Picture this scenario: You've been waiting to hear from a friend, but your iPhone® doesn't ring. Then you check your phone and see that you've missed several calls. Is your phone broken?
At Asurion, when tech breaks, we fix it—whether someone's hacked your phone or you want to improve your iPhone battery life. Here's what to do when your iPhone isn't ringing for incoming calls.
Why your iPhone won't ring
There are various reasons why your iPhone ringer isn't working on incoming phone calls. Here are some of the most common ones:
- Speaker issues: The iPhone's speaker could be physically blocked by debris, or there might be an internal hardware problem with the speaker itself.
- Silent mode: Your iPhone might be set to silent using the physical Ring/Silent switch on the side (or the Action Button on iPhone 15 Pro and later models).
- Low ringer volume: The volume for your ringtones and alerts might be turned down too low.
- Do Not Disturb or Focus mode: Your iPhone could be in Do Not Disturb mode or another Focus mode (like Sleep or Work), which silences incoming calls.
- Airplane mode: This mode disables all wireless communication, including cellular service, preventing calls from coming through.
- Bluetooth connection: Your iPhone might be connected to a Bluetooth device (like headphones or a car's infotainment system) and routing the call audio there instead of ringing through its own speaker.
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How to fix an iPhone that won't ring
If your iPhone isn't ringing when you receive a call, try these tips.
Check the ring/silent switch
The switch on the left side of your iPhone toggles silent mode on or off.
- If you see orange, silent mode is on and your phone won’t ring.
- Flip the switch up to turn your ringer back on—you’ll see a Ringer On alert.
Turn off Focus modes
Focus filters like Do Not Disturb, Work, or Sleep can silence incoming calls.
- Swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center.
- Tap the active Focus to turn it off.
- To edit Focus settings, go to Settings > Focus and select the mode you want to adjust.
Make sure allowed contacts are added if you want calls to come through during Focus mode.
Adjust ringer volume
Even if your phone isn’t in Silent mode, the ringer might be too quiet.
- Open Settings > Sounds & Haptics.
- Drag the Ringtone and Alert Volume slider to the right.
- Turn on Change with Buttons if you want to use the side volume buttons to adjust the ringer.
Disable Silence Unknown Callers
If this setting is on, calls from numbers not in your contacts go straight to voicemail.
- Go to Settings > Phone.
- Tap Silence Unknown Callers.
- Turn it off to allow all calls to ring.
You can also manage filters and spam blocking apps in this section.
Disconnect Bluetooth devices
If your iPhone is connected to Bluetooth headphones, calls may ring through those instead.
- Open Settings > Bluetooth.
- Tap the info (i) icon next to connected devices and choose Disconnect.
- You can also turn Bluetooth off entirely to test.
Restart your iPhone
A quick reboot can resolve audio glitches.
- Press and hold the Side button and either Volume button until the power slider appears.
- Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone.
- After a few seconds, press and hold the Side button to power it back on.
Check for software updates
Outdated software can cause unexpected issues like this one.
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
- If an update is available, tap Download and Install.
Tried these steps and still need help? We got you. Get your tech problem solved when you call or chat with an expert now.
FAQ
Why isn’t my iPhone ringing when someone calls?
It could be in Silent mode, have a Focus mode active, or be connected to a Bluetooth device. Low volume or silenced callers are also common causes.
How do I know if Silence Unknown Callers is on?
Go to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers to check and toggle it off if needed.
Why does my iPhone only vibrate?
Check the ring/silent switch, and make sure your Ringtone and Alert Volume is turned up under Sounds & Haptics.
What if my iPhone still doesn’t ring?
There may be a hardware issue with the speaker. Bring it to your nearest uBreakiFix® by Asurion store for a free device diagnostic.
