Missing calls on your Nothing Phone (2) can be a real headache, especially when you're expecting something important. The phone might vibrate or show a missed call notification, but you never hear the actual ringtone. This usually comes down to a setting that got changed or a minor software hiccup.
I'd start by checking the most obvious things first. The volume might be turned all the way down, or a system mode like Do Not Disturb could be active. Sometimes, connecting to a Bluetooth speaker or headphones will route the audio there without you realizing it.
Check Your Volume and Silent Mode
First, unlock your phone and press the volume up button on the right side. Make sure you're adjusting the ringtone volume, not the media volume. You'll see an on-screen slider pop up.
You can also check this in your settings. Go to Settings > Sound & vibration and look at the "Ring volume" slider. Drag it all the way to the right to test.
Also, look at the top of your screen. If you see a bell icon with a line through it, your phone is in silent mode. You can swipe down with two fingers to open the Quick Settings panel and tap that bell icon to turn silent mode off.
Turn Off Do Not Disturb and Focus Mode
Do Not Disturb is a common culprit. When it's on, your phone won't ring for calls unless you've made exceptions for certain contacts. Focus modes in Nothing OS work similarly, silencing notifications for specific scenarios like work or sleep.
To check, open your Quick Settings panel by swiping down from the top of the screen twice. Look for the crescent moon icon. If it's highlighted, tap it to turn Do Not Disturb off.
For a more thorough check, go to Settings > Sound & vibration > Do Not Disturb. Here, you can see if it's on and review any schedules that might be turning it on automatically. Make sure to check any active Focus modes here as well and turn them off.
Disconnect Bluetooth Accessories
If your Nothing Phone (2) is connected to a pair of wireless earbuds, a speaker, or your car's audio system, incoming call audio is often routed there. If those accessories are out of range or off, the call might just seem silent.
The quickest fix is to turn Bluetooth off temporarily. Swipe down to open Quick Settings and tap the Bluetooth icon to disable it. You can also go to Settings > Connected devices and toggle the main Bluetooth switch off.
Try making a test call with Bluetooth off. If the ringtone plays normally, you know the issue was with an accessory. You can then reconnect Bluetooth and check the settings on the specific device.
Change Your Ringtone
Sometimes the specific audio file for your ringtone can become corrupted. Switching to a different one forces the system to load a fresh file, which can clear up the problem.
Head to Settings > Sound & vibration > Phone ringtone. You'll see a list of default tones. Select a different one, preferably something loud and distinct, and then have a friend call you to test it.
If you're using a custom ringtone you downloaded, try switching back to a pre-installed system ringtone first to see if that's the issue.
Review Your Call Settings and Blocked Numbers
A few settings can redirect or silence calls without you realizing it. It's worth a quick look to make sure nothing is misconfigured.
First, check for call forwarding. Open your Phone app, tap the three-dot menu in the top right, and go to Settings > Call forwarding. Make sure all options are set to "Turn off" or your carrier's default.
Next, look at blocked numbers. In the same Phone app settings, go to Blocked numbers. If a contact is accidentally listed here, their calls will go straight to voicemail.
Also, check the "Silence unknown callers" feature. You can find it in Settings > Sound & vibration. If this is on, any number not in your contacts will be silenced.
Check App-Specific Permissions
If you're missing calls from apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, or Facebook Messenger, the issue might be with that app's notifications, not your system ringtone. Each app manages its own call alerts on Android.
Go to Settings > Apps and select the app you're having trouble with (like WhatsApp). Tap Notifications. Make sure notifications are turned on for the app overall.
Then, look for specific notification categories like "Incoming calls" or "Voice calls." Tap into that category and ensure the sound is set to a tone and isn't set to "Silent." Also, check that the "Pop on screen" option is enabled so calls appear over other apps.
Restart Your Nothing Phone (2)
A simple restart clears out temporary system glitches that can affect sound and notification services. It's a quick fix that works more often than you'd think.
Just press and hold the power button on the right side of the phone. When the power menu appears, tap "Restart." If your phone is completely unresponsive, you can force a restart by pressing and holding the power button for about 10 seconds until the screen goes black and the phone reboots.
Update Nothing OS and Your Apps
Software updates frequently include bug fixes for audio and notification problems. Make sure your phone is running the latest version of Nothing OS and Android.
Connect to Wi-Fi, then go to Settings > System > System update to check for and install any available updates. Don't forget to also update your phone app and any messaging apps you use for calls through the Google Play Store.
Check the Glyph Interface Settings
The Glyph Interface on the back of your Phone (2) is a unique feature for notifications. While it's for lights, its settings can sometimes interact with sound profiles.
Go to Settings > Glyph Interface. Look for any settings related to "Flip to Glyph" or silent modes. The "Flip to Glyph" feature, when enabled, can automatically set the phone to silent when placed face-down. Make sure this isn't activating unintentionally.
You can also try toggling Glyph notifications for your phone app off and back on, just to reset that connection.
Reset App Preferences
This is a less nuclear option than a full factory reset. It resets all your app permissions, notification settings, and default apps back to their original state, but it won't delete any of your personal data.
Go to Settings > System > Reset options. Tap on Reset app preferences and confirm. Afterward, you'll need to re-grant permissions to apps when you use them again, but it can resolve conflicts causing sound issues.
Boot Into Safe Mode
Safe mode temporarily disables all third-party apps you've downloaded. If your phone rings normally in safe mode, you know a recently installed app is causing the conflict.
To enter safe mode, press and hold the power button until the power menu appears. Then, press and hold the "Power off" option on your screen. A prompt will ask if you want to reboot into safe mode. Tap "OK."
Test a call in safe mode. If it works, restart your phone normally to exit safe mode. Then, try uninstalling apps you installed around the time the problem started, especially any sound equalizers, custom ringtone apps, or aggressive battery savers.
Reset Network Settings
This step is particularly useful if you're having issues with Wi-Fi calling or VoIP calls from apps not ringing. It resets Wi-Fi, mobile data, and Bluetooth settings.
Go to Settings > System > Reset options. Select Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth. Confirm and enter your PIN if prompted. You'll need to reconnect to your Wi-Fi networks and re-pair Bluetooth devices afterward.
Check for SIM Card Issues
While less common, a poorly seated or faulty SIM card can cause call problems. Power off your Nothing Phone (2) completely.
Use the SIM eject tool that came in the box (or a small paperclip) to open the SIM tray on the bottom of the phone. Gently remove the SIM card, wipe the gold contacts with a soft, dry cloth, and reinsert it firmly. Power the phone back on.
If you have another phone available, you can also test your SIM card in it to rule out a network issue from your carrier.
Perform a Factory Reset
If you've tried everything else, a factory reset is the final step. This will erase all data from your phone, so it's crucial to back up everything important first using Google's backup service or by manually transferring files to a computer.
Once backed up, go to Settings > System > Reset options. Select Erase all data (factory reset). Follow the prompts to confirm. After the reset, set up your phone as new without restoring a backup immediately to see if the ringing works. If it does, the issue was in your software configuration.
