Some Pixel users missing phone calls, issue under investigation

Google’s new Android 15 has officially landed for Pixel devices, bringing a basketful of exciting features, performance boosts, bug fixes, and some missing features while at it. However, just as we’ve seen with iOS 18, tvOS 18 and macOS 15 updates recently, it seems not everything is going as smoothly as hoped. A persistent issue that some Pixel users have been dealing with since Android 14 is making its presence known yet again: missed calls due to the phone mysteriously going into silent mode despite being set to vibrate.

For some Pixel users, this quirk has been an ongoing headache, and it looks like Android 15 hasn’t fully resolved the issue. In fact, after the update, a Pixel 8 user is now experiencing the same maddening scenario: they miss calls, their phone insists it’s in silent mode, yet it’s actually set to vibrate. Frustrating? Absolutely.

Now, you’d think the update, which includes telephony fixes, would have addressed this, but no such luck. Reports of missed calls due to the silent mode bug are still rolling in, some users noticing it only after upgrading to Android 15. However, this issue was already haunting users on Android 14, especially on the Pixel 9 Pro and even some older models like the Pixel 8, Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 6.

So, what exactly is going on? In some cases, phones appear to be on vibrate, yet missed calls show up with a notification that the device was in silent mode. Some users describe instances where the phone vibrates for notifications but not for incoming calls, while others say switching between vibrate and loud modes temporarily resolves the issue.

Despite these headaches, there is a silver lining — Google is aware. In fact, even before Android 15 was rolled out, Google had acknowledged the problem and launched an investigation. One of their product experts mentioned a few troubleshooting steps, though nothing definitive has come out just yet. The good news is that Google’s on it, and we can only hope a fix arrives sooner rather than later.

For now, a potential workaround involves double-checking your ring vibration settings under Settings > Sound & vibration > Vibration & haptics and making sure everything is properly set. A quick toggle of the ring vibration might do the trick, but there’s no guarantee the issue won’t pop up again.

As Pixel users eagerly embrace Android 15’s new features, it’s clear that for some, missed calls remain a not-so-welcome companion. Let’s hope Google’s next patch addresses this once and for all. In the meantime, if you’re one of the unlucky ones missing important calls, hang in there. A fix is hopefully on the horizon.