There are several potential reasons why your iPhone may not ring or make a sound when receiving WhatsApp calls. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the various causes and solutions to fix this problem.
Quick Overview of Main Reasons
Here is a quick overview of the most common reasons why your iPhone does not ring for WhatsApp calls:
- Ringer volume set to silent or vibrate
- Do Not Disturb mode enabled
- Specific contact or group muted
- WhatsApp notifications turned off
- Defective ringer speaker
- Glitch in iOS software
- Outdated version of WhatsApp
- Interference from phone case
- Issues with cellular network connection
We will now explore each of these reasons in more detail and provide troubleshooting tips to resolve them.
Check Ringer Volume Setting
The most obvious reason your iPhone does not ring for WhatsApp calls is that the ringer volume is set to silent or vibrate mode. Here’s how to check your ringer settings:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap on Sounds & Haptics.
- Under the Ringer and Alerts section, check if the volume slider is set to silent or vibrate mode.
If your ringer volume is set to zero percentage or vibrate mode, you will not hear any ringtone when receiving WhatsApp calls. Drag the volume slider to your desired volume percentage to enable the ringer and hear ringtone on calls.
How to Quickly Switch Between Ringer Modes
Instead of adjusting the volume slider each time, you can swiftly toggle between silent, vibrate and normal ringer modes using these methods:
- Press the Volume Up/Down buttons on the side of your iPhone to change modes.
- Swipe up from bottom of screen to open Control Center and tap the Ringer icon.
- Ask Siri to “turn on/off ringer” or “enable/disable silent mode”.
Check if Do Not Disturb Mode is On
Another reason your iPhone may not ring for WhatsApp calls is if Do Not Disturb mode is enabled. This mutes all calls, alerts and notifications on your device.
To check if Do Not Disturb is turned on:
- Go to Settings > Do Not Disturb.
- Look at the status switch beside Do Not Disturb. If enabled, the switch will be green.
When Do Not Disturb is on, you will see a crescent moon icon in the iPhone status bar. Toggle the switch off to disable Do Not Disturb and allow rings and alerts again.
Schedule Do Not Disturb Hours
Instead of keeping it on indefinitely, you can schedule Do Not Disturb during certain hours like bedtime. Here’s how to do it:
- In Settings, tap Do Not Disturb.
- Tap Scheduled under the Do Not Disturb section.
- Set your desired Do Not Disturb hours.
This will automatically turn on and off Do Not Disturb during the set timings to silence unwanted disruptions.
Check for Muted WhatsApp Contacts and Groups
You can selectively mute specific WhatsApp contacts and groups so that you no longer receive call ringtones from them. This could be why your iPhone does not ring for certain WhatsApp calls.
To check for muted contacts and groups in WhatsApp:
- Open WhatsApp and go to the Calls tab.
- Tap the Info icon at the top right.
- Go to the Muted section. This will show all muted contacts and groups.
Tap on a muted contact or group and select Unmute to start receiving call rings from them again.
Quick Ways to Mute and Unmute
Alternatively, you can mute or unmute WhatsApp contacts in these quick ways:
- Long press on the contact or group chat > Tap Mute.
- In individual chat, tap More > Mute.
- Ask Siri to “mute or unmute [contact name] on WhatsApp”.
Enable WhatsApp Notifications
If you have disabled WhatsApp notifications on your iPhone, you will no longer receive rings for incoming WhatsApp calls. Here’s how to re-enable notifications:
- Go to Settings > Notifications.
- Scroll down and select WhatsApp.
- Make sure the Allow Notifications toggle is enabled.
You can also customize the notification styles, sounds and app badge icons here per your preferences.
Prevent Specific Apps From Bypassing DND
By default, calls and notifications from certain apps like Phone and Messages are allowed even when Do Not Disturb mode is on. You can prevent WhatsApp from bypassing DND:
- Go to Settings > Do Not Disturb.
- Tap Silence. Select calls and/or notifications from everyone.
Now WhatsApp calls and messages will be muted along with other third-party apps when DND is enabled.
Check for Hardware Issues
In some cases, a hardware issue with your iPhone’s ringer speaker could prevent WhatsApp call ringtones from sounding. Try these steps to test for hardware faults:
- Use the Volume buttons to set ringer volume to maximum.
- Make a test call from another phone to your iPhone.
- Switch on speaker mode during the incoming call.
- Check if you can hear the ringtone through the speaker.
If the ringtone is audible through the speaker but not through the earpiece, it indicates a hardware issue with the built-in ringer speaker. You may need to get the iPhone serviced or replaced in such cases.
Inspect Your iPhone Case
Tight-fitting or thick cases can sometimes obstruct the ringer speaker opening and prevent ringtone from sounding. Try removing your phone case and test if WhatsApp calls now ring properly.
If the issue appears fixed, you may want to replace the current case with a more compatible one that does not block the speakers.
