Why Phone Calls Going Straight to Voicemail (10 Fixes)

Do you have phone calls going directly to voicemail on your Android or iPhone device? Learn about the causes of this issue and fix it with these 10 solutions.

The issue of direct phone call voicemail can be due to problems with the network or incorrect call settings, among other possibilities.

In this guide, I will show you how to solve the issue of phone calls going to voicemail through easy processes.

In this guide, you will get all the information regarding the exact reasons why phone calls go directly to voicemail and solutions to fix for both Android and iPhone devices.

Why Do Calls Go Straight to Voicemail?

The phone calls usually go straight to voicemail due to either Do Not Disturb setting, bad reception, call forwarding, airplane mode, number blocking, or the mobile provider’s problem. The problem can happen on both Android and iPhone devices.

10 Ways to Fix Calls Going Straight to Voicemail

The issue where your calls directly going to voicemail is mostly caused by network settings on your smartphone.

The fact that the phone may need just a little tweak to receive incoming calls again. 

In the article below, we will discuss how to troubleshoot calls to voicemail issues both for Android and iPhone.

Method #1: Check Call Settings

If one of the call rejections, call blocking, call barring, or forwarding to voicemail options is turned on, that could be why your phone goes straight to voicemail.

Fix this. Follow the steps listed below:

• Go to Settings.
• Tap on Apps.
• Go to System Apps.

• Select Call Settings.

• Tap on call forwarding.

• Disable it.

• Tap on Advanced Settings.

• Select Call Rejection.
• Turn it off.
• Check the call block.
• See if the number from which you need to receive the call is on the list.
• If yes, remove it.

Restart your phone and see if your call still goes straight to voicemail.

Method #2: Check the Do Not Disturb Settings

Sometimes, if you have activated DND and forgot to turn it off, it can prevent your phone from ringing, and eventually, your call will be diverted to your voice mail upon not answering. DND is yet another reason why does phone go straight to voicemail without ringing.

Here are the steps:

• Go to Settings.
• Tap on Sound and Vibration.

• Toggle off the slider beside DND.

See if your call goes straight to voicemail now.

Method #3: Disable Airplane Mode

One of the most common problems with touchscreen phones is that sometimes accidental touch can change certain settings without you knowing. This has happened to me one too many times. Since Airplane mode is one setting extremely easy to access, it gets turned on often. Or maybe you forgot to turn it on after the flight.

Anyway, that could be the reason your phone goes straight to voicemail without ringing or calls going straight to voicemail on your iPhone.

• Pull down the top of your phone screen.
• Make sure your Aeroplane mode is turned off.

Method #4: Check Your Mobile Network

Another most commonly compromised settings for touchscreen devices is mobile data. Mine keeps turning off by itself. If you are having issues with calls, check if your mobile data is turned on.

Further Reading => Android Phone Not Allowing to Make Calls

• Drag down to the top of your home screen.
• See if the Mobile data is lit.

• Long press on Mobile data.
• See if the correct Sim and network are selected.

• If you are roaming, make sure Data Roaming is turned on in Advanced Settings.

This should fix your call going straight to voicemail without a ringing problem.

Method #5: Turn Off Silence Unknown Caller Setting

If you have an iPhone, there is an option of silencing an unknown caller. You will still see the number on your recent call list, but your phone won’t ring and the call will go to your voicemail. Some high-end Android devices also have this setting. So, for calls going straight to voicemail on your iPhone, check if you have used this setting.

Here is how to do it:

• Launch Settings.
• Go to Phone.
• Tap on the arrow beside Silence Unknown Callers.
• Select Off.

See if this fixes the problem.

Method #6: Update Your Device

When you don’t update your device, several issues occur after some time. If you are still wondering why my phone is going straight to voicemail, this could be the reason.

• Go to Settings.
• Tap on About Phone.

• Select your Device name.

• Tap on Check for Updates.

