported
Androids update a lot. And like Apple-produced products, if you do not keep up to date, your phone can run into all sorts of serious problems. Added to this is that these phones may not even have support for older operating systems – even systems which are not that old!
If your call was dropped, update your system. It should be easy to do and prominently available in your phone’s settings.
Your phone is really old
This is an unfortunate problem. Sometimes, the failure of support for older systems can lead to a phone being very old and unable to run newer operating systems. When this happens, you are stuck with a phone which is increasingly able to do less – and there is no real way to change it.
Well, here you can’t. You can help yourself by deleting unnecessary files from your phone, which will help it run faster. But you should move all of your important files somewhere safe post-haste, because your old phone may not be long for this world.
What causes dropped calls on landlines?
You have a landline, and those are supposed to be super secure, right? Wrong! These phones keep disconnecting calls just like any other. Here are some reasons why.
Your phone is not properly plugged in
One of the benefits of landlines is that they have wires, making it so they do not need to rely on a signal to make calls. However, this is also a negative: after all, a landline phone can still have phone calls randomly end if everything is not plugged in correctly.
Make sure everything is plugged in; if you have had the phone for a really long time (some folks may have had the same landline phone for decades), make sure no wires are frayed.
The wires are down
Your mobile phone may not rely on telephone poles to ring – but your landline does. And in inclement weather (or if someone simply drives into a pole), telephone poles can be knocked down, taking the telephone wires with them. When that happens, no more calls.
Call your local government and let them know that a wire is down (if you can see it) – but do not go near it yourself, as it can be dangerous.
The handset is damaged
If you have had a phone for a really long time, it may have gotten worse for the wear without you even noticing; think about all the times you accidentally dropped it, or it clanged on the tabletop. That can damage it and eventually cause it to drop calls.
If you are a techie, you can unscrew the phone and look for damage. But if not, you can buy a new one – landlines today are very cheap to come by.
Your phone jack is not working
The wires are all plugged in, and your handset is working properly, yet you are still having issues. Why? It may be because your jack is not functioning as it should. The jack is the part of the wall where you plug the phone cord, and if it’s not working, your phone may drop calls immediately.
Call an electrician. Do NOT poke around a potentially faulty jack. They will get it working again.
How a phone dropping calls can hurt your business
As we mentioned before, it can be frustrating when personal calls go off – but when calls to your business number drop, it becomes much more serious, and can in fact hurt your business. Here are some consequences of not being aggressive in solving this problem
Loss of customers
This is the #1 and most important aspect of all of this. People are busy and lead busy lives. They will not want to deal with someone who does not have their phone working, even if they have worked with you before. They will look elsewhere if they have to keep calling again. It may happen one time, but multiple times? Unacceptable.
Loss of professionalism
Even if you do not lose your clients, you will still just come across as unprofessional. It is frustrating to have conversations interrupted in real life, but having it happen while trying to conduct business is even more frustrating. Very unprofessional.
Poor word of mouth
Word of mouth will get negative, and you will not just lose clients you already have – you may lose potential future clients who might never even pick up the phone if they hear it is difficult to get in contact with you.
Demoralized employees
Answering a phone all day is already something that people do begrudgingly. If they have to do it knowing that they will be blamed when a phone call keeps dropping, they’ll be even more demoralized.
Missing key information
If a client or conversation partner thinks a key piece of information got across (but it did not due to a call failure), you could be sued or, less seriously but still a major issue, mess up an important order.
Need to fix your call drops?
If you’re tired of asking yourself, “Why does my phone keep dropping calls?”, consider switching to MightyCall, a cloud phone service that helps small and large businesses reach their clients. Because it works over the internet, you do not need to worry about a weak signal or walls getting in the way of your success.
But that’s not the only way MightyCall helps you stay on the line. Another is offering incredibly high uptime (meaning the service rarely goes down). With a high uptime, your phone calls are far more likely to stay connected.
High security is another key facet of MightyCall’s offerings. Hackers can disrupt data transmission, causing phones to drop calls without warning. But thanks to MightyCall’s security parameters, you can know that your data – and calls – are safe.
More tips on how to fix dropped calls
There are some more troubleshooting tips for dropped calls you can try:
- Enable cellular activity: Even if Airplane Mode is off, you can still have cellular capability turned off (lots do not know this). Make sure it’s enabled.
- Turn Airplane Mode off: This may seem silly, but you may have switched it on without even realizing it. This will make call drops without them even getting a chance to connect.
- Reboot your phone: Many people don’t turn their phones off completely for long periods. Turn it off and on again.
- Reset to factory settings: This is dreaded advice, but sometimes unavoidable. Make sure all important files are elsewhere, and then reset. That can solve the issue.
- Switch phone types: On a landline but can’t fix the problem, or does your cell phone keep dropping calls? Try switching to a VoIP service like MightyCall, which not only lets you make calls but also offers key features such as Do Not Disturb, call waiting, call logs, and dialers.
- Always work with a signal booster: We mentioned this before, but it is also generally good practice to always have a signal booster, even if the signal seems good
- Make sure all your software is updated: Computer software and other crucial pieces of tech should be updated as well.
Say goodbye to phone calls dropping
Dropped calls are extremely annoying, whether they happen on mobile phones, landlines, or otherwise. They can cause extreme damage to the business and demotivate your agents. If these issues persist, your business may not survive. Thankfully, we live in the era of technology, and there are ways to avoid dropped calls.
For instance, using a platform like MightyCall, which combines calling with useful features and the power and reliability of the internet, can give you a certain advantage. Give it a go today and say goodbye to weak signal issues and drop calls.
