Level 1

96 points

Why is my iPhone silencing calls?

After the last iOS update, my iPhone 11 Pro Max (iOS 13.6) has decided to silence calls from any number outside of My Favorites list, and it will also not ring/vibrate when receiving ANY texts, regardless of who they are from. This only appears to happen when the phone is locked.

In settings, "Do Not Disturb" is turned off, but the checkbox under "Silence" is still on (see image). The only choices there are "Silence Always" or "Silence When Phone is Locked." Calls are being allowed from Everyone.

On the phone itself, side switch is up, and volume is at full.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone 11 Pro Max

Posted on Aug 7, 2020 6:54 AM

Top-ranking reply

Lawrence Finch

Community+ 2026

Level 10

240,792 points

Posted on Jan 20, 2021 6:40 AM

FIRST: Are the missed calls in Phone/Recents on the phone? If they are not the problem is in the network, because the calls aren’t getting to your phone. Contact your carrier:

check with your carrier that they don’t have a local outage, and that you didn’t have any settings that would have immediately invoked voicemail
check up on them at Down Detector - outages

If they are in Recents here’s what to check:

Check the MUTE switch on the left side of the phone, above the volume buttons. It should be towards the screen
Check the volume setting. With the Home screen displayed, press the VOLUME UP button on the left side of the phone. It’s above the VOLUME DOWN button.
Go to Settings/Do not Disturb. Turn it off if it is on. Also turn off Scheduled. With both off none of the other switches there matter.
Go to Settings/Phone. There’s a switch for Silence Unknown Callers. If it is on any calls from numbers not in your contacts will go directly to voicemail.
Also in Settings/Phone: Make sure Call Forwarding is off.
Go to Settings/Sounds & Haptics. Make sure there is a sound assigned to Ringtone.
Go to Settings/Screen Time/Communications Limits. Tap each of the 2 entries and make sure both are “Everyone"
Restart your phone-->RESTART your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

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Jan 29, 2023 2:47 AM in response to dromanell

I would like to here all phone calls

Feb 20, 2023 7:48 AM in response to dromanell

Why is my iPhone silencing my calls? If they’re not in my Rolodex it’s silence calls.

yankeef1

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Feb 24, 2023 8:53 AM in response to dromanell

I have an iPhone 8 Plus. Do not disturb is off, but it’s still silencing my calls.

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Feb 24, 2023 8:55 AM in response to IdrisSeabright

Didn’t work

Mar 20, 2023 12:24 PM in response to dromanell

I want to unlock silence call

Mar 20, 2023 12:25 PM in response to dromanell

I want to be able to unlock silence call

Dec 17, 2020 12:03 PM in response to dromanell

I searched on-line today when I just noticed my phone doing the same thing (silencing calls when the phone is locked). I too noticed that there was only the option of silence all or if the phone is locked. This only began a few days ago after the last ios upgrade. A page or so back someone suggested resetting the phone and I did that - didn't change anything. Then I saw someone suggesting exploring the Do Not Disturb settings, scroll to Phone and "Allow Calls From" - my phone is now resetting to only Favorites. I changed it to "Everyone" and it seems to have solved the issue. FYI for the folks who said you have to turn off the Silence unknown callers that is not the case as I still have that activated.

334Good

Level 1

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Sep 24, 2021 7:57 PM in response to bearguy9

If you’re not not getting calls try this:

go to Settings, then Phone and scroll down to Silence Unknown Callers and make sure that it is turned off ( not green) touch the > and make sure it is turned off ( not green) on the next page as well.

Oct 20, 2020 7:43 AM in response to dromanell

I had same problem. It was under Do Not Disturb/Allow Calls From. I had somehow checked on ‘Favorites’, it needs to be from Everyone or All Contacts or you’ll miss most calls.

Dec 14, 2020 1:09 PM in response to dromanell

Go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts to look for numbers that shouldn’t be there.
To remove a number from the list, touch the number and swipe right to left. Tap Unblock

Dec 16, 2020 6:11 PM in response to dromanell

You probably have the "silence unknown callers" turned on in Settings > Phone, this a relatively new feature - since iOS 13

deggie

Level 10

167,979 points

Dec 16, 2020 6:20 PM in response to dromanell

And you also checked with your cell service provider?

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Why is my iPhone silencing calls?