Your friends are trying to call you, but they can’t get through. Their iPhones ring when you call them, so why doesn’t yours? In this article, I’ll explain why your iPhone goes straight to voicemail when someone calls and how to fix the problem for good.
Why Does My iPhone Go Straight To Voicemail When Someone Calls?
Your iPhone typically goes straight to voicemail because your iPhone has no service, Do Not Disturb is turned on, or a Carrier Settings update is available. We’ll help you identify and fix the real problem below.
No Service / Airplane Mode
When your iPhone is too far away to connect to cell towers, or when it’s cut off from the outside world with Airplane Mode, all calls go straight to voicemail because your iPhone isn’t connected to the cellular network.
Open Settings and look at the switch next to Airplane Mode. If Airplane Mode is on, turn it off. If Airplane Mode is off, tap the switch to turn it on. Wait a few seconds, then tap the switch again to turn off Airplane Mode.
Do Not Disturb
When your iPhone is locked (the screen is off), Do Not Disturb silences all incoming calls, text message notifications, and alerts on your iPhone. Unlike silent mode, Do Not Disturb sends incoming calls straight to voicemail.
To turn off Do Not Disturb, open Control Center by swiping down from the upper right-hand corner of the screen (iPhones with Face ID) or up from the very bottom of the screen (iPhones without Face ID). Look for the Moon icon. If it’s white and purple, Do Not Disturb is on. Tap the icon to turn if off.
How Did Do Not Disturb Get Turned On In The First Place?
Open Settings and tap Focus -> Do Not Disturb. If your iPhone is running iOS 14 or older, open Settings and tap Do Not Disturb. Is Scheduled turned on? If so, your iPhone will automatically turn Do Not Disturb on and off when you go to sleep.
Do Not Disturb While Driving & Other Focuses
Do Not Disturb While Driving was introduced with iOS 11. With iOS 15, Apple introduced Focus, which houses Do Not Disturb, Do Not Disturb While Driving, and more. When Do Not Disturb While Driving or another Focus is on, your iPhone may go straight to voicemail.
If your iPhone is running iOS 15, swipe down from the upper right-hand corner of the screen (iPhones with Face ID) or up from the very bottom of the screen (iPhones without Face ID) to open Control Center. Look for the Focus button in Control Center. If a Focus is on, tap on the icon to turn it off.
If your iPhone is running iOS 14 or older, open Settings and tap Do Not Disturb. Tap Activate under Do Not Disturb While Driving to see when the feature turns on. When set to Automatically, Do Not Disturb While Driving will turn on any time your iPhone thinks you’re driving. You can turn off Do Not Disturb While Driving by unlocking your iPhone and tapping I’m Not Driving.
Customizing Call Settings For Focus
iOS 15 allows you to customize Focus settings so calls don’t go directly to voicemail when a Focus is turned on. Open Settings and tap Focus -> Phone Calls. Here, you have a few options.
First, if you’d like calls from the same person within three minutes to not be silenced, leave the switch at the top of the screen on. Then, select if you’d like to receive calls from Everyone, No One, or your Favorites when a Focus is on.
Announce Calls
Some readers have reported a new solution that appeared in a recent version of iOS: Change Announce Calls to Always. Go to Settings -> Phone -> Announce Calls, tap Always, and give it a try.
Turn The Ringer Volume All The Way Up
It’s possible your iPhone ringer is silent, making you think that calls are going straight to voicemail since you can’t hear them when they come in. Try turning your ringer volume all the way up to see if that’s the issue you’re experiencing.
Open Settings and tap Sounds & Haptics. Drag the slider under Ringers and Alerts all the way to the right. You’ll be able to hear how loudly your iPhone will ring when you finishing adjusting the slider.
Have someone call your iPhone after trying this to see if the problem is resolved. If the call goes straight to voicemail, move onto the next step.
Check For A Carrier Settings Update
If your calls go straight to voicemail, you may need to update the carrier settings on your iPhone. Carrier settings are what allows your iPhone to connect to your carrier’s wireless network.
If your iPhone’s carrier settings are out of date, it may have trouble connecting to your carrier’s network, which could cause incoming phone calls to go straight to your voicemail.
To check for a Carrier Settings Update, open the Settings app and tap General -> About. If a carrier settings update is available, an alert will appear on your iPhone’s display that says “Carrier Settings Update“. If this alert appears on your iPhone, tap Update.
Turn Off Silence Unknown Callers
Silence Unknown Callers will send phone calls from from unknown numbers directly to voicemail. The call will show up in the Recents tab in Phone even though it goes straight to voicemail.
Open Settings and tap Phone. Turn off the switch next to Silence Unknown Callers to turn this setting off.
Turn Off Call Forwarding
Call Forwarding forwards your calls to a different phone number if you don’t or can’t answer them. There’s also call forwarding unconditional, which will forward your calls without allowing your iPhone to ring or give you the opportunity to answer it. It’s possible your iPhone is going straight to voicemail because of Call Forwarding.
Open Settings and tap Phone -> Call Forwarding. Turn off the switch next to Call Forwarding.
