Solution of “Your Call cannot be completed as dialed”

We’ve all been there: you dial a number, hit “call,” and then—bam—”Your call cannot be completed as dialed.” It’s like the phone gods decided to mess with you, right?

As someone who’s spent way too many nights troubleshooting telecom issues (and yes, I’ve even muttered a few choice words), this message has made me want to throw my phone out the window more times than I care to admit.

But here’s the good news: it’s not the end of the world. In fact, this issue usually has a quick and easy fix.

In this guide, I’ll share some of the most common causes behind this error and walk you through the steps to resolve it.

Trust me, I’ve been through it all, and I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve to help you avoid the same frustration. Let’s get your calls back on track!

What Does “Your Call Cannot Be Completed as Dialed” Mean?

In my experience dealing with telecom systems, support tickets, and far too many late-night call tests, this phrase is right up there with “We’re sorry, the number you have dialed is not in service” in terms of triggering mild rage.

You hear it, pause, squint at your phone, and think, “I literally just dialed the number like a functioning adult—what now?”

Here’s the deal:

“Your call cannot be completed as dialed” means your phone couldn’t connect the call. It tried. It really did. But something in the process broke.

This could be because:

• The number you dialed was formatted incorrectly (yes, even one digit off ruins everything)
• You forgot the country code, especially if you’re trying international calls.
• The number no longer exists.
• Or there’s a network issue, such as your phone displaying ‘server unreachable’ or your SIM card experiencing an error. um

Here’s the cool story:

One time, a client kept getting this message when calling a lead in Ecuador in South America. Turns out, the CRM had saved the number without the +593 Ecuador country code—so the system kept trying to dial a number that technically didn’t exist.

The fix? Manually reformatting the number. Took 10 seconds. Saved them from blaming their phone system or firing their assistant.

So what’s really happening behind the scenes?

Your phone, your carrier, and the remote system all have to shake hands to make a call happen. If even one of them skips the handshake? You get this vague message. It’s like the voicemail of failure.

But don’t worry—we’ll fix it. Keep going, because up next, we’ll cover why this happens and how to stop it from happening again.

Call Cannot Be Completed as Dialed: Common Causes.

After years in telecom, I’ve learned this: when a call doesn’t go through, it’s usually not because the universe is out to get you (though it might feel that way at 2 a.m. during a launch). It’s because one of a handful of things went wrong. Again.

Here are the most common culprits behind this delightful little voice prompt:

1. Incorrect Number Format

Let’s start with the obvious: you typed it wrong. Happens to the best of us. Sometimes it’s missing a digit, other times you’ve got an extra one. And international calls? Good luck if you forget the country code.

Pro tip: Always double-check the number of digits in the Ecuador phone number format or any other destination. It’s not the same everywhere.

2. Missing or Wrong Country Code

Calling outside your region? You’ll need the right dialing code.

For example, +593 is the Ecuador country code, and if you skip it, you’re basically sending your call into a black hole. (Yes, even if the rest of the number is perfect. No shortcuts.)

3. Network Issues

This one’s juicy. Your phone might be having connectivity issues, your SIM might have thrown a fit, or your provider is down. Sometimes, it’s a matter of restarting your phone, flipping airplane mode, or praying to the network gods.

Also, if you’re on WiFi calling and your connection is spotty? Yeah, good luck.

4. SIM Card Problems

Ever seen your phone say “SIM card not detected” or “SIM card error”?That’s a good sign that something’s gone sideways. You might need to reset your SIM card or update your carrier settings.

Worst case, pull it out and do the old manual reset trick. Gently. Unless you’re cool with replacing it.

5. Outdated Contact Info

You’d be surprised how many people try to call outdated numbers saved from the BlackBerry era.

If you’re pulling numbers from Google Contacts, make sure they’re actually valid.
Old records, bad imports, or weird formatting can cause failed calls, especially on a VoIP phone or cloud telephony setup.

6. Blocked or Disconnected Numbers

Sometimes the number you’re calling just doesn’t exist anymore. Or it’s been called filtered, blocked, or disconnected. In some cases, people use call forwarding to dodge certain calls. Charming, right?

