iPhone 16 Turns Black for Incoming Calls! How To Fix ?

If your iPhone 16 turns black for incoming calls, you’re not alone. Many users across Reddit and Apple forums have reported that the screen goes completely dark whenever a call is received — making it impossible to see who’s calling, answer the call, or even reject it. The issue seems to affect the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, particularly on iOS 18.2.1 and iOS 18.4.+

Why does my iPhone 16 Pro Max screen go black during incoming calls

This is more than just a screen bug — it has caused missed calls, work disruptions, and frustration for many.

What Is the issue ?

The screen remains off or black while the phone rings. In some cases:

The phone can still be heard ringing or vibrating.
Tapping or pressing buttons has no effect.
Only a force restart seems to bring the screen back.
The issue happens randomly, but often every 2nd or 3rd call.

These symptoms have led to a surge in search queries like:

“Why does my iPhone 16 Pro Max screen go black during incoming calls?”
“Why does my iPhone 16 Pro screen keep going black?”
“iPhone 16 Pro receiving call and FaceTime issues”

Basic troubleshoot for iPhone 16 Pro Max screen go black during incoming calls

Several steps have been taken by affected users:

Force Restarting the iPhone
- Press Volume Up → Volume Down → Hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
- This temporarily restores functionality but does not prevent the issue from returning.
Checking the Proximity Sensor
- Cases or screen protectors were removed to make sure the sensor near the top speaker wasn’t being blocked.
- In most cases, the sensor was found to be clear and functional.
eSIM Reset by Carrier
- One user on Verizon resolved call failures (not screen blackout) by deleting and reactivating the eSIM.
- This may help if network behavior is affecting incoming call handling.
Disabling Line Access
- Some users found temporary relief by going to Settings > Cellular > Turn off “Turn On This Line”, then restarting and turning it back on.
- However, FaceTime issues remained unresolved after this step.

What Might Be Causing It?

This appears to be a software-level issue in iOS 18.2.1 through iOS 18.4, especially affecting how the system handles calls when the proximity sensor or power management fails to wake the display. Affected devices are mainly iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro.

How to Fix iPhone 16 Pro Max screen go black during incoming calls

Update to iOS 18.5: Some users have seen partial improvement on newer versions.
Force Restart as Needed: This remains the only reliable way to recover the screen when it goes completely black.
Report the Bug to Apple: Go to Apple Feedback to help increase awareness of the issue.
Avoid Using FaceTime Until a Fix Is Released: Several users still experience screen freeze or audio-only behavior on FaceTime calls.

Final Thoughts

If your iPhone 16 turns black for incoming calls, it’s not just your device — it’s likely a system bug in iOS 18 that has yet to be fully addressed by Apple. With the issue affecting both calls and FaceTime, a system-level fix is expected in future updates. Until then, force restarts and proximity sensor checks are the only workarounds.