Note: You may not see this setting on your iPhone if your carrier does not support call forwarding.
Update Your iPhone
Updating your iPhone can sometimes fix software bugs, especially if a modem update is included with the iOS update. Open Settings and tap General -> Software Update. Tap Download and Install or Install Now if an iOS update is available.
Uninstall Spam Blocking Apps
Spam blocking apps like RoboKiller can be extremely useful. However, they’ll sometimes block calls you actually want to receive. Try uninstalling any spam blocking apps on your iPhone to see if that fixes the problem.
Press and hold on the app icon until the quick action menu opens. Then, tap Remove App -> Delete App -> Delete.
If this fixed the problem for you, check out our video about other ways to block spam calls on your iPhone.
Contact Your Carrier
There is a chance that you may need to contact your cell carrier about an issue with service for missed or dropped calls. If it becomes a regular occurrence that isn’t fixed by any of the troubleshooting steps in this article, you may need to contact your provider to see if there is any known issues or if there is a tower update that needs to be done on their end.
Is It Time To Switch Wireless Carriers?
If you’re fed up with the constant problems with your wireless carrier, you may want to consider switching. You’ll often save a lot of money when you do! Check UpPhone’s tool to compare cell phone plans from every wireless carrier in the United States.
You’re Back On The Grid
Your iPhone is ringing again and your calls aren’t going straight to voicemail. Do Not Disturb is a feature that comes in handy when you’re asleep, but it can cause some serious headaches if you don’t know how to use it. Save your friends and family similar headaches by sharing this article on social media so they can also learn why their iPhone goes straight to voicemail!
Is there a way to delete past blocked numbers as I have several hundred now and would like to clear them and start a new list
I have an iphone and i currently cannot receive calls. It just goes straight to voice-mail. Ive checked for airplane mode, call forwarding, do not disturb, and none are the problem. I just got this iphone. Please help.
My iPhone 8 randomly fails calling out or receiving calls (straight to voicemail). Only fix is to turn it off and back on. Tried all the common fixes. Even new SIM card.
You are just the best! I was able to turn off Focus that had my calls going to voice mail. Thanks to your explicit instructions.
Another reason may be because you have chosen a very short ring tone (about 1 second’s worth) for your incoming calls. If you do not answer your call before the ring tone times out your call will go straight to voicemail. Try changing your ring tone to one that doesn’t time out so quickly.
I tried all of these solutions, but it ended up that I needed a new SIM card.
Had the same issue restarted the phone all fixed.
Tried all you suggestions – now waiting for an unknown caller to phone me!
Thanks for the advice. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Thank you for the post. My Dad also had this same issue and we found his problem was also “Silence Unknown Callers” was on.
Thanks soo much – Excellent information! Important calls I was waiting for went straight to VM. My wife’s calls were fine. My problem was “Silence Unknown Callers” were on!
can you please share how you fixed this issue
Just left my AT&T store. After a complete review and sim card change they found that my AT&T “Call Protect” app had “unknown callers” set on Block.
Thank you so much!!
You’re welcome!
THANK U SOOOOO MUCH💕
This helped me out. First time with Ipad and not familiar with much. This article helped me out, and I appreciate how simple it was. I was getting frustrated on all callls going directly into voice.
Great info – my carrier doesn’t know half of what is on here. HUGE help to me. Thanks
This is a wonderful article, but I found my fix in someone’s reply. You should add it to your article: CHECK your Apple Watch! Somehow mine had gotten into theater mode, which silences your calls! of course I figured this out after trying everything in this article.
I’ve done every single thing on my Iphone 11pro..going straight to voicemail as of today..🤷♀️
I suggest contacting your wireless carrier. You’ll usually get the fastest help when you reach out to their Support account on Twitter.
I don’t use twitter..but I’ll reach out to Verizon. Thx!
This 11pro is the worst iPhone I’ve ever had. Nothing but trouble: dropped calls, fading voices, volume issues, & 41/2 hrs in their store recently hasn’t helped..
My iWatch was on DNDisturb. There ya go!
Thank you, it was in Do Not Disturb mode.
My phone is going straight to voicemail after one ring and does not even let me pick up I have tried all the fixes
I suggest reaching out to your wireless carrier if none of the steps in this article fixed the problem.
I have a iPhone XR and it is updated to the lastest version and when I get a call, it rings once and goes straight to my vocie mail. Also my Mac mini that is updated to Monterey version 12.2.1 just started showing me that FaceTime quit unexpectedly and now I can’t open fact time folder or the app on my Mac mini.
I have tried each of these steps and have spent several hours with AT&T technicians, to no avail. They take me through most of these same steps and always conclude by saying they will change some settings and call me back the next day with a higher level technician and I never hear from them, even when I give my wife’s phone as an alternative number. The lack of a phone ring and immediate rollover to voice mail seems to only happen with calls from people who are not in my contacts,but this is not a setting I have set… Read more »
Fantastic information. Call forwarding was my problem. Thanks for the assistance!
If you have an Apple Watch, make sure these same setting are the same on your Watch.
