If you use WhatsApp for VoIP services to stay connected with others, you might wonder about the difference between calling vs ringing while reaching someone.
WhatsApp “Calling” means you cannot connect with the recipient because they are either offline due to an inactive internet connection or the phone is off. “Ringing” means WhatsApp has successfully connected your call, and the recipient can now accept or reject it.
In this article, we’ll discuss the difference between WhatsApp calling vs ringing status. We’ll also explore why your WhatsApp calls are not ringing and what you do to fix this problem.
What is the difference between calling and ringing on WhatsApp call?
The difference between calling and ringing on WhatsApp is directly linked to the availability or unavailability of the contact.
Calling status on WhatsApp means you have initiated the call, but the recipient is unaware of it because they are either offline due to internet issues or their phone is off. In this case, the recipient will only receive the call notification when they get back online.
On the other hand, ringing on WhatsApp indicates the call has successfully gone through, and the recipient can accept or reject it.
Why are my WhatsApp calls not ringing?
If our WhatsApp calls are always stuck on calling and not ringing, one of the following might be the reason for this issue:
- Network issues on the recipient side.
- Calling an inactive contact.
- You have been blocked by the recipient.
- Minor bugs cause the app to glitch.
- The recipient has restricted background data access for WhatsApp.
How do I get my WhatsApp calls to ring?
To help you get your WhatsApp calls to ring, we’ve listed some tried and tested solutions to fix this frustrating problem.
Ask Recipient to Re-Establish Network Connection
WhatsApp requires an active internet connection with stable bandwidth on your and the recipient’s phone to connect your calls.
However, if the recipient is facing network issues, your WhatsApp will show “Calling” instead of “Ringing.” Therefore, call them on their cell number and ask them to connect to a reliable internet connection for WhatsApp calls to work.
Contact Recipient On New Account
Your WhatsApp calls might not be ringing and show the calling status if you are trying to connect with an inactive recipient who has uninstalled WhatsApp without deleting their account or not using it anymore.
So, request the recipient to reactivate their account or contact them through their new WhatsApp number.
Request Recipient to Unblock Your Number
When someone blocks you on WhatsApp, your calls will not go through, and the app will continue to show “Calling” on your end.
The remedy here is to confirm this with the person on a phone call. If so, address any misunderstandings that might have led to the block so they can unblock your WhatsApp number and then call them.
Force Stop WhatsApp
Sometimes, minor bugs in WhatsApp might be the reason why your calls stay on the calling status. To fix this issue, force stop the app on your phone this way:
Android:
- Open “Settings.”
- Tap “Apps.”
- Tap “All Apps.”
- Select “WhatsApp.”
- Tap “Force Stop.”
iPhone:
- Swipe up on your iPhone Home screen to access the most recent apps.
- Scroll right to find WhatsApp.
- Swipe up on the WhatsApp preview to close the app.
After force-stopping the app, relaunch WhatsApp and try calling someone to see if this fixes the issue.
NOTE: Force-stopping WhatsApp also fixes the app if it keeps scrolling up.
Provide Background Data Access to WhatsApp
The recipient might have restricted WhatsApp from running in the background, due to which your call won’t connect if they are not actively using the app.
To fix this, ask the other person to grant WhatsApp the necessary permissions in the background with these easy steps:
Android:
- Open “Settings.”
- Tap “Connections.”
- Tap “Data Usage.”
- Select “WhatsApp.”
- Toggle on “Allow Background Data Usage.”
iPhone:
- Open “Settings.”
- Tap “General.”
- Tap “Background App Refresh.”
- Toggle on “WhatsApp.”
Once the recipient allows the app to run in the background, try calling them again and verify the fix.
What does one ring on WhatsApp mean?
If the WhatsApp “Calling” status turns into “Ringing,” but the app shows “Unavailable” after one ring, this could mean the recipient has enabled the “Do Not Disturb” feature on their phone.
Again, the fix here is advising them to turn off the Do Not Disturb feature on their Android phone with these steps:
- Open “Settings.”
- Go to “Notifications.”
- Select “Do Not Disturb.”
- Toggle off “Do Not Disturb.”
On an iPhone, swipe down from the top-right edge of the screen to launch the “Control Center” and the half-moon icon to disable “Do Not Disturb.”
Conclusion
In this short guide, we’ve explained the difference between WhatsApp calling vs ringing statuses. We’ve also answered why your WhatsApp calls are not ringing and discussed 5 fixes to resolve this issue quickly.
Hopefully, this article has provided you with clear insights into the matter, and you now don’t have to keep staring at your phone, thinking about why the other person is not answering your WhatsApp calls.