t-mobile phone not receiving calls

With your T-Mobile phone not receiving calls, it can be a real hassle. Luckily, we have the solutions for your problem.

If you can’t receive calls, either you have no signal or your phone is on Airplane Mode. Both disable your device’s ability to connect to a cellular network.

Another possible reason is your T-Mobile account is not active. You may have missed paying your bill.

To clear the issue, verify that you are in a network. Find an area with good network coverage to make and receive calls. If this doesn’t solve the problem, toggle the Airplane Mode on and off. Swipe down Quick Settings (Android) or Control Center (iPhone) and tap the airplane icon.    

Let us discuss the possible reasons for your T-Mobile phone not receiving calls. Once we know the cause, we can take appropriate action to fix the issue.

Why My T-Mobile Phone Is Not Receiving Calls

When your T-Mobile phone stops making and receiving calls, it may be due to many reasons.

Reception issues are the most common. You may be near another country’s border, and your phone thinks you’re roaming.

Here are the most common causes of the problem:

1. No Coverage

Although rare, dead spots do exist. Generally, you can’t get a signal underground on mass transit or in the basement. Some rural areas do not have network coverage as well.

2. App Incompatibility

Some third-party apps may block calls. Free call blocking apps, for instance, may flag all incoming calls to ensure you don’t answer.

3. Inactive T-Mobile Account

Auto-pay sometimes fails due to problems with the bank or a technical glitch. Your account becomes inactive due to a random payment issue.  

4. Software Issues

Your software may not be up to date. Outdated software may cause problems, including blocking calls.

These are the main culprits why your phone cannot receive calls. We can now move on to our straightforward solutions.

How to Fix T-Mobile Phone Not Receiving Calls

fix t-mobile phone not receiving calls

Before performing advanced solutions, start with the basic yet usually effective phone restart.

Restarting can clear your phone’s memory, apps, and conflicts, which may temporarily cause the issue of not receiving a call. 

To restart an Android phone, press the Power and Volume up buttons until the screen goes off. Then, press the power button for a few seconds to turn it back on.

Press and hold the Power and Volume buttons until the slider appears to restart an iPhone.

Move the slider from left to right to shut down your phone. Wait for 30 seconds, then turn on your phone again.

If restarting your phone does not work, look into the solutions below:

Solution #1: Make Sure to Turn Off Your WiFi

turn on wifi phone

To make sure you are using the T-Mobile network to make and receive calls, turn off your WiFi.

You should also change your settings to Cellular Preferred or Cellular Only. This is to prevent issues from interfering with the signal.

Android:

  1. Go to Settings, then Network & Internet.
  2. Tap the toggle switch beside WiFi to turn it on.

iPhone:

  1. Navigate to Settings and select WiFi.
  2. Tap the switch to turn it on.

Tip: To turn on your Wi-Fi quickly, hit the WiFi icon in Quick Settings for Android and Control Center for iPhone.

Note: If your cellular service is weak or unavailable, turn on your WiFi and use WiFi calling instead.

Solution #2: Toggle Airplane Mode On and Off

When Airplane Mode is on, all communications, including SIM network, Bluetooth, and WiFi are disabled.

If the network has some errors that cause the problem, retriggering a communication alert on the network might solve the issue.

Here’s what you should do:

  1. Toggle the Airplane Mode ON.
  2. Wait for 5-10 seconds.
  3. Turn OFF the Airplane Mode again.
  4. Wait for your phone to search for your network.
Tip: You will know Airplane Mode is on if you see a silhouette of an airplane on the notification bar.

Solution #3: Turn on VoLTE

turn on volte

If you are in an area with poor signal, your phone automatically switches to a 2G/3G network.

It means you won’t be able to make or receive calls. We recommend you enable VoLTE.

If you have an Android phone:

  1. Go to Settings and select Network & Internet.
  2. Select Mobile Network.
  3. In Preferred Network Type, choose 4G/3G/GSM. 
  4. Click the toggle beside Enable VoLTE to turn it on.
  5. If the Enable VoLTE option is not available, contact T-Mobile.

If you have an iPhone:

  1. Go to Settings and select Cellular.
  2. Switch on Cellular Data and tap Cellular Data Options.
  3. Tap Voice & Data, then check 4G or LTE.
  4. If you see a separate VoLTE slider, turn it on.
Note: VoLTE delivers HD voice quality. It uses a wider frequency range that reduces background noise and enhances the caller’s voice.

Solution #4: Uninstall Third-Party Call Blocking Apps

Find out if the apps you downloaded around the same time the issue started are causing it.

Third-party apps, such as calling apps, call blocking, and launchers, can contribute to the problem.

Here’s how to install these apps on Android:

  1. Go to Google Play Store.
  2. Select your Profile.
  3. Choose Manage Apps & Devices and select Manage.
  4. Tap on the app you want to remove.
  5. Select Uninstall. 
Note: If you own an iPhone, touch and hold the app you want to delete on your phone. Tap Remove App, then tap Delete to confirm.

Solution #5: Reset Your Phone’s Network Settings

reset network

If you have manually changed the settings or recently installed applications that require access to your network settings, this may be the culprit of your T-Mobile phone not receiving calls issue.

First, check all your recently added applications and their permissions.

If you find one that requires access to your network settings, uninstall it. Then, reset your phone’s network settings.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. From the Home Screen, tap Settings > General.
  2. Choose Reset, then Reset Network Settings.
  3. Type your phone password if required.
  4. Confirm that you want to reset your network settings.

Tip: Make sure you check the box for Automatic Network Selection.

Note: Performing a network settings reset can fix several problems. It is a simple yet effective troubleshooting trick you can do on your own.

Solution #6: Update Your Phone’s Software

If you have come this far but still couldn’t clear the issue, you need a more comprehensive solution.

Outdated software can affect your network connectivity and signal reception, stopping your phone from getting incoming calls.

update phone software

Follow these steps you update your phone’s software:

  1. Open the Settings app and select About Phone.
  2. Tap Check for Updates.
  3. If an update is available, you will see an Update button. Press it.
  4. Tap Install, Reboot, and Install, or Install System Software.
  5. Your phone will restart to complete the update.
Note: If this does not clear the issue, perform a factory reset. A hard reset may fix problems that a simple restart can’t.

But, be sure to back up important data before doing so. If none of the above solutions work, contact your carrier and check if your T-Mobile account is still active.

Your phone not receiving calls may be due to a payment issue or a glitch on their end. Technical support can help you check these problems and alert you to service outages.

Read Next: Why Does My T-Mobile App Keep Stopping?

Bottom Line

Now you know the reasons for your T-Mobile phone not receiving calls. Our straightforward solutions should be able to address the problem.

If they don’t, consider getting your device back to factory settings.