10 Ways to Fix WhatsApp Calls Not Ringing When Phone is Locked on iPhone and Android

Has it ever happened that you unlock your phone, launch WhatsApp, and see a bunch of missed calls that didn’t ring when your phone was locked? If you resonated with a firm yes – then you are in the right place. This happens both on Android and iOS devices. In this article, we want to show you how to deal with the issue of WhatsApp calls not ringing when the phone is locked.

Since WhatsApp is a third-party app, it might need a few extra permissions to ensure that you receive call notifications even when your phone is locked. We’ll explore all of these configurations that you need to enable on your device. But first, let us take a look at why the problem occurs in the first place.

Note: Due to the diversity in software configuration and branding of Android phones, the steps/instructions under the methods listed below might vary from device to device.

Why is WhatsApp Call Not Ringing on Android and iPhone

Here are some of the possible reasons why WhatsApp calls are not showing on your screen.

• The notifications for WhatsApp are disabled.
• You have enabled Do Not Disturb on your device.
• WhatsApp is being forced closed in the background.
• You have turned off app notifications on your device.
• Other software bugs causing the issue.

In the next section, we’ll explore all of these issues in detail and we’ll help you resolve the issue at the earliest.

How to Fix WhatsApp Calls Not Ringing on iPhone and Android

Here are all the tried and tested methods using which you can fix the issue. Let’s begin with disabling Do Not Disturb on your device.

1. Disable Do Not Disturb

When enabled, Do Not Disturb will mute all incoming cellular calls and other third-party apps. If WhatsApp calls aren’t ringing when your phone is locked, check that ‘Do Not Disturb’ isn’t active. Here’s how to enable Do Not Disturb on iPhone and Android.

Enable Do Not Disturb on Android

You can easily disable Do Not Disturb using the quick settings menu – by swiping down from the top. Additionally, you can also go to Settings -> Sound to disable Do Not Disturb.

Disable Do Not Disturb on iPhone

You can open the Control Center on your iPhone, and tap on the crescent moon icon to toggle Do Not Disturb.

2. Check Network Connectivity

If there’s any issue with your Wi-Fi network or your cellular data, then WhatsApp calls may not notify you and ring as expected. Therefore, ensure that you are using a Wi-Fi network with good speeds and signal strength. If you are using cellular data, make sure you have an active plan. You can contact your network service provider for further help on the same.

3. Restart WhatsApp if WhatsApp Call Is Not Showing on Screen

Restarting WhatsApp can also help you resolve the issue. Once you close the app, any bug that affects WhatsApp calls is also shut down – and is unlikely to appear once you restart the app,

All you need to do is to open the app switcher, clear the app, and then open it again.

On Android: Swipe up from the bottom, or if you are using navigation keys – tap on the app switcher key.

On iPhones: Swipe up from the bottom, or if you are using an iPhone with a home button, double tap to open the app switcher tray.

4. Check Notification Settings if WhatsApp Call Notification Is Not Showing

If WhatsApp notification is disabled or improperly configured on your device, voice and video calls might not ring, even when your phone is unlocked. To fix this, inspect the app notification settings and check that WhatsApp can receive notifications.

Check WhatsApp Notification Settings on Android

Step 1: Long-press the WhatsApp icon and tap App info to reveal the application details page.

Step 2: Select Notifications.

Step 3: Turn on notifications for WhatsApp.

Check WhatsApp Notification Settings on iPhone

Step 1: Open the Settings app.

Step 2: Scroll down and select WhatsApp.

Step 3: Select Notifications. Enable all the necessary options.

5. Enable Autostart or Background App Refresh

If you notice a WhatsApp missed call without any ringing, chances are that the app did not have permission to run in the background. Therefore, enable Autostart (Android) or Background App Refresh on iPhone that lets WhatsApp run in the background.

Enable Autostart on Android

Step 1: Open the Settings app.

Step 2: Tap on Apps.

Step 3: Tap on Auto Launch and in the list of apps, turn on the toggle for WhatsApp.

Enable Background App Refresh on iPhone

Step 1: Open the Settings app.

Step 2: Tap on General.

Step 3: Tap on ‘Background App Refresh’.

Step 4: Turn on the toggle for the same. Further, also ensure that the toggle is turned on for WhatsApp in the list of apps.

6. Clear WhatsApp Cache (Android Only)

Apps create cache files, so they boot quicker and run faster during usage. However, when these files build up over time, they consume the device storage and may cause the app to malfunction. If WhatsApp is not ringing when your phone is locked, and none of the solutions above fixed the issue, clearing its cache storage might help.

Step 1: Launch the Settings menu and select ‘Apps & Notifications.’

Step 2: Tap App info.

Step 3: Scroll through the list of apps and select WhatsApp.

Step 4: Tap ‘Storage & cache.’

Step 5: Finally, tap the Clear Cache icon.

7. Update WhatsApp

Your phone might fail to notify you of WhatsApp’s voice or video calls if there’s a bug causing the app to malfunction. Updating WhatsApp to the latest version can fix all the issues and bugs. Visit the WhatsApp info page on the Google Play Store or App Store on iPhone and check that it is up-to-date.

Update WhatsApp on Play Store

Update WhatsApp on App Store

Tap the Update button to install the latest version of WhatsApp on your device.

8. Check Cellular Data Settings

WhatsApp requires round-the-clock access to your phone’s cellular data or Wi-Fi connection to provide users with prompt and real-time notifications of texts and calls. If WhatsApp call doesn’t ring when you lock your phone, check that it has access to background usage of your app’s internet connection.

Check Cellular Data Settings for WhatsApp on Android

Step 1: Launch the WhatsApp app info page and select ‘Mobile data & Wi-Fi.’

Step 2: Check that Background data is enabled.

You can also toggle on the ‘Unrestricted data usage’ option to permit WhatsApp to use unrestricted data access when Data Saver is enabled on your device.

Check Cellular Data Settings for WhatsApp on iPhone

Step 1: Open the Settings app.

Step 2: Tap on Mobile Service.

Step 3: Scroll down, find WhatsApp, and enable the toggle to ensure it can access cellular data.

9. Disable Battery Saver

Another probable culprit of this issue is the Android Battery Saver feature. In a bid to extend battery life, Battery Saver (Battery Optimization on some devices) might cause your phone to block WhatsApp call notifications. Disable the Battery Saver and check if WhatsApp calls now ring even when you lock your phone.

Disable Battery Saver on Android

You can access the quick settings menu by swiping down and disabling the battery saver. Or you can go to Settings app -> Battery and turn off the battery saver,

Disable Low Power Mode on iPhone

Step 1: Open the Settings app and navigate to the battery.

Step 2: Turn off the toggle for low power mode.

10. Reinstall WhatsApp

Deleting and reinstalling WhatsApp from your device is another troubleshooting solution worth trying out. Deleting the app removes any corrupted or junk files that are causing the issue. However, uninstalling WhatsApp will delete all chats and you will have to restore a backup once you re-install the app.

Step 1: Long tap on the app icon, and you will find an option to uninstall the app.

Step 2: You can go to the Play Store, or App Store on your iPhone and re-install the app.

Download WhatsApp on Play Store

That is everything you need to do if WhatsApp calls are not ringing when locked. If you have any further questions, you can take a look at the FAQ section below.

FAQs on WhatsApp Not Ringing for Calls on iPhone and Android

Don’t Miss a WhatsApp Call Ever Again

We hope this article helped you fix the problem. The ease of making a call online for free has made it intuitive for many of our friends and family to make a call within WhatsApp – and it does get frustrating when you aren’t able to receive it.