FIX: Why Won’t My Call Go Through to a Certain Number?

Key Takeaways
  • Calls to a specific number may not go through due to various reasons such as incorrect number entry, network issues, or phone settings like Do Not Disturb or Airplane Mode being activated.
  • Temporary glitches, service provider problems, or technical faults in devices can interfere with connectivity. Restarting the device or checking for updates might resolve such issues.
  • If you still can't get through, try different methods like texting or using another phone. Also, consider the possibility that you might have been blocked.

When you can’t reach your favorite person to spill the latest tea, your co-worker to discuss the recent changes, or worse, a family member in an emergency, all kinds of speculation take place.

But before you let your assumptions ruin your relationship, realize that there may be other reasons your call is unable to connect. While they could be deliberately ignoring you or just busy with their life, many have experienced their calls not going through to a certain number entirely. But why does that happen?

Why Won't My Calls Go Through to a Certain Number
Why Won’t My Calls Go Through to a Certain Number

Call Not Going Through to a Certain Number — Explained

Let’s say you’re attempting to contact a specific individual over a phone call but are unable to do so. Upon placing a call, no dial tone is established. Instead, it either plays an automated message, goes silent, or directs you straight to their voicemail, while they only receive a missed call notification in their log.

The issue is so specific that that person can uninterruptedly connect with you, and you can also connect with other contacts on your phone. Now, although downloading a third-party calling app may be a quick workaround, it’s not a long-term solution, considering your cellular service package is practically going to waste.

READ MORE: iPhone Not Receiving Calls? Explained & Resolved ➜

Why Won’t My Call Go Through to a Certain Number?

If you’ve been struggling to get a hold of a particular contact for ages, and it keeps resulting in an unsuccessful attempt, it’s time to discover the real issue and try to overcome it. Let’s put an end to your overthinking by making you aware of the potential causes and solutions for this problem.

1. Double-Check the Number

As the saying goes “To err is human“, it is possible that you have been dialing the number wrong all along. Therefore, it’s always recommended to double-check the number before giving it a call. If by accident, you have entered an incorrect country or area code, the number won’t dial and will continue to give you error.

Why Won’t My Call Go Through to a Certain Number
Ensure the number is authentic

Similarly, the number may not even exist. So, it’s better to ensure the authenticity of the number before thinking of the extreme.

2. Poor Network Connection

Network signals play a crucial role in the effectiveness of your phone calls. Weak signals or an unstable network act as an obstacle in establishing a proper phone call. Hence, ensure you have strong signal strength on your device and move to a place with better network coverage.

Network signals
Check network signal strength at the top-right corner of the screen

This can also be the case from the other side, if the recipient is in a low network coverage area, you will hear a recording state that the number cannot be reached or is switched off.

READ MORE: How to Find Out Who Called You – Number Registration Tricks ➜

3. Temporary Glitches

What’s a machine without some malfunctioning? Well, go easy on your device as the reason for the inability of your call to reach the recipient might be as simple as a temporary software glitch. If this is the case, the best solution is to wait it out. You’ll be surprised to see that patience goes a long way even in tech!

If patience is not your strong suit, or you need to make an urgent call, try restarting your device. This will refresh your network connection and eliminate any software glitches conflicting with your phone call. And if you have any pending software updates, don’t avoid installing it any further.

Restart option
Restart device for a fresh restart

4. DND or Airplane Mode is Enabled

If the number you are trying to call has turned on Do Not Disturb (DND) mode on their device, your call will not reach them, rather it will go straight to voicemail. As this mode is specifically to block any disturbances, therefore enabling this mode results in the inability to place calls to that specific number.

DND mode
Toggle off DND mode

The recipient may have set the DND mode to only allow certain calls through, and your number might not be one of them. Similarly, enabling Airplane mode will disconnect both wireless and cellular networks. Only once that person has disabled this mode will they receive missed call notifications. If you can contact that individual by other means, ask them to disable this mode to make future calls possible.

READ MORE: How to Use Do Not Disturb on iPhone [All iOS Versions] ➜

5. You Have Been Blocked

Now, getting blocked by individuals isn’t a new concept to this generation. However, the recipient may have blocked you intentionally or unintentionally, or maybe your number doesn’t fall in their “allowed numbers” list. If this is the case, your call won’t be getting through and will either lead straight to voicemail or a busy tone.

If you happen to be in their blocked list, unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do but directly sort out the issue or accept your fate. Similarly, check from your side if you have blocked that certain number by accident or for privacy reasons. If so, remove them from your blocked list through your device’s settings to contact them again.

Blocked contacts
Check if the certain number is blocked

6. Technical Issues

Technical faults within your device or the recipient’s also prevent calls from reaching their device. For example, faulty hardware can result in improper functioning of the phone, therefore, interfering with calls, etc. It’s best to inform the recipient if this is the case, and have your devices thoroughly examined for any technical issues.

7. Service Provider Issues

That certain number you’ve been trying to call may have changed their service provider. When porting to a new provider, it usually takes time for the networks to fully sync up. During this period, the person may experience dropped and misdirected calls, thus why your call is unable to reach them.

Moreover, it is also possible that your service provider has imposed certain restrictions on your account for a number of reasons including billing problems. It is advisable to contact your service provider and discuss any such restrictions that might be the root cause.

READ MORE: How to Record Calls on Android Without Anyone Knowing

8. Try an Alternate Method

Lastly, you always have the option to opt for another method to contact that certain number. Try calling from a different cell phone or use a texting or calling app instead. The good part about this technological era is that it contains several mediums for communication. If you’re having trouble with one, there’s many more to choose from!

Why Won’t My Call Go Through to a Certain Number
Calling via WhatsApp

READ MORE: How to Call Anonymously on iPhone & Android [2024] ➜

Wrapping Up

Well, before jumping to extreme conclusions, it’s always best to explore potential reasons and their solutions to reach that specific contact. In emergencies though, it’s crucial to immediately seek alternative methods before looking for solutions. But when enough time has passed and still no solution works for you, have the person ensure the problem does not reside in their SIM card or SIM slot.

They can try removing and re-inserting the SIM card or testing with a different one. And remember, there’s always the option to contact a professional or the service provider for further assistance.

Why Won't My Call Go Through to a Certain Number

How can you know if you’ve been blocked by someone?

You can confirm whether you have been blocked by a certain number in two ways. The first indication is that your call will only ring once before reaching their voicemail. Secondly, you can try calling the same contact from another number, if it rings and connects normally, there is a high probability you have been blocked..

What are some issues related to your account that can lead to unsuccessful call attempts?

The best way to ensure there aren’t any issues with your account is by contacting your service provider. Generally issues related to billing, network limitations, or other factors put a restriction on your account, resulting in call failures.

What does it indicate if you call someone and it doesn’t ring?

An automatic hangup could mean several things such as being blocked by the person you are trying to contact, the number being deactivated, powered off, in Airplane mode, or insufficient balance fro

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kamil Anwar


Kamil is a certified MCITP, CCNA (W), CCNA (S) and a former British Computer Society Member with over 9 years of experience Configuring, Deploying and Managing Switches, Firewalls and Domain Controllers also an old-school still active on FreeNode.