Bottom line: this error isn’t a bug—it’s your phone waving a flag saying “something’s not right.” Now that we know the causes, let’s fix them.

How to Fix the ‘Your Call Cannot Be Completed As Dialed’ Issue.

Alright, so your phone gave you the dreaded “Your call cannot be completed as dialed” message. Again.

Let me walk you through fixes that actually work, not the vague “try again later” advice that makes you want to launch your phone across the room.

1. Double-Check the Number (Seriously)

In my experience, 9 out of 10 times this happens. Someone dialed wrong. Missing digits, wrong country code, or formatting like it’s 2004. Want to call Ecuador? Use +593, then the Ecuador mobile number. And make sure it’s not missing anything.

👉 Example: +593 9 8765 4321 — clean, valid, and works.

2. Use the Correct Country Code

Let me be blunt: no country code, no connection.. Every region has a unique code. South America, the Czech Republic, Hong Kong—doesn’t matter. Get it right or expect a robotic rejection.

3. Reset Your SIM Card

Here’s the cool part: sometimes your SIM just needs a nap. Turn your phone off. Remove the SIM. Wait 30 seconds. Put it back in. This resets your SIM card and clears minor bugs.

If issues persist, go into device settings → network settings → tap reset network settings. (Yes, it’ll forget your Wi-Fi passwords. No, the world won’t end.)

4. Toggle Airplane Mode

Oldest trick in the book—still works. Switch on airplane mode. Wait a few seconds. Turn it off. It’s like giving your phone a cold shower. Forces it to reconnect, and sometimes that’s all it needs.

5. Check Your Provider’s Status

Don’t waste an hour troubleshooting when your provider’s having server issues.
Check their provider status page or search for “outage [your provider].”You might not be the problem for once.

6. Clear Cache and Restart Your Phone

Yes, it’s cliché. But clearing the cache and restarting your phone actually helps. It refreshes the network stack and cleans out minor glitches. Go into system updates while you’re at it—software updates can fix deeper issues.

7. Manually Dial Instead of Tapping from Contacts

If you’re pulling a number from Google Contacts, it might have some hidden formatting errors. Manually type the number. Use the full international dialing code.
Sometimes, copy-pasting brings invisible gremlins.

8. Update Carrier Settings

Your phone depends on carrier settings to know how to connect. Outdated settings = confused phone = failed calls. On Android, go to Settings > About Phone > Carrier. On iPhone, it should prompt automatically when there’s an update.

Tried all that and still stuck? Then it’s time to get creative.

Alternative Communication Methods for ‘Your Call Cannot Be Completed As Dialed’ Issue.

Here’s a wild idea: what if… You didn’t use the phone to make a call?

1. Use Internet-Based Calling Apps

WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, even good ol’ Facebook Messenger — they bypass your phone’s network and go straight through Wi-Fi or mobile data. I once made a client call from the middle of a literal rainforest using WhatsApp when my carrier just flat-out quit. True story.

So if your regular line is throwing out server unreachable phone call errors, just switch to a VoIP phone app. It’s smoother than you think.

2. Send a Text Instead

A text message often goes through even when a call doesn’t. Sometimes, network issues only affect voice, not SMS. Shoot a quick “Hey, trying to call, but the network’s being weird. Can we text or jump on WhatsApp?”

Bonus: You avoid the awkward “HELLO? Can you hear me?!” five times in a row.

3. Email or Instant Messaging

Old school, but reliable. Especially for international clients. If you’re dealing with people in Hong Kong or Puerto Rico, odds are they’re already using email and apps like Slack or Teams for daily chats.

So don’t let one stubborn call error ruin your flow.

4. Wi-Fi Calling (If Supported)

Modern phones have a magical setting called Wi-Fi Calling. If you’re in a dead zone but near a solid Wi-Fi connection, flip it on. Go to your phone’s network settings, look for “Wi-Fi Calling” and toggle that switch like your productivity depends on it — because it does.

