To get your Google phone to ring, first check the physical volume button on the side of your device and the on-screen volume panel to ensure the phone is not set to Vibrate or Mute. Press a volume button, look at the slider that appears, and confirm that the ringer is active rather than silenced, which is the fastest way to resolve how to get Google phone to ring.
Set up ringtone and vibration in the Phone app
Open the Phone app. Tap More, then Settings. Tap Sounds and vibration. Tap Phone ringtone to choose a ringtone. Tap Also vibrate for calls if you want vibration with ringing. This menu path lets you pick a specific sound and enable vibration, directly addressing ringer and ringtone issues. The Phone app ringtone controls are documented for Android only.
Adjust ring and notification volume on Pixel phones
On a Pixel phone, press a volume button. Tap More to expand the panel. Use the Ring & notification volume slider to set the level. At the top of the slider, tap Ring to switch between Ring, Vibrate, or Mute. On Pixel phones, tapping Ring at the top of the slider lets you switch to Vibrate or Mute. This is how to turn on the ringer on an Android phone when the physical button alone does not show the full controls.
Check sound settings and Do Not Disturb
Open Settings, then tap Sound and vibration. Make sure Do Not Disturb is off. To silence an incoming call, press a volume button. On some devices go to Vibration and haptics, then Vibrate for calls, then Always vibrate. To re-enable ringing, turn off Vibrate or turn on Ring. Under Shortcut to prevent ringing, check whether Prevent ringing is turned on or off; if it is on, calls will be silenced. If you want to know how to set your phone to ring only for specific contacts, you would configure exceptions inside Do Not Disturb settings rather than using the main volume controls. If you notice your ringtone volume suddenly decreasing, check whether Adaptive Sound or a similar feature is active in Sound and vibration settings, as some devices automatically lower ring volume in quiet environments.
Troubleshoot: phone still not ringing
If the phone remains silent, restart the device. Check for any pending software updates in Settings. Note that Google Nest speakers can ring an Android phone even when Do Not Disturb is on, so if you have a Nest device, you can ask it to ring your phone as a workaround.
How to ring an iPhone with Google
The Google Phone app is not made for iPhone. Google documents that the Phone app is an Android app, not made for iPhone. To ring an iPhone using Google, use a Google Nest speaker or the Google Assistant and ask it to ring your phone. Google documents a separate Assistant/Nest-based ring feature for iPhone. This feature works through Find My Device and can reach iPhones, tablets, and accessories, though exact ringing behavior depends on the device and its connection. Google’s Nest/Assistant help says the ring command works with Android phones, iPhones, tablets, and accessories in the Find My Device Network, but the exact ringing behavior depends on the device and whether it is connected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Google phone ring once then stop?
This can happen if a call screening or spam filter feature answers the call before you do. Check the Phone app’s spam and call screen settings to see if they are intercepting incoming calls.
Can I set different ringtones for different contacts?
Yes. Open the Contacts app, select a contact, tap the three-dot menu, and choose Set ringtone. This applies a custom sound only for that person.
Will my phone ring if it is in airplane mode?
No. Airplane mode disables all cellular and Wi-Fi connections, so incoming calls cannot reach the device. Turn off airplane mode to receive calls normally.
How do I stop my phone from vibrating when it rings?
Open the Phone app, go to More > Settings > Sounds and vibration, and turn off Also vibrate for calls. On the volume panel, you can also tap Vibrate and switch to Ring.
