Published : March 12, 2025Have you ever experienced a situation where your phone rings once and goes to voicemail? This can be frustrating, especially if you’re expecting an important call. Several factors, including phone settings, network issues, and account problems, could be causing this.
Fortunately, most of these issues are easy to fix. In this guide, we’ll explore the common reasons why your phone goes to voicemail after one ring and provide step-by-step solutions to help you resolve the problem.
If your phone keeps going to voicemail after one ring, try calling it from another number. This can help determine whether the issue is with your device, the network, or the caller's settings.
If the problem persists, restart your phone and check for software updates.
Why Does Your Phone Rings Once and Goes to Voicemail? 6 Common Reasons
There are several reasons why your phone rings once and goes to voicemail, ranging from incorrect settings to network issues. Below are the most common causes that might be preventing your incoming calls from connecting properly.
1. Do Not Disturb Mode or Call Forwarding
If your phone is set to Do Not Disturb (DND) mode, incoming calls will go straight to voicemail without ringing more than once. Similarly, Call Forwarding settings can direct calls to another number or voicemail. These settings are often enabled unknowingly and can prevent calls from reaching you.
2. Network or Carrier Issues
Weak cellular signals, network outages, or carrier-specific restrictions may cause your phone to send calls straight to voicemail. If your carrier is experiencing technical difficulties, your phone may not receive incoming calls properly. Additionally, roaming settings or network congestion can impact call reception.
3. Phone Settings & Software Bugs
Incorrect phone settings, outdated software, or glitches in your mobile OS may interfere with call routing. If you’ve recently updated your phone’s software, a bug or system error might be preventing incoming calls from ringing as expected.
4. Blocked or Blacklisted Numbers
If you have accidentally blocked a number or enabled spam filtering, calls from certain contacts may go straight to voicemail. Some carriers also offer spam detection services, which might classify legitimate numbers as spam and reject them.
5. Battery or SIM Card Issues
A damaged SIM card or a low battery can cause call disruptions. If your SIM card is loose, outdated, or faulty, your phone may struggle to maintain a stable network connection, resulting in missed calls.
6. Account or Billing Problems
If your carrier account is suspended due to an unpaid bill or billing issue, incoming calls may automatically go to voicemail. Additionally, if you recently switched carriers or phone plans, your number may not have been fully activated yet.
How to Fix the “Phone Rings Once and Goes to Voicemail” Issue?
If your phone rings once and goes to voicemail, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to fix the issue. Below are effective solutions to help restore your incoming calls.
1. Check and Disable Do Not Disturb & Call Forwarding
Ever missed an urgent call because it went straight to voicemail? You may have unknowingly enabled Do Not Disturb mode. For example, if you put your phone on DND for a meeting and forget to turn it off, all calls will be silenced. These settings can block calls without notifying you. To fix this:
- For iPhone: Go to Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb and disable it. Then, navigate to Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding and turn it off.
- For Android: Open Settings > Sound & vibration > Do Not Disturb and toggle it off. Also, go to Settings > Calls > Call Forwarding and disable any active forwarding.
Disabling these settings ensures your calls ring normally before going to voicemail.
2. Restart Your Phone & Check Network Signal
A simple restart can fix minor cell phone network glitches. If your phone has poor signal reception, incoming calls might go to voice mail after one ring. To improve your connection:
- Move to an area with better signal strength.
- Disable Airplane Mode by toggling it on and off to refresh your network connection.
- If using Wi-Fi calling, try switching to cellular data instead, as weak Wi-Fi signals can cause call failures.
Restarting your cell phone and ensuring a strong network signal can prevent calls from being redirected to voicemail unexpectedly.
3. Update Software & Reset Network Settings
Outdated software can cause glitches in phone settings, leading to missed calls. Ensure your cell phone is running the latest OS version.
- For iPhone: Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any available updates.
- For Android: Navigate to Settings > System > Software Update and update your phone.
If calls still go to voice mail, reset your network settings:
- iPhone: Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
- Android: Go to Settings > System > Reset options > Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth.
Updating your phone and resetting network settings can resolve software-related call issues.
4. Verify Call Blocking & Spam Filters
If a number is blocked or marked as spam, your cell phone may automatically send their calls to voice mail. To check and remove any blocked numbers:
- iPhone: Open Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts and review the list.
- Android: Go to Settings > Call > Blocked numbers and unblock any necessary contacts.
If you use a third-party spam filter, disable it temporarily to see if it’s affecting call reception. Ensuring your contacts aren’t blocked will help prevent missed calls.
5. Inspect SIM Card & Battery Health
A faulty SIM card or low battery can cause call failures, sending calls to voice mail after one ring. To check:
- Remove your SIM card, clean it with a dry cloth, and reinsert it securely.
- If your cell phone shows a weak signal even in a good network area, request a replacement SIM card from your carrier.
- Check your battery health under Settings > Battery (iPhone) or Settings > Device care > Battery (Android).
A damaged SIM card or a failing battery can disrupt call connectivity, so replacing them may fix the issue.
6. Contact Your Carrier for Account Issues
If none of the above solutions work, the issue may be with your cell phone carrier. Service disruptions due to unpaid bills, account suspensions, or activation problems can cause calls to go straight to voice mail.
- Check if your plan is active and if there are no outstanding payments.
- If you recently switched carriers, verify that your number was ported correctly.
- Call your provider and ask them to disable airplane mode restrictions on their end, if any.
Your carrier can troubleshoot and resolve network-related problems to ensure your calls don’t go directly to voice mail.
: How to Listen to Voicemail on Any Phone?Conclusion
If your phone rings once and goes to voicemail, the issue could be due to phone settings, network problems, or carrier-related issues. Try disabling Do Not Disturb and Call Forwarding, checking your SIM card, updating your phone’s software, and ensuring your account is in good standing. If all else fails, contacting your carrier can help resolve any account-related issues.
Updated : March 12, 2025
Jainy Patel is a content strategist having 8+ years of industry experience. Her expertise lies in developing marketing and content strategies for different VoIP solutions. Jainy is committed to helping companies streamline their communication and improve customer engagement with personalized & targeted content.
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