After installing the iOS 26 update, many iPhone users report that incoming calls go straight to voicemail without ringing. If you’re missing important calls, don’t worry, this issue is usually caused by a few settings that can be fixed in minutes. Follow these step-by-step solutions to restore normal call ringing on your iPhone.
1. Turn Off Focus or Do Not Disturb
- Open Settings → Focus → Do Not Disturb.
- Ensure that Do Not Disturb or other Focus modes (such as Driving, Sleep, or Work) are turned off.
- Also, check Control Center: swipe down from the top-right and tap the Focus icon to disable it.
2. Check Silence Unknown Callers
- Go to Settings → Apps → Phone → Silence Unknown Callers.
- If it’s turned ON, your iPhone will send calls from unknown numbers directly to voicemail.
- Toggle it OFF to allow all calls to ring.
3. Disable Call Forwarding
- Open Settings → Apps → Phone → Call Forwarding.
- If Call Forwarding is enabled, turn it OFF.
- Sometimes, call forwarding rules can push calls straight to voicemail.
4. Ensure Airplane Mode Is Off
- Open Control Center → make sure Airplane Mode is OFF.
- Or go to Settings → Airplane Mode → toggle OFF.
5. Check Cellular Network & SIM Status
- Go to Settings → Cellular → Cellular Data and ensure it’s ON.
- If you use an eSIM or physical SIM, make sure it’s active under Settings → Cellular → SIMs → ON.
- A poor network connection can also cause calls to be sent to voicemail.
6. Check Blocked Contacts List
- Go to Settings → Apps → Phone → Blocked Contacts.
- Make sure the numbers you’re expecting calls from aren’t accidentally blocked.
- Unblock them if needed.
7. Turn Off Silence Notifications (Announce Calls)
- Go to Settings → Apps → Phone → Announce Calls.
- Set it to Always or Headphones & Car so calls aren’t silenced when connected to Bluetooth.
8. Restart Your iPhone
A simple restart often clears network or system glitches that cause calls to go straight to voicemail.
- Press and hold the Side Button + Volume Down/Up button → drag the Power slider.
- Wait a few seconds → press the Side Button to power it back on.
9. Reset Network Settings
If the issue persists:
- Go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset Network Settings.
- Enter your passcode → confirm reset.
- This clears old network configurations that might cause call routing issues.
10. Update Carrier Settings
- Go to Settings → General → About.
- If an update prompt appears for Carrier Settings, tap Update.
11. Contact Your Carrier
If none of the above helps, reach out to your mobile carrier — sometimes voicemail routing issues occur on their end after a major iOS update.
Conclusion
When iPhone calls go straight to voicemail after the iOS 26 update, it’s usually because of Focus modes, Silence Unknown Callers, call forwarding, or network glitches.
By following the steps above — disabling Focus, checking Silence Unknown Callers, restarting your iPhone, resetting network settings, and updating carrier settings — you can fix the issue and get your incoming calls ringing again.
