Fix: The process com.android.phone has stopped

Android errors like the one we’ll try and solve today are quite rare. They mostly occur on older devices which begs the question is the lack of support causing this problem. Namely, some users report that they get the “Unfortunately the process com.android.phone has stopped” error.

The error mostly occurs when users try to make calls in the Phone app and often when the new SIM card is placed in the SIM tray. Whatever the reason for the occurrence, the steps below should help you fix it in no time. Follow the instructions closely.

Table of contents:

1. Clear data from the Phone app
2. Check Date & Time settings and update the firmware
3. Clear local data from SIM Toolkit app
4. Reset your Android to factory settings

How do I get rid of Unfortunately the process com.android.phone has stopped?

1. Clear data from the Phone app

First of all, power off your device and confirm that the supported SIM card is properly placed. Also, make sure that the SIM card is not locked and that you have activated it. Maybe the best thing to do is to check with your carrier. Update your device to the latest iteration of Android that your device supports.

If your device is really old (older than Android 6 Marshmallow), consider flashing a custom ROM to revitalize it. We are aware that this is a bit too much for a regular user but it’s the best way to keep your device usable.

If you can concur that everything is alright on that side, let’s move to software troubleshooting. Since the error mostly occurs when trying to make calls with a newly inserted SIM card, let’s try fixing it by resetting the Phone app. And the best way to do that is by clearing the local data that the app stores on your device.

Here’s how to clear data from the Phone app on Android:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Apps.
3. Expand All apps or, on some devices, open App Manager or Manage apps.
4. Locate Phone and open it from the list of available apps.
5. Tap Storage.
6. Clear Data and restart your device.

2. Check Date & Time settings and update the firmware

This error is super rare and there’s a good reason for it. Based on some reports, the time wasn’t properly set, and thus the error occurred for some users. Now, since all Android smartphones come with the Automatic Time and Time Zone settings by default, it’s not strange that the “process com.android.phone has stopped” error occurs rarely.

So, if you set your time manually, make sure to switch it to Automatic. You can do that in Settings > System > Date & Time. Just enable the Set time automatically option.

3. Clear local data from SIM Toolkit app

The SIM Toolkit service controls the usage of SIM cards in your device. In some instances, this service (like any other essential Android service) can start misbehaving and you need to give it a little reset. To do so, we’ll follow the same recipe and clear local data from SIM Toolkit.

Here’s how to clear local data from SIM Toolkit:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Apps.
3. Select All apps.
4. Open SIM Toolkit. If the app doesn’t appear on the list, tap the 3-dot menu and select Show system processes.
5. Tap Storage.
6. Clear data and restart your Android.

If that doesn’t work, uninstall updates from SIM Toolkit and Phone apps. Just open each app in Settings > Apps > All apps and tap on the 3-dot menu. Tap Uninstall updates.

4. Reset your Android to factory settings

Finally, if nothing worked, you can try resetting your device to factory settings. This action will erase everything in the process but it should fix what seems to be a major system error. You can learn more about the factory reset procedure and learn how to back up your files efficiently in this dedicated article.

1. Back up everything. Photos, videos, other files.
2. Open Settings.
3. Choose System.
4. Select Reset options.
5. Tap Erase all (factory reset).
6. Tap Erase all.
7. Your device will restart and you’ll get to the initial setup screen.
8. From there, sign in to Google and/or to OEMs account and restore everything that’s backed up.

And, with that, we can conclude this article. If the “process com.android.phone has stopped” error keeps plaguing you even after the reset, consider taking your device for a repair. Thank you for reading and encourage you to share your thoughts with us. Post your questions or alternative solutions in the comments section below.