Seeing a bunch of missed calls is rarely a good sign, but it’s worse when you’ve been with your phone all day and haven’t heard it ring. Despite the unfortunate nature of this scenario, you aren’t alone — this is quite a common occurrence, regardless of your phone’s make and model.
But fear not! We’re here to answer your “Why do I get missed calls but my phone doesn’t ring” question and help you fix it.
Network and Signal Issues
#1 Poor Signal Strength
Strong signal strength means seamless conversations boasting fewer dropped calls and more reliable data transmission. It also means that your phone will actually ring when somebody calls you — with poor signal strength comes a high chance you’ll get missed calls despite your device not ringing.
So, how can you fix it? Here are a few ideas:
- Move location — Your distance from a cell tower is the main factor impacting your signal strength. The farther away you are, the weaker the signal, thus the poorer the connection. Use cell tower guides online to find your nearest tower and move closer to it (if possible).
- Check coverage maps — If you’re experiencing a sudden drop in signal strength, check your provider’s coverage map. There may be a damaged tower. Alternatively, your provider may not have many towers in your area. Thus, you experience poor signal strength. If you’re on a pay-as-you-go SIM, you can try out different mobile networks until you find the one that works best for your area.
- Reboot — If you’ve crossed international borders or recently left a carrier zone, you should reboot your phone.
- Upgrade your phone — Older cell phones may not be able to pick up carriers’ latest frequency. Therefore, you might want to think about upgrading your hardware to improve signal strength.
- Update your phone’s software — Even though your phone’s hardware communicates with the cell towers, its software guides the process and handles performance. Check for software updates to guarantee you have the latest patches.
#2 Network Congestion
Similar to the highway during rush hour, busy cell networks can slow your service. Sometimes, this will result in receiving missed calls without your phone ringing. Thankfully, there are a couple of things you can do to fix it.
Try calling during off-peak hours. We’ll use the highway analogy again here. Imagine you’re going on a road trip. You’d plan to avoid major roads during rush hour to ensure a more seamless journey, right? It’s the same with your cell network! Whenever possible, schedule calls during off-peak hours to reduce the likelihood of your phone not ringing.
If that isn’t possible, use wifi calling; it allows you to make phone calls over wireless internet networks instead of a regular cell signal. Most providers treat these calls similarly to others and deduct these minutes from your monthly allowance. Here’s how to activate wifi calling depending on your cellphone:
| Samsung | iPhone | Other Android |
| Swipe down from the top of the screen using two fingers to open the Quick Settings panel. Hit Wi-Fi Calling to activate it. | Hit Settings. Select Phone. Tap Wi-Fi Calling. | Open the Phone app. Tap the three dots > Settings. Hit Calls. Select Wi-Fi Calling. |
Phone Settings and Configurations
#3 Do Not Disturb Mode
Do Not Disturb mode silences all notifications, alerts, and calls. Therefore, your cell phone won’t ring, but it will still receive the calls. And since you can’t hear the sound, you’ll see missed calls.
If you don’t remember turning Do Not Disturb on, you may have done it by accident. It’s annoyingly easy to do, especially if you have an iPhone. Luckily, it’s just as easy to disable:
| Samsung | iPhone | Other Android |
| Swipe down from the top of the screen using two fingers to open the Quick Settings panel. Swipe to the Do Not Disturb icon. Tap the Do Not Disturb icon to turn it off. | Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to bring up the Command Center. Tap the Moon icon to turn it off. | Open Settings. Hit Notifications. Scroll down and tap the General section. Select Do Not Disturb. Hit Turn Off Now. |
#4 Call Forwarding
Call forwarding redirects incoming calls to a different service or phone number. Sometimes known as “call transfer,” it’s a useful feature included as standard by many phone providers these days.
