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.
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