If your call rings once and then gets redirected to voicemail, it could be due to the following reasons:
- You might be blocked by the recipient.
- The recipient’s phone could be in do not disturb or airplane mode.
- They intentionally declined your call.
- Their phone is dead or turned off.
- They are in an area with weak signals.
- There might be carrier-related issues on your end.
In this generation, particularly among Gen Z, I’ve noticed a prevailing notion that calling is overrated, unlike older generations who used calls for even the smallest matters. Nowadays, many people prefer texting or sending voice messages instead of making calls. The emphasis on being “introverts” and honoring personal preferences has led some individuals to feel uncomfortable with calling.
However, it’s undeniable that calling remains more efficient than texting, especially during emergencies where a call is the obvious choice. However, both texting and calling have their advantages.
If you attempt to call someone and consistently hear a ring followed by redirection to voicemail, it might leave you perplexed as to why this occurs. This article aims to address and clarify the reasons behind such incidents.
What Causes My Phone To Ring Once And Then Redirect To Voicemail When I Call Someone?
The other day, I had numerous frustrations and felt the need to call my go-to person to vent and find some relief. However, when I dialed their number, my phone rang only once before being redirected to voicemail. It was an odd and frustrating experience since I really needed to talk to them urgently.
If you find yourself in a similar situation and have landed on this article while searching for answers, rest assured that you are not alone. Below, I’ve compiled a list of all the potential reasons why this issue occurs.
Please bear in mind that although this issue can be bothersome at the time, it’s typically not a cause for major concern. The reasons for why it may occur are applicable not only when you attempt to call someone but also when they try to call you. If you fall into any of the categories mentioned below, callers trying to reach you might also experience the same one-ring-and-voicemail situation.
Blocked Contact
Indeed, the first thought that typically arises when numerous attempts to call the recipient fail, and each time the call is directed to voicemail after a single ring, is that the recipient might have blocked the caller.
When a contact is blocked, there is no direct notification sent to the blocked party. As a result, symptoms like calls going straight to voicemail after just one ring become indications that the recipient has blocked the contact.
Blocking establishes a barrier between the caller and the recipient, preventing any attempts from the caller’s end to reach the recipient.
The Phone Is On Do Not Disturb Mode
If you attempt to call someone or receive a call, and in either case, the phone rings just once before being redirected to voicemail, it could be because the recipient has activated “Do Not Disturb” mode on their phone.
The purpose of this mode is evident from its name; it allows the recipient to focus on their tasks without any distractions from incoming calls or messages.
When the phone is on “Do Not Disturb” mode, it can be manually turned off, or a specific duration of 1, 2, or 8 hours may be set. During this time, the phone remains silent, except for alarms and timers, and incoming calls and messages are not notified to the recipient.
However, in some cases, the recipient’s phone might ring once or even 3-4 times, depending on their carrier settings.
The Phone Is On Airplane Mode
Enabling airplane mode on a phone suspends all signal transmissions, effectively disabling data and call services. Consequently, when you try to call someone whose phone is in airplane mode, your attempt will be in vain, and the phone will ring once before the call gets redirected to voicemail.
This is typically nothing to worry about, as airplane mode functions similarly to the “Do Not Disturb” mode.
Many people, including myself, activate airplane mode when charging their phones, as it can lead to more efficient charging. During this period, the recipient’s phone won’t receive the call, resulting in the call from your end being sent directly to voicemail after a single ring.
Rejecting Calls Manually
Another possible reason for the recipient not answering the call after one ring could be that they don’t wish to talk to you at that moment. They might be busy, intentionally avoiding the call, upset, or dealing with any situation that prevents them from picking up.
In such cases, they may quickly end the call when you attempt to reach them, resulting in the call being redirected to voicemail after one ring.
Therefore, immediately declined calls can also be automatically redirected to voicemail after just a single ring.
Phone Turned Off
It is also possible that if the recipient’s phone is either dead or turned off for some reason, any attempts to call them will result in the call being redirected to voicemail after a single ring.
When the phone is dead or turned off, all activities, including incoming calls, are suspended, making it impossible to establish a connection.
Depending on their carrier, you might hear messages like, “The mobile phone you are trying to call has been switched off. Please try again later,” or “The person you are trying to reach is unavailable. Please try again later.”
All of these messages indicate that the person’s phone you’re trying to reach is either dead or turned off, which is why your calls are being redirected to voicemail.
Dealing with No Service
Another practical possibility is that the recipient is in an area with poor network coverage, and the phone service is unable to maintain a stable connection.
In such situations, the phone lacks both data-related functionalities and the ability to make or receive calls. Consequently, attempts to call such a recipient may prove unproductive, leading the call to be redirected to voicemail after just one ring.
Depending on the carrier, the voicemail message may vary, with statements like “The number is currently no longer in service. Please try again later” being provided.
Carrier-Related Phone Issues
Furthermore, there are cases where the recipient’s phone doesn’t fall into any of the above-mentioned categories, yet the call still gets redirected to voicemail after one ring.
This could be attributed to ongoing maintenance or other carrier-related issues affecting the recipient’s network.
If you are the recipient experiencing this problem, it’s essential to confirm with your carrier and address the issue to ensure your phone functions correctly and calls are not automatically redirected to voicemail.
To prevent calls from being redirected to voicemail after just one ring, ensure that your phone does not fall into any of the categories mentioned above. Be cautious about your phone settings and connectivity to avoid any issues that might lead to this redirection.
How Can I Verify If My Calls Are Going To Voicemail After One Ring Due To Being Blocked Or Other Issues On My End?
If you find that your call is consistently redirected to voicemail after just one ring, you might be curious to rule out any issues on your end, such as problems with your carrier or the possibility of being blocked by the recipient.
First, check for issues on your end by trying to call someone else or contacting someone with the same carrier. Also, review any notifications or alerts from your carrier to see if there are any service-related problems.
If you determine that the issue is on your end and have resolved it, you should now verify whether you have been blocked by the recipient. One way to do this is to call them from an unknown or different number.
If they answer the call, it may indicate that you are blocked or intentionally ignored, as the recipient immediately cancels your calls. However, if even from the other number the call is still redirected to voicemail after a single ring, there might be other reasons causing the issue.
Sum Up
- Phone calls going straight to voicemail after one ring can be frustrating and confusing.
- Causes include: Do Not Disturb mode, phone turned off, weak signal, airplane mode, and carrier-related issues, etc.
- To check if you are blocked, call from a different number. If they answer, you may be blocked. If the call goes to voicemail, it’s likely another issue.
- To verify if carrier-related issues are causing calls to go straight to voicemail after one ring, try calling someone else, talk to someone with a similar carrier, or check for carrier notifications, and if the issue persists, contact your service provider.