Google Pixel 7 not receiving calls (or not ringing)? Try these potential workarounds

Many Google Pixel 7 users have been troubled by a frustrating bug where they are not receiving calls. I’ve seen a few mainstream media outlets have picked up on the bug too. After digging into threads and posts about the problem, one this is clear: the bug popped up after the March update. So once I established that this is indeed widespread, I took a step further and rummaged around for potential workarounds. At the end, I came up with both good news and bad news. The good news is that there are indeed a few potential workarounds to fix the problem, while the bad news is that there’s no guarantee that any of them will work for you. So without further ado, let’s dive in.

Before I highlight the first workaround, I’d just like to make it clear that all these workarounds have been shared by Pixel 7 users who claim that it fixed the problem for them. That said, here’s the first potential workaround:

Toggle on/off Aeroplane mode

A couple of users say that they temporarily managed to fix the bug where they aren’t receiving calls on the Pixel 7 by toggling on and off Aeroplane mode. This nifty trick usually comes in handy when dealing with network or connectivity related bugs. So I’m not surprised that it helps temporarily fix the issue. You can enable Aeroplane mode by pulling down the quick settings. Alternatively, go to Settings > Network and internet and turn on the switch besides Aeroplane mode on your device.

The catch here is that this might only offer temporarily relief from the pesky bug. You might have to perform the same action daily to make sure you don’t miss important calls.

Reset network settings

If the Aeroplane mode workarounds doesn’t help, you might want to consider resetting the network settings on your Pixel 7 to default. Doing this should help eliminate the bug if it was caused by any settings that may have been changed manually. A few users did confirm that this action offered temporary help. To reset your network settings follow these steps: Settings > System > Reset options > Reset mobile network settings. Once done, restart your phone and try testing to see if your Pixel 7 receives calls or rings when called.

Disable Wi-Fi

One user affected by the bug claimed that they fixed it by disabling Wi-Fi. Although it’s not immediately clear how turning off Wi-Fi would affect the device’s calling capabilities. You can disable Wi-Fi via the quick settings or go to Settings > Network and internet > Internet > and toggle off Wi-Fi. Unless you have an unlimited mobile data plan, I’d suggest skipping this workaround even though it might help.

Tweak the SIM settings

Some users also noted that changing a few SIM settings helped them solve the problem. To start off, first go to Settings > Network and internet > SIMs > Tap your SIM > Toggle off ‘Use this SIM’. Wait for a few seconds and toggle it back on. Now, within the same page, go to ‘Preferred network type’ and switch the default 5G to LTE.

One done, you should be able to receive calls on the Pixel 7 as usual. In fact, you can later even try turning on 5G once again.

Interestingly, I spotted one user with a Pixel 6, yes a Pixel 6, who’s also facing the same problem claiming that T-Mobile informed them that they’re aware of the problem. They apparently blamed the Tensor SoC for the bug. Here’s exactly what the user said:

This is happening on my Pixel 6. TMobile says it’s a known problem due to the chip in the phone. Google told me since the phone is no longer under warranty there’s nothing they can do.

Another Pixel 6 user also reported that they’re facing the same problem. So it’s possible that Pixel 7 users aren’t alone in this situation. Adding to the trouble, some users note that even the April update didn’t fix the problem. So affected users might have to wait yet another month for Google to release a proper fix for the issue. That being said, I hope this article was useful and helped you temporarily fix the bug. In case you stumbled upon a workaround that I haven’t mentioned, feel free to drop a comment below. Thanks in advance!