Why would an Android phone go straight to voicemail?
There are several potential reasons why an Android phone might go straight to voicemail when someone tries to call you. The most common causes include incorrect network settings like airplane mode being enabled, no cellular service or weak signal, blocked numbers, do not disturb mode being turned on, a full storage, a damaged or faulty phone hardware, problematic third party apps, and more.
In this article we will briefly introduce the main factors that can result in calls going directly to voicemail on Android devices. We will also provide troubleshooting tips and solutions you can try to fix the problem.
Incorrect Network Settings
One common reason an Android phone may go straight to voicemail is if the network settings are configured incorrectly. The APN (Access Point Name), network mode, and cellular data settings allow your phone to connect properly to your carrier’s network. If these settings are wrong or get reset, your phone may not be able to send or receive calls and texts.[1]
To check your network settings on an Android phone, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile network. Here you can view and edit the APN, preferred network type, and cellular data options. The APN needs to match your carrier – if it’s incorrect, you’ll need to enter the proper APN settings. The network mode should be set to the fastest available network for your carrier and area. Cellular data needs to be enabled for the phone to connect.[2]
Resetting the network settings under Settings > General management > Reset can also fix connectivity problems caused by incorrect configurations. Just be aware this clears all WiFi passwords and other custom network settings.
If you recently switched carriers or got a new SIM card, double check that the service provider settings match your current carrier. Otherwise, calls may go to the old voicemail system. Contact your carrier if you’re unsure of the correct APN or network settings.
Airplane Mode
Airplane mode disables all wireless connections on your Android phone, including cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth, and more. When airplane mode is turned on, your phone cannot connect to the cellular network, which means it cannot send or receive calls, texts, or data.
As explained on Quora, “When your phone is in airplane mode, it is not connected to the network. Callers will be directed instead to your voicemail.”
With no cellular connectivity in airplane mode, incoming calls cannot reach your phone and will go straight to voicemail. Your phone is essentially offline and disconnected from the network when airplane mode is enabled. As soon as you turn off airplane mode, your phone will reconnect to the cellular network and resume normal functioning. But as long as it remains on, all calls and messages will be routed directly to voicemail without ringing your phone.
No Cellular Service
If your Android phone lacks cellular service, either due to no coverage in your area or an issue with your SIM card, calls made to your number will go straight to voicemail. With no bars showing in the status bar, your phone cannot connect to your carrier’s network to receive incoming calls.
Common scenarios that lead to lack of service include:
- Being in an area with poor or no signal coverage for your carrier (like in a rural location or far outside a coverage zone).
- Issues with your SIM card, like physical damage or not being activated properly on your carrier’s network.
- Your phone’s network settings being incorrect, like having the wrong APN configured.
To troubleshoot, first check if other devices on the same carrier have signal in the same location. Then inspect your SIM card to ensure it is not damaged. You can also try resetting your network settings and APN configuration. If the issue persists, contact your carrier for further help.
Blocked Numbers
One common reason an Android phone might go straight to voicemail is if the calling number has been blocked. On Android devices, you can block specific numbers which will prevent incoming calls and texts from those contacts from reaching your phone.
When you block a number on Android, any calls from that number will go directly to voicemail. Android’s call blocking feature automatically sends blocked numbers to voicemail without ringing your phone. This is an intentional feature to prevent nuisance calls and spam from blocked contacts.
You can block numbers directly from your call log by long pressing a number and selecting “Block number”. You can also block callers by going to your phone’s Settings > Blocked numbers and adding contacts to block. Google Support provides instructions on how to block contacts on Android.
So if you have blocked a certain contact, when they call you, their call will go straight to voicemail. Checking your blocked contacts list and unblocking any contacts you want to receive calls from can resolve the issue.
Do Not Disturb Mode
Do Not Disturb (DND) mode is a feature on Android phones that allows you to silence notifications and calls. When DND mode is enabled, your phone will not ring, vibrate, or show notifications when you receive calls or messages.
