How to fix display not waking up with incoming calls issue

It’s a common Android issue wherein the screen doesn’t turn on or wake up with incoming calls. The phone still keeps ringing but to check who’s calling, you will have to unlock the phone, open the dialer app and then go to the ongoing call. (हिंदी में पढ़े)

We have noticed this issue on some phones before. A simple Google search reveals that a few of the previous generation Android phones have had the issue, especially the Android One models.

Page Contents:

• Method 1 – For Phones running on older Android versions
• Method 2 – For Phones running on Android Pie
• Method 3 – For Phones running on Android 10
• Method 4 – For Phones running on Android 11

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Solved: Screen not turning on with incoming calls

Method 1

Step 1: Go to Dialer or Phone app settings. To do so, you can either go to main settings, then open ‘Apps’, and then scroll down to Dialer or Phone App.

To access the App Info page, you may long press the App icon, and then tap the App info option or the small ‘i’ label in the corner.

Step 2: Now select the “App notifications” option.

Step 3: Now if App notifications are turned off, your display won’t wake up when someone calls you. Also if only the “Incoming calls” permission is off, your screen will not light up with incoming calls.

Step 4: Now tap on incoming calls and change the priority to urgent (Make sound and pop on screen)

Make sure the required permissions are turned on and your issue will be fixed.

On Android Nougat-based phones, the option is listed as Phone under permissions as is shown in the image below.

The options may differ based on a particular custom UI on your phone. But all you need to do is go to the App info page of the ‘Phone’ app and grant it the necessary notification permissions. You probably denied the permission when first prompted and perhaps that’s the reason why you are facing the issue.

Method 2: (For Android Pie-based Phones)

If you have Android 9.0 Pie-based software on your phone, you can follow these steps (Courtesy of our reader Charlie)

Step 1: Go to App Info of the Phone Dialer app and tap on Notifications.

Step 2: Tap on the ‘Incoming Calls’ option and then on behavior.

Step 3: Now tap on ‘Behaviour’.

Step 4: Ensure that the notification priority is set to urgent or “Make sound and pop up”.

Method 3: (For Android 10-based phones)

Most Android 10 phones that we have tested have the proper notification option locked by default. If your Android 10 phone is facing the issue, here’s what you need to do:

Step 1: Go to the App Info page of the Dialer app (either from Settings>> app or long-press the app icon)

Step 2: Tap on ‘Notifications’, and then on ‘Incoming calls’.

Step 3: Ensure that your incoming calls are marked as Important and urgent.

Method 4: (For Android 11-based phones)

There isn’t a whole lot different to do here. You just have to go to the App Info section of the Phone/Dialer app. Press the app icon and click on the (i) icon for that.

Thereafter click on Notifications and ensure All Phone Notifications are turned on. Then, press on the Incoming Calls option and turn on ‘Override Do Not Disturb’ and other options as shown in the screenshots above.

Next up, go to the Apps and Notifications option in the main device Settings, and then press on the Advanced option> Special App Access option> Display Over Other Apps, and ensure Phone is Allowed. That’s all.

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Let us know in the comments which of the aforementioned methods did the trick for you. Besides these methods, sometimes, a simple reboot of the device, or clearing the cache, data, and app preferences can solve any minor issues. Unfortunately, if you’re still facing any issues related to the incoming calls or any other smartphone-related query, let us know down in the comments.