Have you suddenly stopped receiving incoming calls on your Androidsmartphone? The phone doesn't ring even though the caller claims to be dialing your number? This problem is familiar to many users - and there can be a dozen reasons for it: from accidentally turning on Do Not Disturb mode to blocking by a mobile operator. Unlike the iPhone, where call settings are standardized, Android devices from different manufacturers (Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, Google Pixel) have unique interfaces and hidden options that can block incoming calls.

In this article we will analyze all possible reasons for blocking —from basic to exotic—and provide step-by-step guide for each. You will learn how to check your phone settings, reset operator restrictions, bypass blocking through third-party applications, and even restore calls to functionality after a firmware failure. And if the problem lies in the SIM card or the network, we will tell you how to diagnose it without contacting a service center.

We warn you right away: some methods require rights root or access to the engineering menu - we will highlight them separately. Start with simple methods and move on to complex ones only if the previous ones did not work.

1. Checking the Do Not Disturb mode and sound profiles

In 60% of cases, incoming calls are blocked due to the activated mode Do Not Disturb (DND) or incorrect sound profile settings. This mode can work differently on different devices: for example, on Samsung Galaxy it can block all calls, and on Google Pixel only from unknown numbers.

How to check:

  • 📱 Open the quick settings panel (swipe down from the top edge of the screen). Look for the «DND» or “Do Not Disturb” icon. If it is highlighted, tap on it to turn it off.
  • 🔊 Go to Settings → Sound → Do Not Disturb. Make sure the mode is turned off or set to allow calls from all contacts.
  • 🎵 Check the current sound profile: when Silent or Vibrate is selected, some devices automatically block incoming calls.

On Xiaomi and Redmi additionally check "Sleep mode" on Settings → Accessibility - it can block calls at night. If calls are not restored after disabling DND, proceed to the next step.

📊 What smartphone do you have?
Samsung
Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco
Huawei/Honor
Google Pixel
Other

2. Settings for blocking numbers in the phone book

Android allows you to block individual numbers or entire groups of contacts directly from the standard application "Phone". Sometimes users accidentally add numbers to the blacklist or activate spam filtering, which mistakenly blocks legitimate calls.

How to check the blacklist:

  1. Open the application "Phone" (usually with a green handset).
  2. Tap on the three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Settings → Blocking numbers.
  3. View the list of blocked numbers contacts. If you find your number (yes, this happens!) or an important contact, unblock it.

On Huawei and Honor the path may differ: Phone → Journal → Settings → Blocking and filtering. Also check the settings "Spam filtering" —some operators (for example, MTS or Beeline) integrate their blocking services directly into the firmware.

Remove all numbers from the black list

Disable spam filtering in phone settings

Check application settings "Phone" from Google (if used)

Reset the settings of the "Phone" application to factory settings-->

3. Problems with the SIM card and the operator's network

If calls are not received Only one SIM card (in dual-SIM phones), the problem is most likely related to the operator or the physical condition of the card. Here's what you need to do:

  • 📶 Restart your phone and check the network signal strength. If there is no signal or it is unstable, the problem is on the operator’s side.
  • 🔄 Switch the network mode manually: Settings → Mobile network → Network mode. Try changing 4G/LTE to 3G or 2G - sometimes this helps restore calls.
  • 💳 Remove the SIM card, Clean the contacts with a soft cloth (do not use alcohol!) and reinsert. If the card is damaged, replace it at the operator's salon.

If after these manipulations incoming calls still do not work, contact the operator. Perhaps the Antispam service has been activated on your number restrictions are imposed (for example, for non-payment). Check with support whether incoming calls are blocked at the network level.

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Before calling the operator, check your balance - sometimes calls are blocked when the account is negative or zero, even if the Internet is working.

4. Resetting network settings and APN

Incorrect settings APN (Access Point Name) or a failure in the mobile network parameters can lead to blocking of incoming calls. This is especially true after updating the firmware or manually changing network parameters.

How to reset network settings:

  1. Go to Settings → System → Reset → Reset network settings.
  2. Confirm the action. The phone will reboot and all network settings (Wi-Fi, mobile network, Bluetooth) will return to factory settings.
  3. After the reboot, check if incoming calls appear.

If the reset did not help, try manually setting up the APN:

  1. Open Settings → Mobile network → Access points (APN).
  2. Click “Reset to defaults” or create a new APN with the parameters of your operator (they can be found on the official website).
What to do if not "Reset network settings" item?

On some devices (for example, Xiaomi with MIUI) this item may not be available. In this case, reset the APN settings manually or perform a full factory reset (but this will delete all data!).

5. Problems with firmware and engineering menu

If incoming calls stop working after updating Android or “do-it-yourself” phone repair, the problem may lie in damaged firmware or incorrect settings of the communication module. In this case, it will help engineering menu (or Service Mode).

