Why your iPhone isn't ringing and how to fix it

Fast fix

If your iPhone® isn’t ringing for incoming calls, the most common reasons are Silent mode, Focus mode, or low ringer volume. To fix it:

1. Check the Ring/Silent switch on the side of your iPhone. If orange is showing, flip it up to turn the ringer back on.
2. Open Control Center and make sure Focus (like Do Not Disturb or Sleep) is turned off.
3. Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and drag the Ringtone and Alerts volume slider to the right.

Picture this: You’ve been waiting on an important call, but your iPhone doesn’t ring. Then you notice several missed calls. Is your phone broken? Probably not—it’s often a quick fix.

At Asurion, when tech breaks, we fix it—whether you want to improve your iPhone battery life or recover from a hacked phone. Here’s what to do if your iPhone isn’t ringing when you get calls.

Why your iPhone won't ring

There are several reasons why your iPhone ringer might not work when calls come in. Here are the most common:

• Speaker issues: Your speaker may be blocked by debris or damaged.
• Silent mode: The Ring/Silent switch (or Action Button on iPhone 15 Pro models) may be set to silent.
• Low ringer volume: Your ringtone and alert volume could be too low.
• Do Not Disturb or Focus mode: These settings silence incoming calls.
• Airplane mode: This turns off cellular service entirely.
• Bluetooth connection: Calls may be routed to Bluetooth headphones or your car system.

Don’t waste time scrolling

Life is short. Ask our experts and get answers now.

Ask an expert

How to fix an iPhone that won't ring

If your iPhone isn’t ringing, try these troubleshooting steps.

Check the ring/silent switch

1. Look at the switch on the left side of your iPhone.
2. If you see orange, silent mode is on.
3. Flip the switch up to turn the ringer back on—you’ll see a Ringer On alert.

Turn off Focus modes

1. Swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center.
2. Tap the active Focus (like Do Not Disturb, Work, or Sleep) to turn it off.
3. To adjust settings, go to Settings > Focus. Add allowed contacts if you want calls to come through during Focus.

Adjust ringer volume

1. Open Settings > Sounds & Haptics.
2. Drag the Ringtone and Alert Volume slider to the right.
3. Turn on Change with Buttons if you want to use the side buttons for ringer volume.

Disable Silence Unknown Callers

1. Open Settings > Phone.
2. Tap Silence Unknown Callers.
3. Turn it off to allow all calls to ring.

Disconnect Bluetooth devices

1. Open Settings > Bluetooth.
2. Tap the info (i) icon next to connected devices and select Disconnect.
3. Or, turn off Bluetooth entirely to test.

Restart your iPhone

1. Press and hold the Side button + Volume button until the power slider appears.
2. Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone.
3. After a few seconds, press and hold the Side button to power it back on.

Check for software updates

1. Open Settings > General > Software Update.
2. If an update is available, tap Download and Install.

If you’ve tried all of these steps and your iPhone still doesn’t ring, the issue could be hardware-related. Bring it to your nearest uBreakiFix® by Asurion store for a free diagnostic.

FAQs

Why isn’t my iPhone ringing when someone calls?

It could be in Silent mode, have a Focus mode turned on, 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. If it’s on, calls from numbers not in your contacts will go to voicemail.

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 diagnostic and repair options.