DND mode has an option to automatically send incoming calls straight to voicemail without ringing your phone. To enable this, go to Settings > Sound & vibration > Do Not Disturb and toggle on the “Calls” option. There you can select “Don’t ring for calls and messages” which will send all calls directly to voicemail when DND is on.
According to Onsip, when DND sends calls to voicemail, you will not receive any visual or audible alerts. The caller will hear normal ringing on their end before reaching your voicemail greeting. You will see missed call notifications after disabling DND.
So if your Android phone is going straight to voicemail for all incoming calls, check that Do Not Disturb mode is not enabled with the setting to send calls directly to voicemail. Disable DND or adjust the settings to allow calls from certain contacts if you want your phone to ring normally.
Out of Storage Space
One common reason an Android phone may go straight to voicemail is if the device’s storage is full. Android requires available storage space to save new voicemails. If the phone’s storage fills up completely, the voicemail box may become full and reject incoming messages.
This can happen on phones with minimal internal storage, especially as apps, photos, videos, and other data accumulate over time. Many Android phones also save voicemails to internal rather than removable SD card storage. So even if the SD card has space, a full internal storage will still cause problems.
Users may see alerts about storage space being low or the voicemail box being full. But sometimes there are no warnings. New messages just fail silently with callers sent to voicemail.
Clearing app cache/data, removing unneeded files, or deleting old voicemails can recover storage space on the device. Upgrading to a phone with more internal memory may be the ultimate solution. Going forward, monitoring free space and regularly cleaning out the phone helps avoid a full voicemail box.
Sources:
Voicemail Says It’s Full.. but it Isn’t
Voicemail is full but it says i have no voicemails.
Damaged Phone
Sometimes an Android phone will go directly to voicemail due to hardware issues that prevent the user from answering incoming calls. If the microphone or speaker on the phone is damaged or faulty, the phone may not be able to pick up audio during calls, causing them to skip directly to voicemail (https://screenrant.com/android-phone-going-straight-voicemail-fix-how/). Issues with the phone’s antenna, receiver, or other internal components can also prevent calls from connecting properly.
On Samsung Galaxy phones in particular, a damaged or faulty proximity sensor can activate the screen blanking during calls, making it seem like the calls are going straight to voicemail. Inspect your phone for any physical damage, especially around the microphone, speaker, or front camera/sensors. Also check if calls work normally when on speakerphone or with a headset, which would indicate a hardware problem with the built-in earpiece.
If you suspect a hardware issue is causing your Android phone to go straight to voicemail, take the device to a repair shop for diagnosis and replacement of any damaged components. Proper repair can often resolve microphone, speaker, sensor, or antenna failures that prevent answering calls.
Third-Party Apps
Some third-party apps can interfere with normal call handling on Android phones and cause calls to go straight to voicemail. Apps like Tasker and MacroDroid allow users to automate different actions and behaviors on their phone. If these apps are configured to enable airplane mode, do not disturb mode, or block calls when certain conditions are met, it could result in calls being sent directly to voicemail without ringing the phone first.
Additionally, apps that take over and modify the dialer experience like GO Dialer or TrueCaller may contain bugs or flawed logic that redirects incoming calls incorrectly. If you have installed any apps that customize call handling, call blocking, automation or the dialer interface itself, try disabling or uninstalling them as a troubleshooting step. Removing problematic third party apps often resolves the issue of calls going straight to voicemail.
When to Seek Repair
If you’ve tried all of the troubleshooting steps without success, it’s likely time to seek professional phone repair. Going straight to voicemail is often caused by hardware issues that you can’t resolve on your own. Some signs it’s time for repair include:
- Physical damage like a cracked screen or water damage
- Phone won’t power on at all
- Issues started after dropping the phone
- You’ve done a factory reset and setup as new device but issue persists
- You get an error message about hardware failure
Seeking professional repair services can diagnose the specific hardware issue like motherboard failure, faulty microphone or antenna. Only hardware repair can fix these types of issues to get your phone fully functional again. Before going to a repair shop, be sure to backup your data in case the phone needs to be reset or replaced during the repair process.