If you can’t hear the ringer when there is an incoming call to your Apple iPhone, there are a few things that can cause the issue. Here is a list of things to try.
1. Ring/Silent Switch
You may have overlooked whether or not the ring/silent switch is set to silence the ringer. The ring/silent switch is above the volume switch. If you can see orange on this switch, it’s set to vibrate. Switch it to ring and you should be all good.
2. Turn Up the Volume
Be sure not to overlook that the volume buttons on the side of the iPhone controls the ringer. From the Home screen, press the “Volume Up” button and ensure the volume is set to an appropriate level.
3. Try a Reset
Sometimes you might need to reset the iPhone to get it working correctly again. You can do this by pressing and holding the “Power” and “Volume Down” buttons simultaneously (“Power” and “Home” on older devices) for about 5 seconds. After holding the buttons, the iPhone should shut off. From there, simply power it back on and give the ringer another try.
4. It’s Stuck in Headphones Mode
Another common issue with iPhone users who have ringer issues is that the device is stuck in “Headphones Mode”. This happens when the iPhone seems to detect headphones plugged into the device. Read our post, “iPhone or iPad Stuck with No Sound” for tips on how to fix this issue.
Hopefully at least one set of steps above has helped you fix your ringer sound issue. Please share your experience with this problem in the comments section below.
Jessie Ong says
March 21, 2019 at 8:08 pmThank you so much Mitch. No. 3 works for me!
Grace Pereira says
March 19, 2019 at 8:04 pmThank you. Your suggestions helped. What will I do without your help. You are a legend.
Dolly Hines says
February 19, 2019 at 8:21 pmThank you Number one worked for me
Claudette Arseneau says
January 31, 2019 at 12:43 pmThanks for the info. That small switch above the
Volume buttons was in the wrong position due to the new cell phone case I just purchased. When snapped together the case moved the switch.
Simon Clark says
January 25, 2019 at 6:37 amThanks, that worked straight away. I suppose l should of read the booklet first as l didn’t even know the phone had that option of a silent switch. Also it’s so easy to be taken in by other websites that predict doom and gloom
Bea says
January 23, 2019 at 4:32 pm💕👌🏽thank u very muchhhhhh
rhett says
January 18, 2019 at 5:50 pmThanks! #1 did it. Coming from the Pixel world, all these buttons feel really out of place!
boggien says
January 16, 2019 at 4:21 pmthanks, for my wife´s phone it was 1, too. drove me crazy that no alarm worked!
Eddy says
January 12, 2019 at 10:58 amThanks for the info. That small switch above the
Volume buttons was in the wrong position due to the new cell phone case I just purchased. When snapped together the case moved the switch.
Daphne says
January 7, 2019 at 10:22 amReset my phone and it is now fine, thank you.
Susanne Kimo says
January 3, 2019 at 8:28 amAll these steps failed for my phone but a total factory reset (Erase All Content and Settings) did the trick!
Patricia Goffin says
December 31, 2018 at 6:14 amBrilliant! I had no idea that existed. Problem solved.😀
Leona Kabir says
December 30, 2018 at 10:55 pmThank you!! It was number 1!
Marshall says
December 17, 2018 at 2:54 amYes, thanks for that. Totally had the switch flipped.
Mary says
December 6, 2018 at 7:05 amThank you so much I did not know what to do thank you
Marie says
October 21, 2018 at 9:14 pmThank you so very much. 😊
Kevin says
October 20, 2018 at 4:22 pmVery helpful. Fixed the problem on my wife’s iphone 7+.
Dave says
October 20, 2018 at 11:27 amGot my ringtone back! You showed, and explained it so much more plainly than even Apple’s own tech geebos did! Thanks!
Ellen says
October 9, 2018 at 8:56 pmThank you! I saw the orange above the volume switch and moved it away and then I got the ringer back! I don’t know how it got to be orange but it’s back on ringer now!
Jonathan Williams says
October 4, 2018 at 6:16 amSolved my wife’s iphone issue. Ringer was accidentally switched.
T. Papciak says
October 3, 2018 at 6:35 pmCouldn`t hear ringer tone. Tried the silent to normal switch….BINGO. Outstanding.
Thank you.
Christopher says
September 25, 2018 at 9:11 amThe reset worked perfectly! Thank you!
LKJain says
August 19, 2018 at 6:05 amThank you, very simple remedy’s but I was missing it and with your page I could fix it
Cilla says
August 18, 2018 at 1:32 amReally helpful thank you
Beverly says
July 25, 2018 at 4:31 pmThank you I would have never thought about that little switch
Cariann says
July 17, 2018 at 8:14 pmI’ve done everything that I can to have my sounds come thru on my iPhone 8+ brand new and Idk but can’t hear rings but I have it all up and on it only vibrates
Marlene Brace says
June 8, 2018 at 4:24 pmThanks so much, I didn’t know the switch on the side silenced the ringer, I obviously touched it when adjusting the volume. Superb advice, bless you!
