Fix: Phone Not Ringing for Incoming Calls on Android

Fix: Phone Not Ringing for Incoming Calls on Android 

If your Android phone is not ringing for incoming calls, it can be frustrating and potentially cause you to miss important calls. The issue is more common than you’d think and is usually caused by misconfigured settings, Do Not Disturb mode, or software glitches.

In the comprehensive guide, you’ll learn why your phone isn’t ringing and how to fix it step by step no matter your Android brand or model.

 

Why Your Phone Is Not Ringing for Incoming Calls

Let’s break down the most common causes:

Ringtone volume is too low or muted

Do Not Disturb (DND) mode is on

Call forwarding or blocking enabled

Bluetooth devices connected

Software glitch or corrupted cache

Third-party apps controlling sound profiles

Ringtone set to “None” or corrupted file

 

How to Fix Phone Not Ringing for Calls – Step-by-Step

Here are the top fixes to get your phone ringing again:

 

1. Check Ringtone Volume

Your volume may be too low or muted accidentally.

Steps:

Go to a Settings > Sound & Vibration

Drag the Ringtone volume slider to the maximum

Tap Ringtone and select a working tone

Pro Tip: Use a default ringtone to ensure it’s not a corrupt audio file.

 

2. Turn Off Do Not Disturb Mode

DND mode silences all calls and the notifications unless exceptions are allowed.

Steps:

Swipe down Quick Settings Panel

Look for Do Not Disturb and disable it

Or go to:

Settings > Sound > Do Not Disturb

Tap Schedules and turn off any auto-activation

Ensure “Calls” are allowed under DND exceptions if you want to keep DND on.

 

3. Check Call Blocking or Forwarding

Your phone may block numbers or forward calls silently.

Steps:

Open Phone app > 3-dot menu > Settings > Blocked Numbers

Unblock numbers if listed

Check the forwarding:

Phone > Settings > Call Forwarding

Disable all call forwarding options

 

4. Check the Network and SIM

If you’re not receiving calls at all, it may be a SIM/network issue.

Toggle Airplane Mode ON and OFF

Reinsert your SIM card

Check if calls work on another SIM

 

5. Disconnect Bluetooth Devices

If a Bluetooth speaker, earbud, or smartwatch is connected, the ringtone might play through it.

Steps:

Go to a Settings > Bluetooth

Disconnect or unpair all devices temporarily

Call your phone to check the ringtone

 

6. Change Ringtone to the Default Sound

Custom ringtones (especially downloaded ones) may become corrupt or unsupported after updates.

Steps:

Go to Settings > Sound > Phone Ringtone

Choose the default system tone like “Pixel Ring,” “Basic Bell,” or “Marimba”

Tap Save or OK

 

7. Clear your Phone App Cache

A corrupted phone app cache can cause call handling issues.

Steps:

Go to Settings > Apps > Phone

Tap Storage > Clear Cache

You can also clear Clear Data if the issue persists (won’t delete call logs on most devices).

 

8. Restart Your Device

Simple but effective. A restart can fix a temporary bugs that affect incoming calls.

Long press Power button

Tap Restart

Ask someone to call and test

 

9. Test in Safe Mode

Safe Mode is disables all third-party apps. Use this to check if any app is interfering with your ringtone.

Steps:

1. Long-press the Power button

2. Tap and hold Power Off, then select Safe Mode

3. Wait for the phone to reboot in Safe Mode

4. Try calling your phone

If it rings in Safe Mode, a third-party app (like task manager, battery saver, or sound profile manager) is the culprit.

 

10. Reset App Preferences

Sometimes permissions and the default settings are changed without your knowledge.

Steps:

Go to Settings > Apps > All Apps

Tap 3-dot menu > Reset App Preferences

This resets default apps and permissions without deleting data.

 

11. Check for the Software Updates

Sometimes a silent ringtone issue is due to bugs in the OS.

Steps:

Go to a Settings > System > Software Update

Check for updates and install if available

 

12. Factory Reset (Last Option)

If none of the above methods work, you may need to reset the phone.

Warning: This will erase all data. Backup everything first.

Steps:

Go to the Settings > System > Reset > Factory Data Reset

Confirm and follow the on-screen steps

After reset, test the ringtone before installing other apps.

 

Bonus Tips to Avoid a Ringtone Issues

Set up call exceptions in Do Not Disturb

Avoid task-killer and battery-saver apps

Don’t use the unknown ringtone apps

Regularly restart your phone

Keep your software updated

Use high-quality ringtones in the supported formats (MP3, OGG)

 

FAQs 

Why does my phone only vibrate and not ring?

The ringtone volume may be down, DND may be active, or the phone is set to the vibrate-only mode 

Can a third-party app block ringtones?

Yes. Some sound or profile manager apps may mute your ringtone without your permission. 

Can I use custom MP3 ringtones?

Yes, but use safe, supported formats. Avoid corrupted or overly large files.

 

Final Words

If your phone is not ringing for incoming calls, it’s usually a small settings issue that’s easy to fix. Start with checking volume and DND settings, then move to app settings, cache clearing, and hardware checks.

With the step-by-step fixes in this guide, you’ll never miss an important call again.