9 Ways to Fix iPhone Making Random Calls

Imagine this: Your iPhone’s tucked in your pocket, and suddenly someone texts you, “Hey, why’d you call me?” But you didn’t even touch your phone. These random “ghost calls” or pocket dials can be frustrating and sometimes embarrassing, especially if they lead to awkward voicemails or accidental 911 calls.

The good news? You can stop it. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the most effective fixes to stop your iPhone from making random calls on its own.

Understanding the Random Call Problem

Random calls mean your iPhone is placing outgoing calls all by itself, without you lifting a finger or even unlocking the screen. This usually happens when the phone is locked and sitting in your pocket, bag, or on a table, leading to those surprise dials we call pocket dialing or ghost calls.

You might notice signs like:

FaceTime Like a Pro:

Get our exclusive Ultimate FaceTime Guide 📚 — absolutely FREE when you sign up for our newsletter below.

• Your call log showing numbers you never dialed.
• Calls going out to recent contacts, favorites in the Phone app, or even emergency numbers like 911.
• Siri or Voice Control mishearing background noise as a “call command” and repeatedly ringing the same person.

And the impact isn’t just annoying. These random calls can eat up your minutes or data if you’re not on an unlimited plan, drain your iPhone battery, spark unwanted conversations, or worse, create safety risks.

For example, if your iPhone dials emergency services by mistake, you could tie up lines needed for real crises or even receive an unexpected visit from authorities. That’s stress no one needs.

Why Is My iPhone Making Calls by Itself?

Your iPhone isn’t haunted. Most of the time, it’s one of these culprits:

• Accidental touches: Unlocked or sensitive screens registering taps in your pocket.
• Voice Control or Siri: Mishearing background sounds as “call” commands.
• Bluetooth accessories: Faulty headsets or car systems triggering calls.
• Software glitches: Bugs in iOS updates like iOS 18.
• Ghost touches: Damaged screen or protector registering phantom taps.
• Gestures/shortcuts: Back Tap or Emergency SOS dialing without you realizing.
• Carrier issues: Rarely, network hiccups cause outgoing calls.

Spotting the trigger makes it easier to fix.

How to Stop iPhone From Making Random Calls

Follow these fixes step by step. Test your phone after each to see what works:

1. Disable Voice Control 

Voice Control is an accessibility feature on iPhones that lets you operate your phone entirely with your voice. You can open apps, swipe, type, and make calls without touching the screen.

It’s super helpful for hands-free control, but if it’s accidentally turned on, it can mishear background sounds and dial numbers on its own. 

1. Open Settings on your iPhone. 
2. Select Accessibility > Voice Control 
3. Toggle off Voice Control.
   

2. Turn Off Voice Dial and Return Missed Calls

These two features let your phone make calls even when locked, which is a recipe for accidents. 

1. Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode on older models). 
2. Enter your passcode. 
3. Scroll down and toggle off Voice Dial and Return Missed Calls.
   

This stops your iPhone from auto-calling back missed numbers or responding to voice prompts on the lock screen. 

3. Disable Siri on Lock Screen

Siri’s great, but if she’s listening on your lock screen, your voice can trigger calls when your iPhone is sitting idle.  

1. From Settings, select Apple Intelligence & Siri.
2. Toggle off Allow Siri When Locked.
3. Confirm by tapping Turn Off Allow Siri When Locked on the prompt.
   

You can still use Siri after unlocking, but this cuts down on accidental activations. 

4. Disconnect Accessories

Sometimes, the issue isn’t with your phone, but with your Bluetooth. Wireless headsets, car systems, or even headphones with faulty buttons can start random calls. 

1. Open Control Center by swiping down from the top right. 
2. Tap the Bluetooth control to switch it off.  
   

This disconnects all the Bluetooth accessories from your iPhone, fixing the issue. 

Alternatively, go to Settings > Bluetooth > tap the (i) button next to an accessory and select Forget This Device > Forget. Test without accessories and reconnect one by one to spot the culprit. You should also check for firmware updates on your accessories.

5. Prevent Accidental Emergency SOS Calls

Your iPhone has an Emergency SOS feature that calls emergency services, literally a lifesaver. But it can trigger randomly if the iPhone buttons are pressed for too long.  

1. In Settings, select Emergency SOS.
2. Here, toggle off Call with Hold and Release and Call with 3 Button Presses.
   

This way, you won’t accidentally dial 911 during a jog or while squeezing your phone in a tight pocket. 

6. Check Back Tap & Shortcuts

Back Tap lets you double or triple-tap the back of your iPhone for actions, but it might be set to call someone. 

1. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch. 
2. Scroll down to the bottom and select Back Tap.  
   
3. Check Double Tap and Triple Tap if they’re set to something like Voice Control. 
4. Change it to None.
   

Also, in the Shortcuts app, review any shortcuts or automations that could trigger calls. Simply, delete them to prevent the iPhone from calling someone by itself. 

7. Rule Out Ghost Touches

If your screen’s registering random touches even when you don’t lift a finger, it could be dirt, a cracked protector, or hardware wear. 

• Clean your screen gently, remove any case or protector, and test.  
• If it persists, try a hard reset. Press and release volume up, then volume down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.  
• For ongoing issues, it might be time for a screen check at an Apple Store. 

8. Update iOS

Bugs love outdated software, and Apple often patches these in updates. 

Go to Settings > General > Software Update. If there’s an iOS update, download and install it. Restart your phone after a few minutes. Many users report that this fixes random calls. 

9. Reset Network Settings 

If nothing else works, your network settings might be the culprit. Resetting can refresh things without wiping your data. 

1. In Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
   
2. Enter your passcode. 
3. Confirm your choice by tapping Reset Network Settings.
   

It’ll clear saves Wi-Fi passwords and Bluetooth pairings, so have those handy.  

What If People Say “You Called Me” But You Didn’t?

If your call log is clean, it’s likely caller ID spoofing—scammers faking your number.

What you can do:

• Tell contacts it’s spoofing, not you.
• Set a voicemail greeting: “If you got a call from this number without a message, it wasn’t me.”
• Report to the FCC (fcc.gov).
• Ask your carrier for added protections.

When to Contact Apple or Your Carrier

If you’ve tried all the above and your iPhone’s still making random calls, it might be a deeper issue.  

Reach out to Apple Support via their app, website, or a Genius Bar appointment if you suspect hardware, such as a faulty screen or button.  

For network weirdness (like spoofing or dropped calls post-update), call your carrier. They can check for account issues or SIM problems. 

Wrapping Up: No More Ghost Calls on iPhone

Random calls on iPhone can be annoying, embarrassing, or even risky, but they’re fixable. From disabling Siri and Voice Control to checking for spoofing scams, you now have the tools to stop your iPhone from dialing on its own.

If you’ve tried everything and the issue persists, it’s best to contact Apple Support or your carrier for a deeper check.

Don’t miss these related reads:

• How to Dial an Extension on iPhone
• iPhone Not Ringing When Locked? Here’s The Fix
• Ask to Buy Not Working? 8 Proven Ways to Fix It!