All Calls directly to voicemail. Tried everything and the only thing that worked for my brand new iPhone 13 was another new SIM card that was put in by tech support at my carrier store. Hopefully this helps others with a very frustrating problem
Thank you so much for helping me fix my iPhone XR which was going straight to voicemail, I am not tech savvy at 73. But I fixed it. Thanks again!
You should also try Settings – Phone – Call forwarding. Make sure this is switched off.
David, unbeknownst to me Silence Unknown Callers” was enabled . Have disabled the setting so I am now getting all calls. Many thanks!
thank you, big help
When someone from my healthcare system calls, they are sent straight to voicemail. But I don’t see or hear the call come in. They are sent straight to voicemail and leave a message, but it never appears on my phone. All the phones in their system have the same area code and first three numbers. This doesn’t happen with any other callers, and doesn’t happen on my husband’s iphone. I’ve checked and rechecked the settings you name. This is not a new problem—it has persisted through a new phone and several updates. Any ideas?
Could be automatic spam detection included with your cell phone plan. Sometimes those features get filter out calls you actually want or need to receive. Try contacting your wireless carrier about it.
I’ve had my my iphone Xr over 2 years. In recent months at my work location my calls always go to VM. it only seems to be in this location. fine in other locations. I’ve been through all the steps, rang my carrier, had a new sim delivered today (they said it may be a faulty sim) and still the same. It may be my imagination but it seems to go to VM more in the morning and ok in the afternoon,
All of my calls are going directly to voice mail. All of my contacts were blocked so I changed that. I have tried all suggestions and nothing is working.
Try contacting your wireless carrier. Could be an issue where a call screening feature is sending calls you actually want to receive straight to voicemail.
Thank you, David. My phone was set to never announce calls. I believe this has resolved my issue. Thank you so much.
Glad we were able to help!
We’ve tried everything and my wife’s phone still goes right to voicemail.
This is an 8. Does she need to upgrade her phone?
Hi Mark! Is your wife’s iPhone running the latest version of iOS? You can check by going to Settings -> General -> Software Update. If you see that an update’s available, I’d suggest installing it and seeing if that helps. Thanks for reading, and best of luck!
My iPhone 13 Pro Max with iOS 15.1 was going directly to voicemail. I tried all of the suggestions listed above and none worked. Then I did a reboot. Takes almost no time and it worked!
Sometimes the simplest solutions are the most effective! Glad to hear your Pro Max is back to normal, Lucio!
My iPhone goes directly to voicemail and a red dot appears next to the battery icon. If the caller calls me right back, my phone will ring as normal. What’s up with this?
Thank you! It worked!!! I had ‘Silence Unknown Callers’ turned on! ??
Silence Unknown Callers worked for me. I never turned this on, but I believe I clicked on limit spam callers from my carrier a while ago. It must have automatically turned this on. I can get calls again from new people. Thanks so much!
Thank you. The update helped me with my “Straight to Voicemail” issue.
I am so frustrated. I have tried everything and I mean everything to fix my silenced incoming calls but it still goes straight to voicemail. I’m desperate at this point.
Turn Off Silence Unknown Callers This worked for me. Thanks so much!
Me too.
Thank you. I adjusted my settings and now I can get the calls I want to receive.
Great info, thanks
None of the suggested fixes worked on my iPhone. What finally worked was choosing Settings -> General -> reset -> Reset Network Settings.
Did you have the iPhone 11?
Problem resolved, thanks!
Marge, thank you very much for your post! This has been the only “fix” that worked for me, and I have tried everything and anything! Again, thank you so much!
I had the same issue and found that “Allow Calls From” somehow changed to Favorites, once I set it to everyone the issue was fixed. This is under Do Not Disturb in settings.
Hi, thanks for this. The announce>always worked for me. iPhone 7 Plus.
Hi, David. I have an iPhone that sends a call from one of my contacts straight to voicemail. I was sitting by the phone and heard the alert for voicemail but didn’t hear the ring. I’ve gone through the steps you listed and also checked blocked calls. I did find I could update from IOS 14.7.1 to 14.8 which I’m doing. I’ve checked everything and believe this is the only contact that isn’t ringing. It’s an important contact. Do you have any other suggestions or what am I missing? BTW, love you site and YouTube channel.
The exact same thing. I can send texts and voicemail to my wife but the phone rolls straight to voicemail. This does not affect other callers.
Pamela – I have this exact same issue, but when this one person rings, I can’t open any of my apps or do anything so I have to hard reset my phone. I can ring this person no issue – eagerly awaiting a reply to this comment!
I tried this, turning airplane mode on of 5 seconds and then off. Fixed the problem!
I had my iPad connected to receive calls along with the iPhone. For some time that worked fine but since the last update to 14.6 the phone (which included the announce calls option) it just defaulted to voicemail for inward calls. That update must be recent because my wife’s iPhone hasn’t yet received the announce calls option. You may know more about it all.
Hi Raiford, does your iPhone send every call straight to voicemail or just calls from unknown numbers?
“Silence unknown callers” was the culprit — thanks!
Thank you, I needed to call cause the issues where on their side. All is good because the information provided from this article help me get help fast