How to Fix Samsung Galaxy S6 Dropped Call Problem [Troubleshooting Guide]

Dropped call issues can occur to any device due to many reasons. Occasional dropped calls are often tied to some network issues such as poor reception, cell tower overload, physical obstructions and other signal interference. Meanwhile, frequent dropped calls may already indicate hardware problems such as physical or liquid damages, as well as damaged SIM cards. Learn how to fix this problem on your Samsung Galaxy S6 with this content.

This post highlights recommended workarounds should you encounter dropped call issues on your Samsung Galaxy S6.

Note:

The following steps are based on the interface of a Samsung Galaxy S6 running Android Marshmallow platform. You can also use these methods to troubleshoot dropped call issues on other Galaxy S6 variants including Edge, S6 Edge and S6 Edge Plus, running the same Android OS version.

What to do when you experience occasional dropped calls on your Galaxy S6?

1. Re-program your phone (after switching carrier).

Network-related issues including dropped calls may often arise after switching carriers but keeping the same device. In this case, you need to contact your new carrier because your phone may still need to be re-provisioned or reprogrammed to activate their service.

2. Check for network outages.

Network outages can also cause dropped calls. Please contact your service provider/carrier, especially if you only experience dropped calls in specific locations. It's also possible that you're already out of their coverage. In addition, calls that drop after 4 hours may be due to your network provider automatically ending the calls to prevent unexpected charges from accidentally dialed calls.

3. Try to make the call at some other time.

There are times when network towers are congested, in short, a lot of subscribers are using the same network at the same time. This could result to network issues including dropped calls, as well as message sending failures. Try to make a call at a some other time, when the network-usage volume is lesser.

4. Check signal strength.

Your phone should have at least two to three bars in the signal indicator. Below that denotes you're getting poor signal or low coverage. You can't expect good call qualities in areas with low coverage.

5. Make sure there are no signal interference.

Physical obstructions like hills, trees or structures can also interfere signals which would result to the same problem. Try to make the call in areas free of any possible obstructions.

If dropped calls happen frequently, here's what you should do:

1. Check and ensure the SIM card is properly installed and not damaged.

You can switch SIM cards between devices (using the same network) to assess if they're damaged or not. If you suspect the SIM card is damaged, contact your carrier for further assistance on SIM card diagnosis or ask for a replacement.

2. Check your phone for physical or liquid damage. 

To check for possible hardware damage, check the Liquid Damage Indicator (LDI) located on the battery in the battery compartment of your phone. If the LDI shows solid white, or white with pink or purple Xs, it denotes no damage. Other than that means no good, which means you should take your phone to an authorized technician for hardware check and repair. You can also contact Samsung Support or your carrier if your phone is still covered by warranty.

3. Perform a soft reset. 

Most software-related problems are often rectified by power-cycling the device or turning the phone off and then back on after a few seconds. To power cycle your Galaxy S6, follow these steps:

• Hold down the Power button until the Power menu shows up.
• Tap to select Power Off option.
• Wait after 30 seconds.
• Press the Power button to restart the phone.

4. Check for available software updates. 

Device issues that are recognized by Samsung are usually addressed by rolling out software updates containing bug fixes. To check for software updates on your device, follow these steps:

• Tap Apps from the Home screen.
• Tap Settings.
• Locate and tap to select About device.
• Tap Software Update.
• Tap Check for updates.

If the update is available, follow the onscreen prompts to complete the process.

5. Boot into Safe Mode. 

Booting your phone into Safe mode can help you diagnose if a third-party is causing the dropped call problem. Here's how to enable this Safe mode on your Galaxy S6:

• Turn off the phone.
• Hold the Volume Up and Volume Down keys while powering the device on.
• You will see a Safe Mode label below the screen. It means, you're already in Safe Mode. All third-party apps are now temporarily disabled.
• Once the phone has done booting in Safe mode, try making a test call. If the problem does not occur while in this mode, then it means a third-party app is causing it. In this case, try to disable or uninstall recently installed or updated apps you suspect is causing this trouble.

Note: You will be required to enter your backup password to unlock your device after rebooting if you use a fingerprint security unlock method.

Another user-suggested workaround is by turning off the Enhanced LTE feature on the phone. Here's it's done:

• Go to Settings.
• Tap Connections.
• Select Mobile Networks.
• Tap Mobile Data.
• Locate and turn off Enhanced LTE feature.

If none of these methods works, then your last resort is to perform a factory reset considering the problem is caused by a system glitch. Although you have to note that a factory reset will erase every personal information stored in your device as it will restore it to factory defaults after the process. That said, creating a backup is highly suggested beforehand.

If you won't go for a factory reset, please contact your carrier or Samsung Support to escalate the problem.