How to open the engineering menu:

  • Dial the code on the phone keyboard ##4636## (for most devices).
  • Select item "Phone information" or «Phone Information».
  • Scroll down to the block «Set preferred network type» and try changing the network type (for example, from LTE only to WCDMA preferred).

On Samsung the engineering menu is opened with a code #0011#and on Huawei — ##2846579##*. Be careful: changing parameters in the engineering menu may lead to network loss or other failures! If you are not sure, it is better to contact the service.

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If, after changing the settings in the engineering menu, the phone stops receiving the network, reset to factory settings or reflash the device.

6. Blocking at the operating system level (Android 12+)

Starting from Android 12, Google has tightened control over application permissions, including access to calls. Some system applications (for example, "Phone" or "Contacts") may lose rights to process incoming calls after updating or resetting.

How to check permissions:

  1. Open Settings → Applications → All applications.
  2. Find the application "Phone" (or com.android.dialer) and tap on it.
  3. Go to Permissions and make sure that:
    • 📞 Calls are enabled (including incoming management)
    • 📱 Contact (read and change)
    • 🔔 Notifications

If the permissions are reset, enable them and restart your phone. Also check if system applications are disabled in the settings - sometimes users mistakenly “freeze” "Phone" or "Call services" through memory optimizers.

7. Restoring via factory reset

If none of the previous methods worked, the last option remains - Full reset of the phone. This will delete all data, but will return the factory communication settings, which are guaranteed to work.

How to reset:

  1. Make a backup copy of important data (contacts, photos, messages).
  2. Go to Settings → System → Reset → Delete all data (reset to factory settings).
  3. Confirm the action. The phone will reboot and begin the cleaning process (may take 5-15 minutes).

    4. After reset:

    • 🔄 Insert the SIM card and check incoming calls.
    • 📥 Do not restore data from a backup copy right away - first make sure calls are working.
    • 🔧 If the problem remains, it is hardware failure (the communication module or antenna is damaged). Contact the service center.
    💡

    On some devices (for example, Samsung with One UI), after a reset, you may need to manually activate the SIM card in the mobile network settings.

    Comparison of inbox unlocking methods calls

    Method Complexity Time Efficiency Risks
    Disconnection "Not disturb" ⭐ 1 min 60% No
    Checking the black list ⭐ 2 min 20% No
    Reset network settings ⭐⭐ 5 min 70% Wi-Fi will need to be reconfigured
    Engineering menu ⭐⭐⭐ 10 min 50% Risk of network loss due to incorrect settings
    Reset to factory settings ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 30+ min 90% Deleting all data

    As can be seen from the table, resetting network settings gives a high chance of success with minimal risks, so we recommend starting with it if basic methods do not help.

    Frequently asked questions

    Why are calls not blocked, but the phone does not ring (silent mode)?

    This may be due to:

    • 🔕 Disabled notification sound (check the volume slider when there is an incoming call).
    • 🎵 Faulty speaker — try connecting headphones, if you can hear a call, the problem is in the hardware.
    • 📵 Crash in the “Phone” application —try clearing its cache in application settings.
Can applications (for example, Truecaller) block calls?

Yes! Applications like Truecaller, GetContact or Kaspersky have their own blacklists. Check their settings: Kaspersky data-i="231">"Spam"

  1. Open the application.
  2. Go to section "Block" or "Spam".
  3. Make sure that your number or important contacts are not included in the block.

Also disable automatic spam blocking in the settings of these applications.

What to do if call blocking appeared after an Android update?

Updates often reset permissions or make changes to the way the communication module works. Try:

  • 🔄 Restart the phone - sometimes this restores calls.
  • 📥 Clear the cache of the "Phone" application in the settings.
  • 🔧 Roll back to the previous firmware version (if you know how) or wait for a patch from manufacturer.
⚠️ Attention: If the problem appeared after beta versions of Android, report the bug through the app Feedback (on Google Pixel) or forums manufacturer.
How to check if the operator is blocking incoming calls?

There are several ways:

  1. Call your number from another phone. If you hear “the subscriber is temporarily unavailable,” the blocking is on the operator’s side.
  2. Insert the SIM card into another phone. If calls are not received, there is a problem with the card or network.
  3. Call the short support number of your operator (for example, 0890 for MTS, 0611 for Beeline) and check the status of services.

If the operator confirms the blocking, specify the reason (unpaid bill, suspicious activity) and the method of unblocking.

Is it possible to unblock calls without access to the phone (lost, broken)?

If the phone is lost or does not turn on, but the SIM card is working:

  • 📱 Insert the SIM into another phone and check incoming calls.
  • 🔄 If calls do not arrive, contact the operator to check the status of the number.
  • 📡 If the phone is broken but turns on, connect it to the PC via ADB and reset the network settings with the command: 
    adb shell settings put global preferred_network_mode 9

    (this will reset the network settings to default values).

⚠️ Attention: To work with ADB requires enabled USB debugging (configured in advance in Settings → For developers).