Why is my iPhone 12 not ringing on incoming calls?

Recently, I’ve been facing an annoying issue with my iPhone 12 where it doesn’t ring when I receive incoming calls. I’ve missed several important calls because of this. The phone is not on silent or Do Not Disturb mode, and the volume is set to a high level. Notifications seem to be working fine for other apps, but the ringer for incoming calls is non-responsive. I’ve tried restarting the device, but the problem persists. It’s puzzling and frustrating, as I rely on my phone for both personal and professional calls. I’m not sure what’s causing this issue and need to understand why my iPhone 12 is behaving this way.
5 Answers

I experienced a similar problem with my iPhone 12 and found multiple solutions that worked for me:
- Check the Ringer Switch: It may sound simple, but ensure the ringer switch on the left side of your phone is not set to silent mode.
- Adjust Volume: Increase the volume by pressing the volume up button on the side or through the Settings > Sounds & Haptics.
- Do Not Disturb Mode: Verify the Do Not Disturb mode is not turned on by going to Settings > Do Not Disturb.
- Software Update: Make sure your iPhone’s software is up-to-date by going to Settings > General > Software Update.
- Custom Ringtones: If you use custom ringtones, revert to the default one and see if the problem persists.
- Restart Your iPhone: Restarting your device might help reset any temporary glitches causing the issue.
- Reset Settings: If all else fails, you can reset all settings without losing your data by going to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings.

The same issue drove me crazy until I uncovered that it was caused by a software glitch after an update. Here’s how I resolved it:
- Network Settings: Reset network settings via Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This doesn’t delete data but clears Wi-Fi passwords.
- Airplane Mode: Toggle Airplane mode on and off to refresh network connections.
- Restore iPhone: If temporary fixes don’t work, restoring your iPhone through iTunes or Finder can eliminate software-related issues.

I believe the issue with your iPhone 12 could be due to a combination of settings and hardware checks:
- Ensure Notifications are Enabled: Go to Settings > Notifications > Phone and ensure Allow Notifications is turned on.
- Pairing Issues: Disconnect any Bluetooth devices to ensure your phone is not routing audio elsewhere.
- Stuck Receiver: A more rare issue, but debris or damage to the earpiece can mute the ringer. Cleaning or servicing might be necessary.

From my experience working at an Apple Store, these unusual, intermittent issues likely mean there’s a deeper issue. Here’s a methodical approach you can try:
- Contact Apple Support: Sometimes, a representative can run diagnostics remotely.
- Visit Genius Bar: Schedule an appointment so a technician can inspect physical hardware.
- Review Call Blocking and Identification: Unexpected settings changes could be affecting incoming calls.
Overall, Apple’s professional channels can often pinpoint problems beyond standard troubleshooting.

Given your problem, it might be related to settings or software. When my iPhone 12 had this issue, certain overlooked settings contributed. Here’s my two-step solution:
- Full Volume Contact: For key contacts, set up Emergency Bypass in their contact details, which allows their calls to ring even in DND mode.
- AssistiveTouch: Enable AssistiveTouch from Accessibility settings and map double-tap to “Mute.” This provides a visual cue and control to ensure sound is always on.