Method #7: Issue With Sim Card

Sometimes, it could be because of a shifted or damaged sim card that your calls are getting directly to voicemail. Try removing and reinserting your sim card. Make sure your device is turned off when you do that. If it still doesn’t work or you see some kind of damage to the card, visit the service center of your service provider and get it replaced.

Recommended Reading => Explore the Top Second Phone Number Apps

Method #8: Change Preferred Network Type

Another reason why your calls are going directly to your voicemail is because the network type you have selected is not supported. Try changing the network type.

• Launch Settings
• Go to Sim Cards and mobile networks
• Tap on your sim card
• Select the Preferred network type
• Change your network selection

Method #9: Check Announce Call Settings on iPhone

Sometimes, when you announce that call settings on an iPhone are set to headphones and car or headphones only, you might not hear your phone ring or calls announced. To do that, check the Always option in the settings.

• Go to Settings.
• Tap on Siri & Search.
• Go to Announce calls.
• Choose Always.

Method #10: Check Your Driving Mode App

If the issue of calls going straight to voicemail on your iPhone arises only while you are driving, then it might be your driving mode. Often iPhones automatically switch to driving mode when you are driving and it can activate the Do Not Disturb option.

• Go to Settings.
• Tap on Focus.
• Slide the bar beside Driving to off.
• Also, change the settings from Turn on Automatically to Manually or when connected to the car Bluetooth.

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Why Are My Calls Going Straight to Voicemail? (5 Common Causes)

If your phone stops ringing and forwards calls directly to voicemail, the issue might be neither with the device nor its internal components. Instead, the most likely possibility is some feature that has been set up inadvertently to silence all phone calls.

Main Possible Reasons for Phone Not Ringing with Calls Going Directly to Voicemail Include:

1. “Do Not Disturb (DND)” Or Focus Feature: The reason in most cases, today, the DND feature of a smartphone works automatically when the time period is sleep or work.
2. Silence Unknown Callers: If the caller can reach you only if he or she is among those you know, and everyone else cannot, then your phone silences unknown callers’ calls.
3. Network Congestion or Weak Signal: If you have less than two bars on your device, it may cause your service provider to redirect your call to your voicemail, since it is considered “dropped.”
4. Call Forwarding: You may have enabled a feature whereby calls go straight into your voicemail as part of your default settings.
5. Announced Calls/Headset Mode: Sometimes, your phone will assume that the ringtone is being sent via your Bluetooth headset and, therefore, will send it there.

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Why Does My Boyfriend’s Phone Go Straight to Voicemail?

Just because your boyfriend’s phone keeps diverting to voicemail every time you call him doesn’t mean that you were necessarily blocked. The problem usually results from common phone settings or some other factors, including poor network coverage, Do Not Disturb mode, call forwarding, Airplane Mode, or carrier-specific reasons.

A cell phone diverts calls to voicemail if:

• The phone is powered off
• It doesn’t receive any signal 
• It is in Do Not Disturb mode
• It is using the call forwarding feature 
• The SIM card faces network issues
• The recipient refused your call 
• The spam filter filtered out your number

On the other hand, if:

• All of your calls are diverted to voicemail,
• None of your messages have been received, and
• Other people can contact him without problem, then he might also be blocking you.

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iPhone Calls Going Straight to Voicemail

If your iPhone call is being forwarded to your voice message box, there is no need to fret concerning the issue with your hardware. While Apple may attempt to shield you with the “Focus” and “Silence” options, they may unintentionally block calls to your device.

Here is what you must do if your Calls are Directly Going to Voicemail.

1. Turn Off Focus Mode and Silence Unknown Calls: The primary cause of blocking calls is the “Focus” setting (e.g., Sleep, Work, and Personal mode).

Solution: Click the Focus /Moon symbol if it shows up on your screen.

2. Turn Off “Silence Unknown Callers”: This feature has been introduced by Apple in order to prevent spam; nevertheless, in most instances, it will block the calls from unknown contacts that you have never stored in your contact list.

Solution: Disable the “Silence Unknown Callers” feature.