Robert Skillin says
June 1, 2018 at 4:12 pmall i had to do was turn power off, then on. thx
Dawn says
May 31, 2018 at 10:43 amThank you so much. II couldn’t understand why my phone didn’t ring. Checked everything and then you showed the little switch on side to switch from silent to normal.
heidi says
May 23, 2018 at 6:37 ambrilliant, many thanks!!
Phyllis says
May 19, 2018 at 8:44 amTried all three steps.I do not hear my phone ring. However, if I go to sounds I can hear the ring tones fine.
Kim says
April 19, 2018 at 6:56 amClear and simple = fixed. Thanks
Susan says
March 22, 2018 at 7:11 pmThank you so much.
Michael Andre says
February 24, 2018 at 9:30 pmI have an iphone 4s. I have checked all what was said to be done and did them but yet, I am not hearing the ringer for Watts App calls only. I hear it for other calls. I only hear the ringing when I plug in a headphone/earbud, I just reset my iphone completely tonight and it is the same. What can I do to resolve this issue?
Pam says
January 31, 2018 at 8:08 amThank you very much, the ringer switch was off, this was extremely helpful and quick!
Steve says
January 31, 2018 at 5:21 amPhone would vibrate but not have sound. Reset did the trick. Thanks
Sheila Smith says
January 17, 2018 at 6:42 pmCan’t change the phone to answer when it rings after two times. I need it to ring at lease four times before Phone answers. How do you set this for I phone X?
Desiree de Grandi says
January 14, 2018 at 5:08 amWhen I am at home or work, my iphone 5s does not ring with incoming calls. I received a loan phone whilst mine went back to the store. The same is happening with the loan phone. If the caller rings for long enough, then I will only receive a sms stating “you missed a call from….”
I do not receive a missed call notification.
I can receive whatsapp calls.
I have checked all the settings.
I received a new phone as I was still under warranty. 10 days later the same thing happens to the new phone.
When I am away from the work or home, I have no problem with receiving incoming calls.
The cellular company has tested the signal and strength in both my home and work areas.
.
Ceri says
November 29, 2017 at 11:43 amSo simple when you know how, I had the button above the volume control switched to off!
Thank You, saved the day😊😊
DU DO says
November 15, 2017 at 3:31 pmApple Support didnt even get this simple little fix right, thx guys!
Steve says
November 14, 2017 at 2:51 pmI’ve had my 5C for almost five years and never knew about the little switch. I have it in an otter case, took it apart to clean it and somehow shut that off.
hc says
November 8, 2017 at 5:11 pmapple support didnt even get this simple little fix right, thx guys!
Clifford E says
November 2, 2017 at 2:17 pmPlease in the future remember to note that the mute switch is not a simple push-on push-off like many others, but a slide-toward-face, slide-toward-gack switch. It took me a long time to figure this out. Thank you.
Aruna says
October 30, 2017 at 9:56 pmThank you a million times. Solution 3 worked-‘ Reset’
Jane says
October 27, 2017 at 5:21 amThank you. Solution 1 sorted the problem in seconds!
Natalia says
October 2, 2017 at 2:39 pmThank you sooooo much!!! It was the ring/silent switch!!! I never even knew it was there!!
Marisa says
October 2, 2017 at 9:50 amThank you ….solution 3 worked for me
jmuhj says
September 19, 2017 at 7:46 pmTHANK YOU SO MUCH! I haven’t had tones for months and I’ve visited apple community, various sites, etc. VERY frustrated. YOU just solved my problem. It’s my first iPhone so hopefully I may be forgiven. ;)
Filip says
September 2, 2017 at 11:12 pmThanks so much. Solution #1 problem sorted.
Jaya singh says
August 5, 2017 at 7:42 amI have iPhone 5s iOS 10.3.3 ringer sound is not coming. I have cleaned earplug jack, reset my cell. Nothing works. Please help me with this
Carrie says
July 23, 2017 at 3:19 amThanks so much – suggestion 1 worked!!
Had no idea that button did anything.
GREAT site by the way x
John Kernot says
July 6, 2017 at 6:49 amMy iphone 4 sometimes has the ring tone muted. Can be restored using the volume button, but this is a problem if i haven’t noticed. Sometimes appears to happen after i have been in the car and bluetooth has connected to the car speakers. Any suggestions?
Sravan says
July 5, 2017 at 1:19 pmMy iphone is ringing for network call
But not ringing in whatsapp call?