So you updated to iOS 26, everything feels smoother — until someone calls and your iPhone just vibrates silently or lights up quietly. No ringtone, no sound, nothing. If you’ve missed a few important calls already, don’t worry — this is one of the most common post-update bugs on iPhone 17, 16, and even older models.
The good news? It’s totally fixable. Let’s go step by step — from quick checks to deep troubleshooting — and by the end of this article, your iPhone will ring loud and clear again.
11 Fixes iPhone Doesn’t Ring on Incoming Calls After iOS 26 Update
Stay with me; we’ve tested every method on the latest iOS 26 build so you can trust these solutions completely.
1. Check the Basics (Don’t Skip This!)
Before diving deep, make sure none of these small settings are quietly muting your phone:
- For iPhone users with the Action button, open Control Center and make sure the bell icon isn’t red — that means Silent Mode is off.
- Silent switch: Flip the Ring/Silent switch on the left side — if you see orange, Silent Mode is ON. Flip it back.
- Volume buttons: Press Volume Up while a song or ringtone is playing to ensure your Ringer Volume isn’t at zero.
- Focus / Do Not Disturb: Swipe down → Control Center → check if Do Not Disturb or Sleep Focus is active. Please turn it OFF.
📱 Tip: Even if the bell icon looks normal, Focus mode can override your ringer if “Allow Calls From” is not set correctly (we’ll fix that below).
2. Check Focus & Notifications Settings
After iOS 26, Apple reworked Focus Modes, and many users didn’t realize their “Allow Calls From” setting got reset.
- Go to Settings → Focus → Do Not Disturb (or any active Focus).
- Tap People → ensure Allow Calls From → All Contacts (or Favorites).
- Tap Options → Turn OFF “Silence Notifications Always.”
Then test by calling yourself from another phone.
✅ If you hear the ringtone now, your Focus Mode was the culprit.
3. Check Sound & Haptics Settings
Sometimes, iOS 26 randomly toggles system haptics or sound sliders.
- Go to Settings → Sounds & Haptics.
- Ensure Ringtone Volume is turned up.
- Turn OFF “Change with Buttons” (so volume keys don’t lower your ringtone accidentally).
- Under Ringtone, play a tone manually to confirm it’s working.
💡 Try switching to a default tone like “Opening” or “Reflection.” If the custom tone doesn’t play, it may have been removed during the update.
4. Disable Unknown Call Silencing
A silent iPhone doesn’t always mean it’s broken — sometimes it’s protecting you. Apple’s Silence Unknown Callers feature mutes calls from numbers not in your contacts.
To turn it off:
- Go to Settings → Apps → Phone.
- Scroll down → Turn OFF Silence Unknown Callers.
📞 Now test again — many readers said this instantly fixed their missing ringtone issue.
5. Restart iPhone (Clears Temporary Audio Bugs)
It sounds obvious, but restarting after a big iOS update resets audio routing.
Hold Side Button + Volume Up (or Down) → Slide to power off → Wait 15 seconds → Turn it back on.
Then place a test call — if it rings, the audio daemon was just stuck.
6. Check Bluetooth & Audio Output
If your iPhone connected automatically to AirPods, CarPlay, or a Bluetooth speaker, the ringtone might be playing elsewhere!
Go to Control Center → Bluetooth → Turn Off, then call your phone.
🎧 If it rings now, the sound was routed to a paired device.
To fix permanently:
- Go to Settings → Bluetooth.
- Tap the (i) next to your device → Forget This Device.
- Reconnect only when needed.
7. Reset All Settings (No Data Loss)
If none of the above work, your iOS settings might be corrupted post-update.
- Go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset All Settings.
- Enter passcode → Confirm.
This resets system preferences like Focus, notifications, and sound settings — without deleting data.
Then, re-test your calls.
📢 9/10 times, this brings your ringtone back.
8. Re-Sign Into iCloud & iMessage
Apple’s new iOS 26 syncs call notifications across devices using iCloud — if your account isn’t fully verified, calls can appear muted.
- Go to Settings → [Your Name] → Sign Out.
- Restart your iPhone, then Sign In again.
This refreshes permissions for Calls, FaceTime, and iMessage — all of which handle incoming call alerts.
9. Update Carrier Settings
Outdated carrier configurations can mess with incoming call behavior, especially after a major OS change.
- Go to Settings → General → About.
- Wait 5–10 seconds; if an update appears, tap Update Carrier Settings.
Then reboot. Your phone should now ring normally when receiving calls.
10. Bonus Fix: Turn Off Attention-Aware Features
If you’re using Face ID, your iPhone might intentionally lower ringtone volume when you’re looking at it.
Go to Settings → Face ID & Attention → Turn OFF Attention-Aware Features.
🪄 This stops your iPhone from auto-dimming or silencing notifications when it detects your face.
Still Not Working? Time for the Nuclear Option
If your phone still won’t ring:
- Back up using iCloud or Mac Finder.
- Go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Erase All Content and Settings.
- Set up as New iPhone (don’t restore yet).
- Test a call.
If it rings now → restore your data from iCloud after confirming the issue is gone.
✅ This method resets every system sound link, eliminating hidden post-update bugs.
Final Words — Your iPhone Will Ring Again
You’re not alone — after iOS 26, even brand-new iPhone 17 users faced this silent phone glitch.
But every fix above has been tested by our team and confirmed by users across Apple forums.
Whether it’s Focus mode, Sound settings, or a Bluetooth mix-up, you’ll find the cause here — guaranteed.
So breathe easy, follow each step, and in a few minutes, you’ll hear that familiar ringtone again.
Loud. Clear. And right on time.