5. Use Another Device

Yes, I’m saying what you think I’m saying: borrow someone else’s phone. Or use your work phone. Or a burner (don’t ask why I have three, just trust the process).

Even try landlines — they still exist, I checked.

Because at the end of the day, getting the message across matters more than the gadget you use.

How Can You Prevent the “Call Cannot Be Completed As Dialed” Issue?

In my experience, this error always pops up when you need your phone the most. You’re late, you’re stressed, and your phone decides to act cute. Been there, done that — more times than I’d like to admit.

Let’s talk real fixes. Stuff I’ve done. Stuff that works.

1. Save numbers like a grown-up

Don’t store numbers like you’re still using a flip phone. Use the full country code. I once tried calling Ecuador using a local number. Got that lovely, your call cannot be completed as dialed message.

Felt real smart after that. Use +593, not “09-whatever.” Small format, big headache.

2. Update your carrier settings. Yes, really.

I used to ignore that little pop-up, too. Then I spent 3 hours wondering why my calls failed in South Africa. Turns out, updating your carrier settings isn’t optional. It’s survival.

Your phone needs the latest rules to play the network game.

3. Don’t reset stuff just because it looks fun

I’ve seen people hit reset network settings like they’re launching nukes. Once is fine. Five times in a row? That’s not fixing anything. That’s you spiraling.

Check your SIM card and stop blaming the phone.

4. Dial like the system depends on it — because it does

If you skip area codes or mess up the dialing code, your phone gives up. I tried calling a number in Puerto Rico without the full format. Got nowhere. Add the full thing, every time. Your outgoing calls will actually leave your phone.

Which is kind of the point.

5. Call forwarding is not a prank

I had call forwarding set up for testing. Forgot about it. Created a loop so bad even I couldn’t reach myself. If your phone app feels haunted, check those settings.

Especially if your voicemail keeps popping up like it owns the place.

6. Airplane mode = magic trick

Turn on airplane mode. Count to five. Turn it off. That’s it. It resets your connection faster than most fixes. I do it before every big call now, just in case.

Simple move, big impact.

7. Don’t call from caves, obviously

Bad signal zones ruin everything. If your phone says server unreachable or anything weird, check your location. I once tried calling from a concrete basement in the Czech Republic. Had to climb two floors just to get a bar.

Sometimes the fix is: move.

Preventing this issue isn’t rocket science. Just avoid dumb mistakes. Keep your phone clean, your settings right, and your numbers sharp.

Conclusion

So, there you have it. The “Your call cannot be completed as dialed” error message doesn’t have to be a source of endless frustration. Trust me, I’ve been there—and after enough trial and error, I finally figured it out.

Whether it’s a wrong number format, outdated contacts updated on your phone, or a glitch from your mobile carrier, there’s usually a clear fix. Start by checking the number, then test with another device if the problem sticks.

And please—don’t hit the reset button out of frustration. There’s always a smarter way to solve it. If you follow these tips, you’ll have a much smoother experience making calls across the world. But hey, sometimes, it’s not you — it’s the network.

If all else fails, just call customer support. They’ll at least make you feel like you’re not alone in this phone nightmare.

If you need more tips on phone issues, check out our other guides on how to add an Extension to a Phone Number. Keep your phone calls hassle-free — you’ve got this!

FAQs

1. Why do I keep getting the “Your call cannot be completed as dialed” error message?

This usually means there’s a problem with the number format, your phone’s settings, or an issue with your mobile carrier.

2. Can outdated contacts cause this issue?

Yes. If your contacts’ updated list includes old or improperly formatted numbers, it can block the call from going through.

3. How do I know if it’s a phone issue or a network problem?

A quick way to check is to test with another device. If the call works there, it’s likely your phone, not the number or the network.

4. What is the wrong number format, and how do I fix it?

Using missing or extra digits, or incorrect country codes, leads to a wrong number format. Always double-check the number before dialing.

5. Should I contact my mobile carrier if the issue continues?

Absolutely. If you’ve ruled out formatting and device issues, your mobile carrier might need to refresh your settings or check for outages.