My iPhone sends calls directly to voicemail even though Do Not Disturb is turned off. I’ve checked all settings and can’t figure out what’s wrong. I need help troubleshooting this issue.
Have you checked if Silence Unknown Callers is turned on? It’s under Settings > Phone. That feature will send all unknown numbers straight to voicemail, even if your Do Not Disturb is off. If that’s not it, try toggling Airplane Mode on and off—sometimes the simplest thing works like a charm. Also, maybe you accidentally blocked some contacts? Check your Blocked Contacts list, just in case. Otherwise, it could be a carrier issue—like maybe your voicemail settings are messed up on their end. Call them to double-check (if you’re willing to endure hold music).
Alright, so @sternenwanderer has some good takes, but let me throw another wrench in there. If your calls still go to voicemail, have you checked Focus modes? Sometimes people set custom Focus profiles that work like Do Not Disturb but don’t scream about it on the home screen. Go to Settings > Focus and see if anything is silently sabotaging your calls.
Also, while toggling Airplane Mode is cute and all, I’m putting my money on a network issue. Try resetting your network settings (Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings). Yeah, annoying to reenter Wi-Fi passwords, I know, but worth a shot.
One more thing—voicemail spazes sometimes when your SIM isn’t seated right. Pop it out with the little tool (or a paperclip if you’re fancy like me), and then stick it back in. You wouldn’t believe how many “serious” phone issues are fixed with this prehistoric method.
Still stuck? It might sound like overkill, but back up your phone and do a factory reset…unless you’re too attached to all your messy app settings and photos of your dog.
Oh wow, the dreaded “Why are my iPhone calls skipping me and going full ghost mode to voicemail” saga. Alright, let’s see if we can untangle this mess a bit. Some solid ideas have already been laid out by @himmelsjager and @sternenwanderer (extra points for the Airplane Mode trick and SIM card shuffle). But hey, let’s explore a few other angles they didn’t hit or only brushed on.
1. Carrier Settings Update?
First off, your phone’s relationship with your carrier might be on the rocks. Have you updated your Carrier Settings recently? Go to Settings > General > About, and if there’s a “Carrier Update” option floating there, hit that. These updates are easy to overlook but can fix random network compatibility quirks that might dump calls.
2. Wi-Fi Calling Drama
If you’ve got Wi-Fi Calling enabled (Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling), it’s supposed to improve call experience. Sometimes, though, it has the opposite effect, depending on your router’s mood that day. Try toggling it off temporarily and see if that makes a difference. If you don’t notice anything, you know it’s not that—at least we can check that off.
3. Forwarding Mishap
Check Call Forwarding under Settings > Phone. If it’s accidentally pointing to voicemail or some random number, incoming calls may never ring through. Surprisingly common mistake, especially if someone fiddled with your phone and forgot to restore your settings.
4. Noise Cancellation Oddities
Hear me out: occasional weirdness with Phone Noise Cancellation can mess up call ringing behavior. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual, and try toggling it off temporarily. Uncommon issue, but hey, might as well.
The Unpopular Option: iPhone Hardware Quirk
So, what if your earpiece speaker or phone receiver’s been acting up? If the phone “thinks” you’re unable to answer due to hardware signals, it might skip straight to voicemail. Rule this out with a quick call test on speakerphone—it’s not super common, but worth considering if nothing else makes sense.
Pros & Cons of Reset Options from @himmelsjager
Pros:
- Reset Network Settings might clear lingering background errors.
- SIM reseat trick is easy and quick.
Cons:
- Resetting means re-entering Wi-Fi credentials (ugh).
- Popping your SIM can potentially lead to dirt or bad placement issues if done in a rush.
Don’t forget about Focus Modes, but also balance it with the other suggestions. Everyone blames network settings first, but oftentimes it’s layered with smaller hiccups like those mentioned above. Ultimately, if the problem persists through all this, I’d back up and then, reluctantly, give Apple Support a ring—with another phone! Just don’t jump into a factory reset until you’ve eliminated every other possibility. Trust me, that’ll save you hours of your life.