If your Android phone is not ringing, the cause is almost always a simple setting like Silent mode, Do Not Disturb, or a Bluetooth connection routing audio elsewhere. To fix an android phone not ringing, start by pressing the Volume Up button and checking that the phone is not set to Silent or Vibrate.
Why your Android phone not ringing: the most common causes
An Android phone usually stops ringing because of one of these easily overlooked settings:
- The phone is in Silent or Vibrate mode, or the ring volume is too low.
- Do Not Disturb or another Focus mode is turned on.
- Bluetooth is sending audio to earbuds, a car, or another device.
- Call forwarding or blocked contacts may stop expected ringing or send calls away.
- A carrier outage, billing block, or network issue can affect incoming calls.
- The speaker or system sound settings may be misconfigured.
Quick fixes to make your Android phone ring again
Try these steps in order, starting with the most likely solution:
- Press Volume Up and make sure the phone is not set to Silent or Vibrate.
- Open Settings > Notifications > Do not disturb and turn it off.
- Check whether Bluetooth is connected to earbuds or a car, because the ringtone may play there. Disconnect any active Bluetooth device.
- Clear the cache of the Phone app: Settings > Apps > Phone > Storage > Clear Cache.
- Reset app preferences: Settings > Apps > Reset App Preferences.
- Restart the phone.
If the phone still does not ring after these steps, move on to the checks below. Note: Settings > Accessibility > Sound Notifications is for hearing environmental sounds such as doorbells and landline ringing, not for fixing incoming phone ringtones. The documented setup path is Settings > Accessibility > Sound Notifications > Open Sound Notifications, then accept microphone and notification permissions. Tap Sound types and choose which sounds the device should detect, including Landline phone ringing.
Check for call forwarding and blocked numbers
These settings can silently prevent the phone from ringing or send calls elsewhere.
Call forwarding
Open the Phone app, go to its settings, and look for Call Forwarding. Ensure it is turned off. The exact menu path varies by manufacturer, but it is usually found under the Phone app's settings or dialer settings. On iPhone: Open Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Forwarding and make sure it is off.
Blocked contacts
Open the Phone app, go to its settings, and find Blocked Contacts. Review the list to confirm no important contacts are blocked. Remove any that should not be blocked. On iPhone: Open Settings > Apps > Phone > Blocked Contacts to check blocked numbers.
Do Not Disturb and silence unknown callers (iPhone comparison)
On iPhone: Open Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb and make sure it is off. Also open Settings > Apps > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers and review that setting.
Rule out speaker, network, and software problems
If the basic settings are correct, test the hardware and connection.
Test the speaker
Play audio through the phone’s speaker (music, a video, or a ringtone preview). If no sound comes out, the speaker may be faulty.
Check for carrier outages
Contact your carrier or check their status page to see if there is a known outage or a billing block affecting your line.
Update the software
Check for software updates in the phone’s system settings. The exact path varies by manufacturer, but it is typically under Settings > System > System Update or About Phone > Software Update. Install any available updates. On iPhone: Apple says to check for a carrier settings update, an iOS software update, and to try Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings if calling problems continue.
Reset network settings
Reset network settings: Settings > System > Reset > Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth.
Factory reset
Factory reset: Settings > System > Reset > Factory data reset.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Android phone only vibrate and not ring?
This usually means the phone is set to Vibrate mode or the ring volume is turned all the way down. Press the Volume Up button until the ring slider shows a sound icon, not a vibrate icon.
Why does my Android phone's ringtone keep changing on its own?
This can happen if a third-party app is overriding the default ringtone or if a work profile or SIM card has its own ringtone setting. Check each app's notification settings and review ringtone assignments for each SIM if you use dual SIM.
What can I do if my Android phone's ringtone sounds distorted?
Distortion often comes from dirt or debris blocking the speaker grille, or from the volume being set too high for the speaker. Gently clean the speaker area with a soft, dry brush and lower the volume to test.
Can a carrier issue cause my phone not to ring?
Yes. A carrier outage, a billing block, or a network issue can prevent incoming calls from reaching your phone. Check your carrier’s status page or contact them to rule this out.
Is there a setting on Android that silences calls from unknown numbers?
Some Android phones have a setting called Silence Unknown Callers or a similar option in the Phone app settings. If enabled, calls from numbers not in your contacts will be silenced. Check the Phone app settings and turn this off if needed.
For the wider topic, see ringer and ringtone issues.
