A few days ago, my Android phone started ringing as if someone was calling me. There was no incoming call on the screen, so I unlocked the phone, but the device continued to ring. The ringing stopped by itself after a few seconds. There were no missed calls in the call log. But then I did a quick search on Google looking for an explanation for this unusual event. Here’s what I found.
Why Does My Android Phone Ring When There’s No One Calling?
Check Your Notification Tone Settings
Surprisingly, the mysterious ringing could actually be a notification tone. Check your email, text, and app notification tone settings. Maybe you set the same notification tone as your default ringtone.
Check Your Apps and NFC Reader
On the other hand, certain apps can emit an audible tone without adding anything in the notification bar. For example, users reported that certain battery monitoring apps may trigger an audio alert when the battery reaches a certain threshold. By the way, if the NFC option is enabled, it could push constant audio alerts every time it detects a nearby NFC device.
If you keep your credit card in the phone’s wallet cover, the cover is usually folded back when you unlock the phone. This means the cards are now behind the phone, and the NFC reader will automatically read their chips triggering the audio alert.
Go to Settings, select Connections (or More connections), tap NFC and disable the tool.
Clear Junk Files
The longer you use your Android device, the more junk files accumulate in the system. These files may sometimes interfere with certain Android functionalities. Go to Settings, select Storage, and clear your junk files to check this potential trigger off the list.
Update Your Android Version
Then go back to Settings, select System Updates, and check for updates. Install the latest Android updates available for your device.
Additionally, launch the Play Store app and tap on your profile picture. Select My Apps and Games and tap on Update all to install the latest updates for your apps and games. These updates often bring fixes for known bugs.
Power Your Samsung Device in Safe Mode
If you own a Samsung device, put it in Safe Mode to check if third-party apps are causing the random ringtone issue. To enter Safe Mode, power off the phone. Then, power it back on and hold the Volume Down button as soon as the Samsung logo appears on the screen. Release the button when the Safe Mode notification appears on the bottom left corner. Check if the ringtone issue persists in Safe Mode. Restart your device to exit Safe Mode.
Run an Antimalware Scan
Malware infections may cause your Android device to behave strangely, and ring when no one’s calling you. If you already installed a security app on your device, launch it and scan your system for malware. If you’re not using a security tool yet, download one from the Play Store and install it on your terminal. Then restart the device, scan your system, and check if the phantom ringtone is gone.
Conclusion
If your Android phone starts ringing when there’s no one calling, check your notification tone settings. Additionally, disable the NFC option and check if the issue persists. If it does, clear all the junk files that accumulated on your device and install the latest Android updates. Did you find other methods to fix this glitch? Let us know in the comments below.
Damian Toczek says
Open the top Menu from your home screen and disable Wi-Fi Calling.
Most useless feature that doesn’t work, I just saw by accident a “Wifi call incomming” tiny popup for 1s and then it went away and kept making weird ringing noises.
I don’t use Android to then deal with shit Samsung phones.
For me Samsung and iPhone is the same intrusive and bloated trash.
SoSoSanguine says
I have a Samsung S22. My phone started ringing for no reason a few days ago. The reason was unbelievably simple: on one of my WhatsApp groups the notification had changed from silent to my ringtone. Thought I should share this as it may help someone. Remember, your phone is just a machine – albeit a “smart” machine.
Sun says
That’s the last time I bought samsung s22. Fed up this issue from year. Called samsung solved issue for 10 day and again comes back. Not buying samsung because of this issue. Tried everything above
sujit says
go to your play store, open your account , go to Notification and offers and remove all notification and offers and make sure you choose deliver quietly rather than sound.
Shawn says
Can confirm Z Flip4 has this problem also.
VLui says
I have the same problem with my Samsung A51 Same notification ring everyday at 11:30 AM and 11:30 PM and nothing in notification history/recent notifications.. I have suffered this ringing around 1 month, though I go to the Sumsung Store but no one can help to resolved this issue? Please help!.
Abhi says
I am also stressed by this problem in M11
But I haven’t option of NFC
Now how I could solve it?
Abubakar sadeeq says
I try all the procedure but still not okey pls what’s the solution of this problem
don fennell says
Went to settings, no nfc found. Both my phones ring when there is no txt messages, and from I have read it is a trait of galaxy12 phones that they can not fix….
Heather says
I uninstalled the last app I downloaded and it fixed it.
Heather says
I may of fixed it. I uninstalled the last app I downloaded because I noticed that’s when this problem started happening. The app I had was called, Photo slideshow with music…by opals apps. Alternatively I also cleared my phones cache, junk files, made sure NFC was off and changed my ringtone. I was using Galaxy bells. Since I made these changes, especially I think the last 2, it stopped. Hope this helps others.
Jack says
I have a Samsung 22 with the latest updates and patches.
Problem still persists even though I tried the solutions above.
Ananth Kumar says
I am also facing the same problem in Samsung M21. Starts ringing once internet enabled.
i am facing this problem after upgrade of android to version 12
anyone found solution for this problem?
Kunal says
I’m too facing the same issue since 2 weeks and I tried factory data reset too but the issue is not solved . Any solutions regarding my problem .
Kunal says
Same I’m too facing the same problem in my samsung A51 . Any solutions regarding this ?? And I have tried the factory data reset too , it’s back again
Vivek says
I have tried all the steps above on my Samsung phone. I also used apps that shows all the phone activity logs, nothing in there too.. Still same notification ring everyday at 9 AM and 9 PM and nothing in notification history/recent notifications.. This started about a month back..
Dale says
It’s a problem, not an “issue”.
Vinoth says
Im using Samsung s10 plus. I too faced the same issue. Its automatically ringing default Samsung sound. How to disable it
Santhosh K says
I had similar issue in my samsung s10plus. I think this was bixby media. I have muted it. Let’s see if it works.
I got to know it might bixby by checking last notifications and then went to bixby and checked media and guess it was the same sound.
Let’s see if it works.
Nilesh Zawar says
Thank you for your solution for fixing issue.
I have Samsung S20 plus and have same issue.
I have tried all the above conclusions but problem is still arising.
Cheryl says
No, NFC disabled already
Had this before, it seemed to resolve itself, now it’s back!!!
Dan Mason says
Problem, not “issue.”