There are a few potential reasons why your phone may be automatically rejecting calls without your input:
Do Not Disturb is enabled
One of the most common reasons for calls to be automatically rejected is if you have Do Not Disturb enabled on your iPhone. When Do Not Disturb is turned on, your phone will not ring or vibrate and calls will go straight to voicemail.
To check if Do Not Disturb is enabled, open the Settings app and go to Do Not Disturb. If the switch is turned on, this is likely the reason your calls are being rejected. Simply toggle off Do Not Disturb to return to normal call behavior.
You can also customize Do Not Disturb to allow calls from certain people or groups to still come through. This way important calls will not be blocked but you can still avoid unwanted interruptions.
Blocked numbers
Another possibility is that you have blocked the phone numbers that are trying to call you. When you block a number, calls from that number will be automatically rejected.
To see if you have blocked any numbers, go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts. This will show you a list of all numbers you have blocked. If you see the numbers that have been calling you, unblock them to allow calls to come through.
Third-party call blocking apps
Using a third-party call blocking app can also result in calls being automatically rejected. Apps like Truecaller, Hiya, Mr. Number and others allow you to block robocalls, telemarketers, and other unwanted calls.
If you have one of these apps installed, check the blocked list to see if it is preventing legitimate calls from coming through. You may need to unblock specific numbers or adjust the app’s settings.
Unknown callers are silenced
On iOS, you have the option to automatically silence unknown callers. When enabled, any call from a number not in your Contacts will be blocked and sent to voicemail.
To check if this is enabled, go to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers. If the switch is on, toggle it off to allow calls from unknown numbers again.
Restricted phone settings
Some parents use phone restrictions or parental control apps to limit who their child can call or receive calls from. If your phone has restrictions enabled, it may block calls automatically based on the settings.
Check your settings to see if any calling restrictions have been enabled. You may need to enter a passcode or ask the person who manages your phone to update the restrictions.
Network or carrier issues
In some cases, call blocking can be occurring due to an issue with your mobile network or carrier. They may have incorrectly identified a number as spam, or there could be a technical glitch blocking calls.
Contact your carrier to see if they are aware of any issues on their end. They can look into whether any numbers have been improperly blocked and remove any faulty call blocking.
Phone software bugs
Less commonly, a bug or glitch in the phone’s software itself may be the culprit behind blocked calls. Software bugs can sometimes interfere with normal call behavior and cause calls to be rejected.
If you’ve ruled out the other possibilities, try updating your phone’s operating system to the latest version. Bugs are often addressed in software updates. You can update manually in your phone’s Settings app.
As a last resort, backing up your data and performing a factory reset on your phone can wipe out any problematic software issues blocking calls.
Check call logs and voicemail
To help identify the source of the call blocking issue, be sure to check your call logs and voicemail.
Your call logs will show any recent calls that did not come through. You may see them marked as “Declined” or “Blocked.” The number itself can help you determine if it’s being blocked by Do Not Disturb, a blocking app, or another method.
Listen to your voicemail messages for any clues. Friends may leave messages wondering why you did not answer. Telemarketers may leave messages that ended up blocked.
Use all information available in your call logs and voicemail to troubleshoot the root cause of the call blocking.
Test with different phones
An easy way to help narrow down the issue is to test calling your number from different phones.
Try calling yourself from a friend’s mobile phone, a landline, a payphone, etc. See if the call gets rejected from some phones but not others.
This can confirm whether the blocking is happening at your end or if it’s an issue with the caller’s phone. It will provide useful diagnostic information.
Contact your phone provider
If you continue having unresolved problems with blocked calls, reach out to your mobile provider’s customer support for assistance.
They can look into your account settings, check for issues on your line, analyze call logs, and take other steps to investigate. The carrier has additional tools at their disposal to get to the bottom of the problem.
Be prepared to provide your account information and describe the call blocking symptoms you are experiencing. Note any troubleshooting steps you’ve already taken.
Your provider’s technical support can use their expertise to diagnose what is going on and take corrective action. This should resolve any network-level call blocking that is occurring.
Conclusion
There are a variety of reasons why calls to your phone may be automatically rejected. The most common culprits are Do Not Disturb, blocked contacts, call blocking apps, phone settings, network issues, or software bugs.
Carefully check your phone settings, call logs, voicemail and do some phone testing to determine the cause. Contact your carrier for support if needed. Identifying and addressing the root of the problem will allow normal calls to successfully come through again.