Update to Latest WhatsApp Version
Having an outdated version of WhatsApp installed could also lead to problems with incoming call rings. Here’s how you can update WhatsApp on your iPhone:
- Go to the App Store.
- Tap your profile icon on the top right.
- Scroll down and tap Update beside WhatsApp Messenger if an update is available.
The latest WhatsApp version may contain critical bug fixes and optimizations that improve call performance and connectivity.
Enable Auto-Update for Apps
To ensure WhatsApp and your other apps stay updated automatically:
- Open Settings and tap App Store.
- Turn on the toggle for App Updates under Automatic Downloads.
This will update your apps to the latest versions as soon as they are released.
Restart Your iPhone
A simple device restart can help resolve temporary glitches causing no WhatsApp call rings. Here are the steps to restart your iPhone:
- Long press either volume button and power button together until the power slider appears.
- Drag the power slider to turn off your iPhone.
- After 30 seconds, press and hold the power button again to boot up the device.
Allow 1-2 minutes for the restart to fully complete. Then test receiving WhatsApp calls again. A restart often clears minor iOS or app issues.
Force Close and Reopen WhatsApp
Alternatively, you can try force quitting just the WhatsApp app from the app switcher:
- Double click the Home button to open the app switcher.
- Swipe up on WhatsApp preview to force close it.
- Relaunch WhatsApp from the Home screen.
This resolves any processes stuck in WhatsApp’s background activity and starts with a clean slate.
Check Cellular Data and Wi-Fi Connection
Weak cellular data coverage in your location can also potentially disrupt WhatsApp call connectivity. Try these steps:
- Enable Airplane mode for few minutes to cut off cellular connection.
- Then turn off Airplane mode to force the device to re-establish signal.
- Test making a WhatsApp call to confirm if rings properly now.
This resets your network connection which may resolve temporary service errors.
Connect to Wi-Fi Calling
If cellular coverage seems weak, enable Wi-Fi Calling as an alternative calling method when connected to a Wi-Fi network:
- Go to Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling.
- Turn on the toggle for Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone.
- Select your preferred Wi-Fi network.
This will route WhatsApp calls over Wi-Fi which provides more reliable connectivity indoors.
Factory Reset as Final Resort
If you have attempted all other troubleshooting tips but the issue persists, consider doing a factory reset to wipe out any deep-rooted software bugs. Backup your iPhone data first, then follow these steps:
- Go to Settings > General > Reset.
- Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
- Enter your passcode if prompted.
- Tap Restore to confirm factory reset.
Your device will reboot with clean iOS installation. Log in with your Apple ID during setup and test if WhatsApp call rings work normally now.
Restore From iTunes
Alternatively, you can reset the iPhone using iTunes on your computer:
- Connect iPhone to computer and open iTunes.
- Select your iPhone and go to Summary.
- Click Restore iPhone to initiate factory reset.
This will completely erase your device and install the latest iOS firmware afresh.
Contact WhatsApp Support
If none of the above solutions are able to resolve the missing WhatsApp call rings, it’s recommended to contact WhatsApp support for further assistance. You can get in touch with them via:
- WhatsApp FAQ page for setup guides and troubleshooting.
- Direct messaging on WhatsApp (@whatsapp on Facebook).
- Email to [email protected] with your issue details.
WhatsApp support may be able to provide customized troubleshooting steps or identify if it’s a wider service issue on their end.
Get Your iPhone Serviced
As a last resort, take your iPhone to an Apple Authorized Service Provider for inspection. Hardware tests and diagnostics can be performed to identify any underlying defects with the speakers, microphones or internal components causing problems with WhatsApp call functionality.
Service technicians can advise if a repair or full unit replacement may be necessary in case of hardware damage out of warranty.
Conclusion
In summary, there are numerous reasons why your iPhone may not ring for incoming WhatsApp calls. Start troubleshooting by checking your ringer settings, Do Not Disturb mode, app notifications and any contacts/groups you have muted.
Hardware issues, outdated software, network problems or software bugs could also prevent WhatsApp call rings. Follow the step-by-step troubleshooting guide outlined above to identify and isolate the issue.
Restarting your device, force quitting WhatsApp, factory resetting and contacting WhatsApp support are some additional steps to try out. Get professional help from a technician if the problem is unresolved.
With consistent testing and elimination of potential factors, you should be able to solve the missing WhatsApp call ringtones and ensure you never miss an important call again.
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Silent ringer volume | Increase ringer volume in Settings |
| Do Not Disturb enabled | Turn off Do Not Disturb in Settings |
| Muted WhatsApp contacts | Unmute contacts in WhatsApp |
| Disabled WhatsApp notifications | Re-enable notifications in Settings |
| Speaker/microphone issue | Get iPhone serviced for hardware test |
| Outdated WhatsApp | Update to latest version in App Store |
| Connectivity problem | Reset network settings and enable Wi-Fi Calling |
| Software bug | Restart iPhone or factory reset if needed |
| Unresolved issue | Contact WhatsApp support or technician |