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Why does my iPhone lose signal after switching from WiFi calling

You finish a call on Wi-Fi, walk outside, and suddenly your iPhone shows no bars. Sometimes it says “No Service.” Other times the signal returns after a minute, but calls fail or mobile data refuses to load. The problem usually appears right after Wi-Fi Calling disconnects and the phone tries to move back to the cellular network.

This behavior is almost always related to how the device hands the connection back to your carrier. Wi-Fi Calling temporarily routes calls through your internet connection. When that connection drops, iOS must re-register with nearby cellular towers. If the handoff stalls, the phone can remain stuck between networks, which looks like lost signal.

Check if the Phone Is Stuck Between Networks

The quickest fix is forcing the radio connection to reset.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Turn Airplane Mode on.
  3. Wait about 20 seconds.
  4. Turn Airplane Mode off again.

This clears the failed handoff and forces the iPhone to reconnect cleanly to the carrier.

Toggle Wi-Fi Calling Off and Back On

Sometimes the Wi-Fi Calling profile itself stops updating correctly.

  1. Go to Settings → Cellular → Wi-Fi Calling.
  2. Turn Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone off.
  3. Wait a few seconds.
  4. Turn it back on.

This refreshes the carrier registration used during transitions between Wi-Fi and cellular service.

Reset Network Settings

If the issue happens regularly, saved network data may be conflicting with carrier settings.

  1. Open Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone.
  2. Select Reset.
  3. Tap Reset Network Settings.

Your Wi-Fi passwords will be removed, but cellular and Wi-Fi handoffs usually become stable again afterward.

Check Carrier and Software Updates

Wi-Fi Calling reliability depends heavily on carrier configuration files.

  1. Go to Settings → General → About.
  2. If a carrier update appears, accept it.
  3. Then check Settings → General → Software Update.

Many signal-handoff bugs are corrected silently through these updates.

Disable Automatic Network Selection (If Traveling or in Weak Coverage)

In areas with overlapping towers, the phone may struggle choosing a network after leaving Wi-Fi.

  1. Open Settings → Cellular → Network Selection.
  2. Turn off Automatic.
  3. Select your carrier manually.

This prevents repeated reconnection attempts that temporarily drop service.

Alternative Fix: Turn Off Wi-Fi Assist

Wi-Fi Assist can interfere during the transition because it aggressively switches between connections.

  1. Go to Settings → Cellular.
  2. Scroll down and disable Wi-Fi Assist.

If the signal remains stable afterward, the switching logic was likely causing the interruption.

Once the phone reconnects normally after leaving Wi-Fi Calling, the issue is resolved.