My phone can make calls but cannot receiving calls, how to fix?

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Few things are more frustrating than discovering that your phone, which seems to work perfectly well for making calls, suddenly stops receiving them. At first glance, this problem may appear confusing—after all, if you can dial out, shouldn’t incoming calls work the same way? However, the ability to place calls and the ability to receive them often rely on slightly different systems, settings, and network conditions. A disruption in just one of these areas can prevent calls from reaching you.

This issue can affect anyone, whether you use an Android, iPhone, or even an older feature phone. It may be caused by something as simple as accidentally enabling a setting like "Do Not Disturb," or as complex as a carrier-side problem with your SIM card or service plan. While the causes vary, the good news is that most solutions are straightforward and within your control.

In this guide, we will break down the possible reasons why your phone makes calls but does not receive them, explain the underlying mechanics, and walk you through practical troubleshooting steps. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to identify the root cause and fix the problem efficiently—without unnecessary stress.

Step 1: Confirm the Problem Is Consistent

Before diving into advanced troubleshooting, start by testing whether the issue happens every time or only in certain situations. Use another phone to call your number. Try calling from different carriers if possible, or ask a friend to call you. If all calls fail to connect, the problem is more likely tied to your phone or your mobile carrier. However, if calls from certain networks come through while others do not, the issue could involve inter-carrier routing problems, which only your carrier can resolve.

Additionally, check whether incoming calls go directly to voicemail, produce a "user unavailable" message, or fail in silence. Each behavior gives you clues: for example, calls going straight to voicemail often mean your phone isn’t registering properly on the network.

Step 2: Check Your Signal and Network Registration

Even if you can make outgoing calls, poor or unstable signal can prevent incoming calls from reaching you. Outgoing calls are sometimes more tolerant of weak coverage than incoming ones. Look at the signal bars on your phone—if they are low, move to a different location, preferably outdoors or near a window.

If signal strength seems fine, try toggling Airplane Mode on and off to force your device to re-register with the network. Restarting your phone can also refresh its connection to your carrier’s system.

Step 3: Inspect Do Not Disturb and Call Blocking Features

Both Android and iOS have features designed to silence or block calls, and it is surprisingly easy to enable them without realizing it.

Do Not Disturb / Focus Mode: These settings silence incoming calls and notifications. Even if your phone looks normal, calls may be diverted to voicemail. Check your quick settings panel or iPhone’s Control Center to ensure this is off.
Call Blocking or Spam Filters: Many devices or carrier apps block suspected spam calls. If your phone is mistakenly blocking legitimate numbers, you may not receive their calls. Look into your blocked numbers list and remove any entries that should not be there.

Step 4: Verify Call Forwarding Settings

Call forwarding automatically diverts incoming calls to another number or voicemail. If it is enabled unintentionally, you won’t receive calls directly. On Android, you can usually find call forwarding under the Phone app’s settings. On iPhone, it’s located in Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding. Disable it and test again.

Some carriers also allow forwarding codes (like *72 in the U.S.) that may have been activated accidentally. You can cancel them with the corresponding code (such as *73).

Step 5: Check Your SIM Card and Carrier Plan

If the above steps don’t solve the problem, the issue could involve your SIM card or carrier service. Remove your SIM card, inspect it for damage, and reinsert it properly. If you have another compatible phone available, test the SIM card there. If it behaves the same way, your SIM may be defective, or your carrier account may have a problem.

Also confirm that your carrier plan is active and in good standing. In some cases, if your bill is overdue or there are technical restrictions on your account, your ability to receive calls may be blocked while outgoing calls remain unaffected. Contact your carrier’s customer support to check for account-related issues.

Step 6: Reset Network Settings

Network configuration problems can sometimes cause incoming calls to fail. Resetting your network settings clears saved Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth connections, and cellular settings, forcing your phone to rebuild them from scratch.

On iPhone: Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
On Android: Go to Settings > System > Reset options > Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth.

After resetting, reconnect to your Wi-Fi and re-pair your Bluetooth devices. Then test incoming calls again.

Step 7: Update Software and Carrier Settings

Outdated software can cause unexpected issues with phone functions, including call handling. Ensure your phone’s operating system is up to date. Additionally, carriers sometimes release configuration updates (often called "carrier settings" on iOS). Installing these ensures your phone communicates properly with your carrier’s network.

Step 8: Test with Another SIM or eSIM

If possible, borrow another SIM card from the same or different carrier and insert it into your phone. If the new SIM works fine, your old SIM is the culprit. If the issue persists with multiple SIMs, your phone hardware or firmware may be at fault.

For phones with eSIM capability, you can activate a temporary eSIM profile from your carrier to see if the issue lies in the physical SIM.

Step 9: Consider Hardware Issues

Although rare, hardware faults in the antenna or internal circuits can cause incoming call failures. If you’ve tried all the above steps without success, and especially if your device has been dropped or exposed to water, hardware damage might be preventing proper network registration. At this point, professional repair or replacement may be necessary.

Step 10: Contact Your Carrier for Advanced Support

If none of the above resolves the problem, your carrier’s technical support is the final authority. Provide them with detailed information: whether calls go straight to voicemail, whether SMS works, whether data is functioning, and which troubleshooting steps you’ve tried. They can investigate deeper issues such as provisioning errors, number portability conflicts, or network routing failures.

Preventing Future Issues

Once you fix the problem, a few best practices can help prevent it from happening again:

Keep software updated: Always install the latest system and carrier updates.
Regularly restart your phone: A simple reboot every few days keeps network connections fresh.
Avoid unnecessary call forwarding: Double-check forwarding codes before enabling them.
Maintain your SIM card: Avoid bending or damaging it when swapping devices.
Pay attention to carrier alerts: Service interruptions or unpaid balances can trigger call problems.

Conclusion

Discovering that your phone can make calls but not receive them is unsettling, but the underlying causes are usually straightforward. From settings like Do Not Disturb to network glitches, SIM card issues, or account problems, most scenarios can be resolved with systematic troubleshooting. By carefully following the steps outlined above—checking basic settings, testing your SIM, resetting network configurations, and contacting your carrier when necessary—you can identify and solve the issue without unnecessary confusion.

A phone that both sends and receives calls is essential for communication, work, and safety. Addressing this problem not only restores your device’s reliability but also ensures you remain connected when it matters most. With the right approach, you can confidently resolve the issue and prevent it from happening again.