3. Wi-Fi Calling & Network Selection Test: It’s possible that your iPhone could attempt to use Wi-Fi Calling via an unstable Wi-Fi network rather than a more stable cellular connection.

Solution: Within the Phone app, navigate to Settings > Wi-Fi Calling. Notice how your experience changes when you turn off Wi-Fi Calling; cellular connectivity may work better.

4. Network Selection: Launch the Settings app and navigate to Cellular > Network Selection. Ensure that it’s set to Auto to prevent your device from trying to connect to a nonexistent carrier tower.

5. Update Your iPhone Software and Carrier Settings: Out-of-date software could cause issues while the handshake process is being carried out between the cell tower and the phone.

To Update iOS Software: Tap the Settings button > General > Software Update.

To Update Carrier Settings: Tap the Settings button > General > About. If there is a carrier setting that needs an update, it will automatically appear after 15 seconds.

Once you have updated your phone software, please restart it.

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Android Calls Going Straight to Voicemail

However, if such a problem arises in Android phones, it could be because of permission-related issues or third-party software. 

Here is the solution to the problem of calls going directly into the voicemail box when using Android phones:

1. Disabling Third-Party Call Blockers: Truecaller, Hiya, or RoboKiller may flag such calls as spam calls and redirect them to voicemail.

Solution: Deactivate these apps and test making calls to check if the issue is fixed. Add important contacts to your whitelist if the issue resolves.

2. Check Built-In Spam Filtering and Call Protection: Some Android phones are equipped with automatic call blocking features that could block calls even without notifying you of it.

Solution: Navigate to Phone > Settings > Spam and Call Screen > Spam Settings > Lower spam protection. Ensure that you deactivate the Call Screen feature if it is activated.

3. Reset Phone App Permissions and Cache: There is a chance that your phone application settings can cause problems in displaying your calls.

Solution: Go to Settings -> Apps -> Phone -> Storage & Cache -> Clear Cache. Make sure that the Phone permission and Notification are turned on under Permissions.

4. Samsung-Specific Fixes (One UI): Samsung phones are designed with certain features that may create a problem when you receive calls.

Try These Solutions:

• Disable Bixby Text Call
• Turn Off Sleep Mode in Modes and Routines
• Prevent Calling Applications from being considered as Deep Sleeping Apps

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How to Prevent Calls Going Straight to Voicemail

Preventing your calls from automatically being directed to your voicemail means having the right phone settings.

Here are some simple tricks that will help to ensure that you never miss out on an incoming call.

1. Always Keep Your Carrier Settings Updated: Outdated carrier settings could be at the root of any problems involving call diverting.

Solution: Always try to keep your carrier settings updated via your phone settings.

2. Don’t Go Too Aggressive with Your Anti-Spam: Anti-spam apps may unintentionally block legitimate calls too.

Solution: Reduce the sensitivity of your spam call filter and add your frequent contacts to the whitelist.

3. Check Your Focus Mode Schedule Setting: Your phone may fall under the Do Not Disturb or Focus mode and block all calls according to its schedule.

Solution: Verify your Focus mode schedule and ensure that it does not overlap during vital times like working hours and emergencies.

4. Regularly Check Your Voicemail Settings: Occasionally, incorrect setting of the voicemail system can cause misrouting of calls.

Solution: Occasionally review your voicemail settings and try calling yourself to see whether the call is reaching you directly before it goes into voicemail.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Conclusion

In this article, I have listed all possible resolutions for phone calls going straight to voicemail problems. This usually happens due to network issues or when you have activated the Do Not Disturb mode.

In the worst-case scenario, you might need to get your sim card replaced which is a good option if your sim card is extremely old. If the problem still exists, take your phone to the device’s service center.

Research Process

To create this guide, we looked at common reasons why calls fail to ring on both Android and iPhone, tested different call and network settings, and reviewed real user experiences along with carrier support guidance to make sure the fixes actually work.

Total time taken to research and publish this article: 35 Hours (Approx)