However, it can be a nuisance if you’ve inadvertently turned it on — your calls will head straight to voicemail, rather than actually ringing. But like Do Not Disturb mode, you can easily disable call forwarding:
| Samsung | iPhone | Other Android |
| Launch the Phone app. Hit the three dots. Tap Settings > Supplementary Services. Select Call forwarding from SIM1 or SIM2. Hit Voice Calls. Choose Forward When Busy. Hit Disable. | Open Settings. Tap Call Forwarding. Hit the button to turn it off. | Open the Phone app. Tap the three dots in the top-right corner. Go to Settings > Calling Accounts. Select the SIM card you wish to cancel call forwarding on. Tap Call Forwarding. Choose the option you want to disable, then hit Turn Off. Repeat step six for all active call forwarding categories. |
#5 Airplane Mode
When enabled, airplane mode disables your phone’s ability to connect to wifi networks, cellular networks, or Bluetooth, meaning you can’t receive or make calls, browse the web, or send texts. If somebody calls you, they’ll head straight to your voicemail service, appearing as a missed call in your history.
To turn off airplane mode, follow these steps:
| Samsung | iPhone | Other Android |
| Press and hold the Power Key. Hit Flight Mode to deactivate it. | Tap Settings. Tap Airplane Mode to turn it off. | Swipe down from the top of the home screen. Hit the highlighted Airplane Mode icon to turn it off. |
Software and Application Issues
#6 Outdated Software
Outdated software can cause a lot of errors and problems, particularly the not ringing issue. Updating your phone’s software can fix the bugs, potentially restoring your phone’s ringtone and eradicating your missed call conundrum (among other problems).
Here’s how to update your phone’s software:
| iPhone | Samsung and Other Android |
| Go to Settings. Hit General > Software Update. If there is an available update, choose Install Now. | Go to Settings. Tap System > Software Update. If an update is available, choose Install Now. |
#7 Third-Party Apps
Sometimes, third-party apps can mess around with your permissions, severing the connection between your phone and incoming calls. If you believe this is the problem, you’ll need to do some digging to find the troublesome apps. This includes:
- Clearing your cache.
- Resetting all app permissions.
- Rebooting into Safe Mode according to your phone’s operating system and looking for suspicious/unfamiliar apps to uninstall or disable.
- Factory resetting.
#8 Hardware Issues
Can you hear any sound from your phone? If not, your speakers might be the problem. Head to a music app and play something, using the Volume Up button on the side of your device to boost the volume level. If nothing plays, you’ve found the problem.
Alternatively, your phone’s antenna or sim card may be damaged, impacting your calls. Seek professional repair services for all suspected hardware issues.
#9 Service Provider Issues
When carrier networks go down, they take your incoming calls with them. Use your provider’s online portals to check your coverage and ensure there isn’t a regional problem.
If there is an issue, try turning Airplane Mode on and off to reestablish a connection. If it persists, you should contact their dedicated customer support to find out when the service will be up and running again.
#10 SIM Card Issues
Last but certainly not least, your SIM card may be the problem. Both damaged and improperly inserted SIM cards negatively impact calls. Follow these steps to fix it:
- Find your SIM card tray.
- Insert a pin or SIM card removal tool into the small hole next to the tray.
- Gently apply pressure to eject it.
- Remove the SIM card.
- Inspect it for damages. Contact your carrier for a replacement SIM if damage is present.
- If there isn’t any damage, reinsert the card in the tray, ensuring it’s aligned properly.
- Push it back in until it clicks into place.
The Bottom Line
Your phone can show missed calls without ringing for many reasons, including SIM card problems, service provider issues, hardware and software conundrums, third-party apps, airplane mode, Do Not Disturb, and call forwarding. Hopefully, all this should be a past you problem. However, if the problem persists, feel free to drop us a question or seek further help with a phone that can’t make or receive calls.
FAQ
What does it mean if an outgoing call doesn’t ring?
If you can’t make any outgoing calls, it’s probably due to a downed line, unpaid phone bill, or poor service. If your phone doesn’t ring when calling a certain number, the issue lies with the number you’re attempting to reach.
Why is my phone only vibrating when being called?
When your phone is on silent mode, it will vibrate instead of ringing when you receive an incoming call. To turn off silent mode on an iPhone, push the small switch on the left-hand side of the device toward you. If your iPhone doesn’t have a silent mode switch, head to the Control Center and tap the bell icon. To turn off silent mode on an Android, swipe down from the top right corner of your screen, and tap the highlighted “Mute” button.