When your Nothing Phone 2a stops ringing, it can feel like you've dropped off the grid. This issue can pop up for a bunch of reasons, from a simple toggle you accidentally switched to something more involved with your carrier. I'd start with the quick checks below, as they resolve the majority of these problems.
Check the Basics First
Before we get into deeper settings, let's rule out the easy stuff. Start by making sure Airplane Mode is off. You can swipe down from the top of your screen twice to see the full Quick Settings panel and tap the airplane icon to toggle it.
Next, give your phone a quick restart. Just press and hold the power button, then tap 'Restart' on the screen. This clears out minor software hiccups that can mess with the cellular radio.
Also, take a glance at your signal bars. If you're in a basement or a rural area with poor coverage, calls might not come through. Try moving to a different location or near a window.
Review Do Not Disturb and Focus Modes
Nothing OS has several ways to silence calls that are easy to enable by mistake. Swipe down and check your Quick Settings for the Do Not Disturb icon. If it's highlighted, tap it to turn it off.
You should also check your scheduled Focus modes. Go to Settings > Digital Wellbeing & parental controls > Focus modes. See if any are active and make sure they aren't configured to block all calls.
Inspect Your Call Blocking Settings
The Phone app on your Nothing Phone 2a can automatically filter spam, but sometimes it gets overzealous. Open your Phone app and tap the three-dot menu in the top right, then go to Settings > Spam and call blocking.
Look through the options here. You can see a list of blocked numbers and adjust filters for suspected spam calls. If you're missing calls from unknown numbers, you might want to temporarily disable the spam filter to test.
Disable Call Forwarding
If call forwarding is active on your line, all your calls are being sent to another number without your phone ever ringing. To check this on your Nothing Phone 2a, open the Phone app and dial # # 002 # # and then tap the call button.
This USSD code should disable any unconditional call forwarding. You can also check within the Phone app settings under Call settings > Calling accounts > [Your Carrier] > Call forwarding to see if any rules are set up.
Examine Your SIM Card
A loose or faulty SIM card is a classic culprit. You'll need the SIM ejector tool that came with your phone. Gently push it into the small hole on the SIM tray on the left side of the Phone 2a.
Remove the tray, take out the SIM card, and give the gold contacts a quick wipe with a soft, dry cloth. Reinsert the card firmly into the tray, making sure it's seated correctly, and slide the tray back in until it clicks.
Reset Your Network Settings
This step clears all your network-related configurations, which can fix persistent calling issues. Be aware it will erase saved Wi-Fi passwords and paired Bluetooth devices.
To do this, go to Settings > System > Reset options. Tap on Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth and confirm. Your phone will reboot, and you'll need to reconnect to Wi-Fi networks and re-pair Bluetooth accessories.
Update Nothing OS
Software bugs that affect calling are often patched in updates. Nothing is pretty good about pushing regular updates for the Phone 2a. Go to Settings > System > System update and tap 'Check for update'.
If an update is available, download and install it. It's best to do this while connected to Wi-Fi and with your phone charged above 50%. After the update, test if your calls are coming through again.
Clear the Phone App's Cache and Data
Corrupted data in the Phone app itself can cause problems. This won't delete your call history or contacts, but it will reset the app's settings. Head to Settings > Apps > See all apps and find 'Phone' in the list.
Tap on it, then go to Storage & cache. Tap 'Clear cache' first and test. If the issue persists, go back and tap 'Clear storage' or 'Clear data'. You'll need to grant the app permissions again the next time you open it.
Check for Problematic Third-Party Apps
Sometimes, an app you installed can interfere with telephony services. Think about any call-related apps, dialers, or powerful battery savers you've added recently. Try booting your Phone 2a into Safe Mode.
Press and hold the power button until the power menu appears. Then, press and hold the 'Power off' option on the screen. A prompt will ask if you want to reboot into Safe Mode. Tap 'OK'. In Safe Mode, test a call. If it works, a third-party app is likely the cause.
Contact Your Mobile Carrier
The issue might be on their end. It's worth giving your carrier's support a quick call from another phone. They can check for outages in your area, verify your account is in good standing, and ensure your line is properly provisioned for voice calls.
They can also reprovision your connection to their network, which is like refreshing your account from their side. This has fixed call issues for me more times than I can count when nothing on the phone itself worked.