When your Nothing Phone (3) stops ringing, it can leave you feeling disconnected. This is a common issue with several potential causes, from a simple setting you've overlooked to a temporary network hiccup. The good news is you can usually fix it yourself with a few straightforward steps.
Start With These Quick Checks
Before we dive deeper, run through these basic actions. They solve the problem more often than you'd think. First, swipe down from the top of your screen to open Quick Settings and make sure Airplane Mode isn't accidentally enabled.
Next, give your phone a quick restart. Press and hold the power button, then tap 'Restart'. This clears out minor software glitches that can interfere with the cellular radio. Also, take a glance at your signal bars in the top corner.
If you're down to one bar or see an 'X', you might just be in a poor coverage area. Try moving to a different location or near a window.
Check Your Do Not Disturb and Focus Modes
Nothing OS has robust Focus modes that can silence calls. Open your Settings and go to Sound & vibration > Focus modes. See if any mode like 'Work' or 'Sleep' is active and review its rules.
You can also swipe down to see the Focus tile in your Quick Settings panel. Make sure it's toggled off if you're expecting calls. Sometimes a schedule you set up earlier is now blocking calls during your current hours.
Review Call Blocking and Spam Settings
The Phone app on your Nothing Phone (3) has built-in spam protection. While helpful, it can sometimes be overzealous. Open your Phone app and tap the three-dot menu in the top right, then select Settings > Caller ID & spam.
Look through the options here. You might want to temporarily turn off 'Filter spam calls' to test if it's the culprit. Also, tap on 'Blocked numbers' to see if any important contacts have accidentally been added to the list.
Investigate Network and SIM Card Issues
The problem could be with your carrier or the physical SIM card. A good first step is to toggle your mobile data off and back on from the Quick Settings panel. You can also try manually selecting your network.
Go to Settings > Network & internet > SIMs. Tap on your active SIM and select 'Network operators'. Turn off 'Choose automatically' and manually pick your carrier from the list. Give it a minute to register.
If that doesn't help, power off your phone and pop out the SIM tray. Gently remove the SIM card, wipe the gold contacts with a soft, dry cloth, and reinsert it firmly. Boot the phone back up and see if your signal returns.
Disable Any Active Call Forwarding
Call forwarding is a useful feature, but if it's enabled and forwarding to a wrong or inactive number, you'll never get calls. To check, open your Phone app and dial # # 002 # # and then tap the call button.
This is a universal code to disable all conditional call forwarding. You should see a confirmation message from your carrier. You can also check within settings by going to your Phone app's three-dot menu, then Settings > Calling accounts and looking for call forwarding options.
Reset Your Network Settings
If you're still having trouble, resetting network settings can clear up corrupted connection data. Be aware this will erase all saved Wi-Fi passwords and paired Bluetooth devices.
To do this, navigate 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 Bluetooth accessories afterward.
Update Nothing OS and Your Carrier Services
Software bugs can cause calling issues, and manufacturers release updates to fix them. Connect to Wi-Fi and go to Settings > System > System update to check for the latest version of Nothing OS.
While you're there, also check for updates to carrier-specific apps. Open the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, and go to Manage apps & device > Manage > Updates available. Look for an app called 'Carrier Services' or one with your carrier's name and update it.
Clear the Phone App's Cache and Data
The Phone app itself can develop problems from corrupted temporary files. Go to Settings > Apps > See all apps. Find and tap on 'Phone' in the list.
Select Storage & cache. Tap 'Clear cache' first, this is safe and won't delete your call history or contacts. If the problem persists, you can then tap 'Clear storage' or 'Clear data'. This will reset the app to its default state, so you may need to reconfigure any custom settings within it.
Check for Problematic Third-Party Apps
Sometimes, an app you installed can interfere with core phone functions. Think about any apps that manage calls, like dialers, call recorders, or heavy-duty battery savers. Try booting your phone into Safe Mode.
Press and hold the power button until the power menu appears. Then long-press the 'Power off' option on your screen until you see a prompt to reboot to Safe Mode. Tap it. If calls work normally in Safe Mode, a recently installed app is likely the cause. You'll need to uninstall apps one by one to find the offender.
Contact Your Mobile Carrier
If you've tried everything on the phone itself, the issue might be on your carrier's end. Use another phone to call their customer service. Ask them to check for any outages in your area, verify your account is in good standing, and ensure all call features are properly provisioned on your line.
They can also perform a network refresh from their side, which often resolves persistent calling issues. It's also worth asking if they need to update your IMEI or SIM details on their network for your new Nothing Phone (3).
