Fix: Phone Not Vibrating for Calls or Notifications (Android & iOS)

Introduction 

Smartphones keep us connected through calls, texts, and notifications. One of the most important ways we’re alerted is through vibration especially when the phone is on silent mode. But what happens when your phone stops the vibrating altogether?

If your Android or iPhone is not vibrating for calls or notifications, this is guide will walk you through every possible fix, from simple settings tweaks to the more advanced troubleshooting on phone.

Whether it is a software glitch or a hardware issue, you’ll find all the tested solutions right here follow steps.

Common Reasons Why the Vibration Stops Working

 

Before jumping to the fixes, it helps to the understand why the issue may be happening. Here are the most common causes:

Vibration setting is aaccidentally turned off 

Do Not Disturb mode is on the phone

App-specific vibration settings disabled 

Vibration motor hardware failure

Outdated software or bugs issu 

Custom ringtones/notifications without vibration the phone

Fix Vibration Issue on the Android Devices

1. Check Vibration Settings

 

Go to Settings > Sound & Vibration. 

Make sure “Vibrate for calls” is enabled.

Also check “Touch vibration” or “Haptic feedback” is turned on.

Some phones have:

Vibrate when ringing

Vibrate on silent 

Turn both on to be sure.

 

 

2. Toggle Silent and Ring Modes

 

Toggle to your phone to Silent, then back to Ring or Vibrate. 

Sometimes, a quick reset of sound profiles can fix the glitches.

 

 

3. Restart Your Phone

 

Simple but effective. 

A restart clears background bugs and resets hardware drivers.

 

 

4. Check Do Not Disturb (DND) Mode

 

Go to Settings > Sound > Do Not Disturb. 

Turn it off completely. 

Or configure DND to allow calls and messages with vibration.

 

 

5. Test the Vibration Motor

 

Use the dialer and enter:

*#0*# 

Tap “Vibration” to test the motor (available on some Samsung devices).

If the phone doesn’t vibrate here, it might be the hardware issue.

 

 

6. App-Specific Settings

 

Sometimes vibration is off only for certain apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, etc.

 

Example (WhatsApp): 

Open WhatsApp > Settings > Notifications

Ensure Vibrate is set to Default, Short, or Long, not “Off”. 

Do this for each app where vibration isn't working.

 

 

7. Accessibility Settings

 

Sometimes Accessibility settings interfere with the vibration.

Go to Settings > Accessibility. 

Look for the Vibration & Haptics or Touch Feedback. 

Make sure it’s enabled.

 

 

8. Use Safe Mode to Check the Third-Party Apps

 

Boot into Safe Mode by holding the power button, then long-pressing “Power Off” > tap Reboot to the Safe Mode.

See if vibration works. 

If it does, a third-party app is the causing the issue.

 

 

9. Update Your Software

 

Go to the Settings > System > Software Update. 

Install the latest Android updates.

 

 

10. Reset App Preferences

 

Go to in Settings > Apps > All Apps > Menu > Reset App Preferences.

This resets all notification settings without deleting data.

 

 

 11. Factory Reset (Last option)

 

Backup your phone.

Go to in Settings > System > Reset > Factory Data Reset.

Only do this if nothing else works.

 

 

Fix Vibration Issue on the iPhone (iOS)

 

1. Enable Vibration in the Settings

 

Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics (or just Sounds). 

Turn on: 

Vibrate on Ring 

Vibrate on Silent

 

 

2. Choose a Vibration Pattern

 

Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone 

Tap the Vibration

Choose a pattern like Heartbeat or Alert 

If it's set to None, your iPhone won't vibrate.

 

 

3. Turn Off Focus/Do Not Disturb

 

Open Control Center 

Tap the Focus or Moon icon to turn it off. 

Or go to the Settings > Focus and disable it.

 

 

4. Check the App Notifications

 

Settings > Notifications 

Choose any app like a Messages 

Make sure Vibration is enabled under alert styles.

 

 

5. Restart the iPhone

 

Press and hold Power + Volume Down until you see the slider. 

Slide to power off, then restart.

 

 

6. Reset All Settings

 

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings

This will reset Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and settings but NOT delete data.

 

 

7. Update iOS

 

Settings > General > Software Update 

Install the latest update

 

 

8. Test Vibration Motor

 

Use this quick method to test: 

Flip the Silent switch (mute) above volume buttons. 

The phone should the vibrate immediately. 

If not, it may be a hardware problem.

 

 

9. Accessibility Settings

 

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Vibration 

Make sure it is ON.

 

 

Hardware Troubleshooting (Both Android & iOS)

 

If none of the software fixes work, you may have a faulty vibration motor. Here’s how to check:

 

Signs of the Hardware Issue

 

Phone doesn’t vibrate even during system tests or incoming calls. 

Other haptic features like keyboard feedback not working.

 

 

What to Do

 

Visit an authorized service center (Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, etc.) 

Explain you’ve already tried the software fixes.

 

 

 Extra Tips & Tricks

 

Use vibration apps like “Vibration Tester” (Android) to the confirm issues.

Avoid battery saver apps that disable vibration to the save power.

Use the custom vibration patterns to test if any work. 

Clean your phone if it’s been exposed to water or dust.

 

 

When to Replace the Phone

 

If your phone is old and: 

No longer gets software updates 

Has multiple hardware issues (like no sound + no vibration) 

Vibration repair is too costly 

Then consider replacing it with a newer model.

 

 

Final Words

 

Vibration issues on the smartphones can be frustrating, especially when you miss calls or alerts. But in most cases, the problem is caused by a simple setting and is easy to fix.

Whether you’re using the Android or iPhone, following the step-by-step solutions in this guide will help you get your phone’s vibration back to normal. If it's a hardware problem, professional service is the best path.