WhatsApp Calls Not Ringing When Phone Is Locked? Here’s How to Fix It on Android

By Siddhi Jain | Jan 11, 2026, 13:09 IST

Missing important WhatsApp calls can be frustrating, especially when you unlock your phone and suddenly see multiple missed call notifications. This issue is quite common and affects both Android and iOS users. However, Android users often face it more frequently due to background restrictions, battery optimisation, and notification settings.

If WhatsApp calls are not ringing when your Android phone is locked, it usually means the app is being restricted from running properly in the background. The good news is that this problem can be fixed by following a few simple troubleshooting steps.

Below is a complete guide that starts with basic checks and moves on to advanced solutions.

Basic Checks Before Troubleshooting

Before diving into advanced settings, make sure these basic conditions are met:

Ensure your mobile data or Wi-Fi is turned on and working properly
Check that your phone is not set to silent or vibration mode
Confirm that ringtone volume is set to an audible level
Restart your smartphone once and test again

If WhatsApp calls still do not ring when the phone is locked, try the advanced fixes below.

Advanced Solutions to Fix WhatsApp Calls Not Ringing on Android

1. Check If Do Not Disturb Mode Is Enabled

The Do Not Disturb (DND) feature can silence all calls, including WhatsApp voice and video calls.

How to turn it off:

Open Settings
Tap on Sound
Select Do Not Disturb
Tap Turn Off Now

Also check quick settings in the notification panel to ensure DND is disabled.

2. Force Stop WhatsApp

Sometimes the app does not refresh properly in the background.

Steps to force stop WhatsApp:

Long-press the WhatsApp icon
Tap App info
Select Force Stop
Tap OK to confirm

Reopen WhatsApp and test incoming calls.

3. Re-enable WhatsApp Notifications

Disabled or misconfigured notifications can stop calls from ringing.

Steps to reset notifications:

Long-press the WhatsApp icon
Open App info
Tap Notifications
Turn off Show notifications
Turn it back on after a few seconds

This often restores call alerts.

4. Clear WhatsApp Cache

Excess cache files can cause app malfunction.

How to clear cache:

Go to Settings
Tap Apps & notifications
Select WhatsApp
Tap Storage & cache
Select Clear Cache

Do not clear storage, as it may delete app data.

5. Update WhatsApp to the Latest Version

A software bug in older versions may block call notifications.

Steps to update:

Open Google Play Store
Search for WhatsApp
Tap Update if available

6. Allow Background Data Usage

WhatsApp needs constant internet access to receive calls.

Steps to enable background data:

Open App info for WhatsApp
Tap Mobile data & Wi-Fi
Enable Background data
Turn on Unrestricted data usage

7. Disable Battery Saver or Battery Optimisation

Battery saver modes often restrict background apps.

To disable Battery Saver:

Go to Settings
Tap Battery
Select Battery Saver
Tap Turn Off Now

Also check Battery Optimisation and exclude WhatsApp if available.

8. Update Google Play Services

Google Play Services plays a crucial role in push notifications.

Steps to update:

Go to Settings
Tap Apps & notifications
Select Google Play services
Tap App details
Update from Play Store if available

9. Reinstall WhatsApp

If nothing works, reinstalling the app may fix corrupted files.

Steps:

Open Play Store
Search WhatsApp
Tap Uninstall
Reinstall the app
Log in again and test calls

Make sure to back up chats before uninstalling.

10. Update Android System Software

Outdated system software can also cause notification issues.

Steps to update Android:

Go to Settings
Tap System
Select Software Update
Install the latest update if available

If the issue started after a recent update, you may consider rolling back the app version.