Are you frustrated with your BT digital phone not ringing? We’re at your service!
If you don’t hear a sound when your BT Digital phone is supposed to ring, it indicates network issues or hardware problems. You need to fix it quickly to restore its operation.
To get your BT Digital Phone ringing again, check the volume levels and make sure it’s not too low or muted. Turn up the ringer volume and check that the Call Divert features are disabled.
Now, let’s shift our attention to the others!
BT Digital Phone Not Ringing – 8 Solutions to Fix Issue
If you have trouble with your BT Digital phone, don’t worry. We listed eight simple and effective solutions to fix it.
#1: Turn Up the Ringer Volume on Your Phone
Sometimes, you accidentally turn down the ringer volume or mute your phone.
As a result, you don’t hear when it rings. Ensure the ringer is loud enough by turning up the volume.
Here’s how to do this:
- Locate the Volume button or switch on your phone.
- Repeatedly press the Volume button or switch until you hear a beep.
- Take note of the bar indicating the ringer volume on your phone’s display.
- Adjust the ringer volume to your preferred level.
- Call your number from another phone and listen to the ringtone to test.
Note: Gradually increase the volume to your preferred level to avoid sudden loud noises.
#2: Use the Phone Line Cord that Comes with the Box
A faulty or incompatible phone line cord is another possible reason your BT Digital phone is not ringing.
To avoid this problem, use the phone line cord that comes with the box, as it is specially designed and tested to work with your device.
To use the phone line that comes out of the box, follow these steps:
- Unplug your existing phone line cord from your phone and the wall socket.
- Plug in the new phone line cord into both ends.
- Ensure the connection is secure.
- Check for twists or kinks in the cord.
- Test your phone by calling your number and listening for the ringtone.
Note: Not all phone line cords work well with BT Digital phones. Some are old, damaged, or have different wiring configurations.
Avoid pinching the cord between objects or furniture, which will either damage the line or affect call quality.
Additionally, if you find any sign of damage, do not use it. Request a replacement cord from your BT service provider or purchase a new one.
#3: Make Sure Your Phone is Plugged In Properly
If you move your phone around frequently, you will most likely experience BT Digital Voice phone not ringing due to a loose connection.
Check if your phone is plugged in properly to identify the problem.
- Check the power adapter that connects your phone to the power outlet.
- Ensure the phone line cord is plugged in securely and has no signs of damage or wear.
- Check the battery compartment of your phone for dust or dirt.
- Ensure the batteries are inserted correctly and have enough charge.
- Check for power outages or surges.
- Test your phone by calling your number and listening for the ringtone.
Pro Tip: If the phone is still not working after checking the connections, reboot it by unplugging it from the power source for a few seconds and plugging it back in.
#4: Use a Broadband Microfilter to Minimize Interference
If you have broadband internet service in your home, use a broadband microfilter to minimise interference from other devices.
A broadband microfilter filters out unwanted noise and signals affecting your BT Digital phone’s performance.
- Locate the wall socket where your phone line cord is plugged in.
- Unplug your phone line cord from it.
- Plug a broadband microfilter into the wall socket.
- Plug your phone line cord into the broadband microfilter.
- Repeat steps 1-4 for every wall socket where you have a phone or broadband device.
- Test your phone by calling your number and listening to the ringtone.
Note: Broadband microfilters are available in various sources, such as the BT shop, other telecom providers, and electronic stores.
#5: Turn Off Your Phone’s Do Not Disturb
The BT Digital phone also has a Do Not Disturb mode that allows you to silence all incoming calls and notifications.
It’s a useful feature, but if you forget to turn it off, you will miss all important calls from people you want to talk to.
To turn off your phone’s Do Not Disturb mode, follow these steps:
- Locate your phone’s Do Not Disturb button labelled DND, MUTE, or SILENCE.
- Press the button to toggle it off.
- You should see a message on your phone indicating that the mode is off.
- Test your phone by calling your number from another phone and listening to the tone.
Note: If you use a schedule for DND, ensure you adjust the settings accordingly if you want to resume receiving calls during those times.
#6: Disable Call Divert
Another feature affecting the BT Digital Voice handset not ringing issue is the Call Divert mode, which redirects all incoming calls to another phone number or voicemail.
It’s useful when you’re away from home, busy, or unavailable to answer your phone.
To disable Call Divert on your BT Digital phone, follow these steps:
- Find the Call Divert button labelled DIVERT, FORWARD or TRANSFER on your phone.
- Press the Call Divert button to toggle it off.
- You should hear a confirmation tone or see a message indicating the mode is off.
- Test your phone by having someone call you to ensure incoming calls are not diverted.
Note: If you have used specific call divert codes (for instance, 21 for unconditional call divert), ensure these are deactivated.
If you forget to turn off this mode, you will also miss important calls from people who want to reach you directly. However, if you continue to experience issues with your phone, proceed to more advanced solutions below.
#7: Check Your Block List and Clear It
Another feature of the BT Digital phone affecting the alerts is the Block List Mode.
This mode prevents certain numbers from calling you and is useful in avoiding unwanted calls from specific people or groups.
To check your block list and clear it, follow these steps:
- Find the block list button on your phone labelled as BLOCK, BLACKLIST or REJECT.
- Press the block list button to access the blocked numbers on your phone’s display.
- Use the arrow keys or keypad to search for the number you want to unblock.
- Press the Delete button on your phone to remove the number from the block list.
- You should hear a confirmation tone or a message indicating the unblocked number.
- Test your phone by calling from another number and listening to the ringtone.
If you accidentally add a number to your block list, you will miss important calls from that person.
Tip: Regularly check and maintain your block list to ensure it reflects your preferences regarding blocked numbers.
#8: Reset Your BT Digital Phone
If none of the previous solutions work, it is time to reset your BT Digital phone.
It will restore your phone to its factory settings and erase all your personal data and preferences, so only do this as a last resort.
To reset your BT Digital phone and get rid of software glitches or errors causing it not to ring, follow these steps:
- Locate the Reset button on your phone.
- Press and hold the Reset button for about 10 seconds.
- You should hear a beep or see a message indicating the phone is resetting.
- Wait for your phone to restart and complete the reset process.
- Set up your phone again.
- Test your phone by calling your number and listening to the ringtone.
Tip: You will find the reset button on the side, the back, or the base of your phone. Also, check if it’s hidden under a small hole requiring a pin or paperclip.
Quick Recap
A BT Digital phone not ringing is often due to network or hardware problems. To fix this, adjust the ringer volume and ensure the Do Not Disturb mode is disabled. If the issue persists, check your block list and clear it.
For more articles about the BT Digital phone, visit our blog!
Read Next: BT Digital Voice No Incoming Calls? – (Fix In Minutes!)
Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.