How to Fix Android Phone Not Ringing on Incoming Calls (2026 Guide)

Your phone is supposed to ring. That's its most basic job. But when it stays silent, you miss important calls from work, family, and friends. It's beyond frustrating. If your Android phone isn't ringing, you're not alone. This is a super common issue in 2024 and will likely persist into 2026, but the fix is usually simple. This guide will walk you through every possible solution, from the obvious checks to the deeper system-level fixes. I've dealt with this myself—missing a call from my kid's school was the final straw that made me figure this all out. Let's get your phone working like it should.

🧠 Why Your Android Phone Has No Sound on Incoming Calls

It’s not just one thing. The problem of an Android phone not ringing can stem from a dozen different places, from a simple software glitch to a misconfigured setting you didn't even know existed. Before you panic and think you need a new phone, know that 99% of the time, this is a software or settings issue that you can fix yourself in minutes. We'll start with the easiest fixes and work our way down to the more involved ones.

First Things First: The Obvious Checks (You'd Be Surprised)

Let's not skip the basics. I’ve spent an hour troubleshooting only to find the volume was down. It happens to the best of us.

1. Check Your Physical Volume Buttons. Press the "Volume Up" button on the side of your phone. A volume slider should appear on screen. Make sure the "Ring" or "Notification" volume is all the way up, not muted.

2. Is Your Phone on Silent or Do Not Disturb? Swipe down from the top of your screen twice to open your quick settings. Look for icons like a crossed-out bell 🛇 or a star 🌟. If you see them, tap them to turn off Do Not Disturb mode or Silent mode.

3. Reboot Your Phone. I know, it's the classic IT advice. But honestly? It works. A simple restart can clear out temporary software bugs that are causing the no sound on calls issue. Hold down the power button and tap "Restart."

Diving Deeper: Android Sound Settings You Must Check

If the basics didn't work, it's time to dig into your settings. Things can get changed without you realizing it, especially after a big Android system update.

1. Check Your Ringtone Settings

Sometimes the selected ringtone file itself is corrupted. Go to Settings > Sound & vibration > Ringtone. Tap on a different ringtone to select it. Does it play a preview? If not, the system sound might be broken. If it does, select a new one and see if it fixes the incoming call sound problem.

2. The Per-App Notification Settings (This is a Big One!)

This is the most common culprit for modern Android phones. You might have accidentally silenced a specific app, like your Phone app or WhatsApp.

· Go to Settings > Apps & notifications.

· Select "See all [number] apps."

· Find and tap on Phone (or "Dialer").

· Tap on Notifications.

· Look for a category called "Incoming Calls" or something similar. Make sure the toggle is ON.

· Tap into that category and ensure the sound is set correctly and the importance is set to "Urgent" or "High."

👉 Pro Tip: You need to repeat this exact process for any app you use for calls, like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or Signal. Their notification settings are separate from your main phone app!

3. Disable Bluetooth

If your phone is connected to a Bluetooth device like headphones, a speaker, or your car, it might be trying to route the ringtone there. Turn off Bluetooth completely in your quick settings to see if that's the cause.

Advanced Troubleshooting: When the Simple Stuff Doesn't Work

Still no ring? Don't worry. We're not out of options yet. These steps tackle deeper system issues.

1. Boot Into Safe Mode

Safe Mode starts your phone without any third-party apps. This helps us figure out if a recently downloaded app is causing the conflict.

· Press and hold the power button.

· Touch and hold the "Power off" option on the screen until you see a prompt to reboot to Safe Mode.

· Tap "OK."

· Once in Safe Mode (you'll see "Safe Mode" at the bottom of the screen), try calling your phone. If it rings normally, you know a downloaded app is the problem. You'll need to uninstall apps one by one to find the culprit.

2. Clear the Cache for the Phone App

Corrupted cache data can break app functions.

· Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps > Phone.

· Tap on Storage & cache.

· Tap Clear Cache. (Do not tap "Clear Storage" or "Clear Data" as this will reset your call history and settings).

3. Check for Software Updates

An outdated OS can have bugs that affect sound. Go to Settings > System > System update and check for any available updates. Installing the latest Android security patch can often resolve these glitches.

My "Aha!" Moment: How I Fixed My Samsung Galaxy for Good

After the missed school call, I tried everything. The volume was up, Do Not Disturb was off, but my Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra was still silent. I was ready to factory reset. Then I found it.

Buried in the settings was a feature called "Separate app sound." Somehow, it was enabled and set to route only audio from my Phone app to a Bluetooth device that wasn't even connected anymore! I went to Settings > Sounds and vibration > Separate app sound and turned it off. The phone rang immediately. It was a bizarre setting, but it's a reminder to check every nook and cranny.

FAQ: Your Android Sound Problems Answered

Q: Why does my Android phone ring for some calls but not others?

A:This is almost certainly due to your "Do Not Disturb" rules. Check if you have exceptions set up for "Repeat callers" or specific contacts. Go to Settings > Sound & vibration > Do Not Disturb > Rules.

Q: I've tried everything and my phone still won't ring. What's the last resort?

A:The final step before visiting a repair shop is a factory reset. Remember, this will erase ALL data on your phone. Back everything up first! Go to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset).

Q: Could this be a hardware problem?

A:It's possible, but rare. If your phone doesn't play any sounds—no ringtones, no media audio, no notification sounds—through the speaker, then it could be a faulty speaker. A software issue typically affects only certain types of audio (like just rings).

Q: Will these steps work on a Google Pixel?

A:Yes! The steps are generally the same for all Android phones, including Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, OnePlus, etc. The menu names might vary slightly (e.g., "Sounds and vibration" vs. "Sound"), but the path is logically similar.

Conclusion: Regain Control of Your Phone's Ringtone

Fixing an Android device that won't ring is usually a process of elimination. Start simple, then move to the more specific settings like per-app notifications and obscure sound routing features. Making a habit of checking your sound settings after any major app or system update in 2026 can save you a lot of headaches.

Your phone is a vital tool. Make sure it's working for you, not against you.

📝 What You Can Take Away

· First Step: Always check physical volume and Do Not Disturb mode.

· Secret Weapon: Investigate the notification settings for your Phone and messaging apps.

· Nuclear Option: A factory reset will likely fix it, but back up your data first.

· Stay Updated: Keeping your Android OS updated is the best defense against weird bugs.

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Sources & Further Reading:

· Google Android Help: Change Sound & Notification Settings

· Samsung Support: How to use Safe Mode

· Android Authority: Understanding Android Notification Channels