You can make calls fine, but incoming calls never ring, or they arrive late. On Android this is very often caused by the phone putting the dialer to sleep to save battery. Phone makers handle this differently, so the exact menu names vary, but the idea is the same: tell the system not to restrict the app.
Note that the answer here is about the phone side. Receiving calls also depends on your account and number setup, so confirm with your provider whether your package supports incoming calls.
Why it happens
To receive a call, the app must stay connected to the server or be woken by a notification. Android battery savers, and extra ones added by phone manufacturers, can stop background apps after a while. When that happens, the server cannot reach the app, so the phone does not ring.
Settings to check
- Battery optimisation. Open Settings, then Apps, choose the dialer, then Battery. Select unrestricted or "do not optimise", depending on your phone's wording.
- Background activity. Allow the app to run in the background and, if offered, allow autostart.
- Notifications. Make sure notifications are on, including any call or high-priority category. Check that Do Not Disturb is not silencing the app.
- Data saver. Exclude the dialer from data saver, or turn data saver off.
- Lock the app in recent apps. Some phones let you lock an app so the system does not close it during memory clean-up.
- Keep the app registered. Open it and confirm the status shows connected. If it is not, follow our registration checklist.
Other things that stop incoming calls
- Airplane mode or no internet connection.
- Do Not Disturb or silent mode.
- Another app or device using the same account at the same time.
- Your account not being set up to receive calls.
- Updating the phone or app, which can reset permissions.
How to test properly
- Apply the settings and restart the phone.
- Open the dialer and confirm it is registered.
- Ask someone to call, first with the screen on, then after the phone has been locked for several minutes.
- If it only works with the screen on, background restrictions are still active.
No setting can promise perfect delivery on every phone, so for calls you cannot afford to miss, keep the app open and the phone charged. Our Wi-Fi versus mobile data guide also covers connections that go to sleep.
Why phone makers differ
Stock Android has a standard battery optimisation setting, but many manufacturers add extra layers such as autostart managers, app lock screens or aggressive memory cleaners. The names change from brand to brand and from one software version to another. If you cannot find an option exactly as described above, search your phone's settings for words like battery, background, autostart, sleeping apps or app launch. The goal is always the same: make sure the system does not close or freeze the dialer when the screen is off.
A reliable testing routine
- Change one setting at a time, starting with battery optimisation.
- Lock the screen and wait five minutes.
- Ask someone to call you.
- If it rings, repeat after thirty minutes, then after an hour, because some restrictions only apply after a longer idle period.
- If it does not ring, apply the next setting and test again.
Test calls are more useful than guessing, because they show you exactly which change worked.
Things that can undo your settings
- A system update, which may reset app permissions.
- Switching on a new battery saver or "ultra" power mode.
- Reinstalling the dialer, which treats it as a new app.
- Clearing recent apps with a cleaner or "boost" tool.
Remove or avoid "cleaner" and "booster" apps if you rely on the dialer for incoming calls. They often stop background apps and cause exactly the problem you are trying to fix.
If you still miss calls
Keep the dialer open in the foreground for calls you cannot afford to miss, or arrange a backup method such as a normal number or a messaging app. VoIP incoming calls also depend on your account configuration, so confirm with support that your package supports receiving calls. If the dialer never registers, return to the registration checklist first.
Next step: Not sure whether your account can receive calls? Ask us on WhatsApp before you change anything.
Frequently asked questions
Why do calls ring only when the app is open?
The system is probably stopping the app in the background. Review the battery and background settings above.
Do I need to disable battery saver completely?
Usually only for the dialer. Exempt the app rather than turning off battery saver for the whole phone.
Does this happen on iPhone?
iOS manages background apps differently. This guide focuses on Android.
