What Does “Incoming Call Is Not Available on This Number” Mean?

Imagine you are dialing your friend’s number for the 7th time in a row, and you only hear, “incoming call is not available on this number📞 .”

Now, you wonder why it is always saying that and think, “Has he blocked me? Or is it just network issues?😕”

The reason can be any of the above. So, what exactly is the message “incoming call is not available on this number”🤔?

In this article, we will discuss what it means, its causes, and troubleshooting ideas.

What Does “Incoming Call Is Not Available on This Number” Mean?

The message “Incoming Call Is Not Available on This Number” typically indicates that the number is out of service, meaning the line has been disconnected, suspended, or never existed, such as with fake or unassigned numbers.

This message typically refers to one of these rare but important scenarios:

• 📵 Number Out of Service: The line has been disconnected, suspended, or never existed (e.g., fake/unassigned number).

• 🌐 Carrier Restrictions: The provider blocks incoming calls (common with toll-free/enterprise numbers).

• 🔒 Privacy Settings: Call forwarding, Do Not Disturb, or a carrier-level block is active.

• 🛑 Temporary Glitch: A network error or ongoing porting/number transfer (usually fixes itself).

💡 Pro Tip: If you see this when calling someone, try later or contact them another way. If it’s your number, check with your carrier!

Common Reasons for the Message “Incoming call is not available on this number.”

The message “Incoming call is not available on this number” means the person on the other side of the phone call is unavailable at the moment and cannot receive the phone call at that time.

This can be due to network issues if the number is blocked by the recipient or if the phone is turned off. Here are some of the common reasons for the message, “incoming call is not available on this number.”

1. When the number is no longer in service

If a phone number is disconnected or not in service, you will not be able to reach the number. Phone service problems can stop you from reaching the person you’re calling. If the person’s phone company is doing maintenance, has too much traffic, or is having a temporary outage, the call might not go through.

If you think phone service is the problem, you can look for service interruptions. It’s also smart to call your phone company to see if there are any issues or if the service is down.

2. The phone is turned off or out of coverage

When the recipient’s phone is powered down or located in an area with poor network coverage, incoming calls cannot be received.

This includes the situation in which the phone is just in airplane mode, where all network connections are disabled. The network would not be able to connect the call.

3. Network connectivity issues

If the person you are calling is in a place with a weak or no cell signal, their phone might not get your call. You will hear the message “incoming call not available on this number.”

This can happen in remote places, underground, or when the network is down. Also, if too many people are trying to use the network at once, it can cause this problem.

When the network is busy, it might not let calls go through to the person’s phone, leading to the message “incoming call facility is temporarily unavailable on this number.”

4. The Number is Blocked or Restricted by the Carrier

There are times when carriers may block or restrict certain numbers for a number of reasons, including possible fraudulent activity or at the request of the subscriber.

If a number is blocked, you will not be able to complete a call to it. Some users may have call blocking enabled on their devices, preventing unwanted calls from reaching them from certain numbers.

Issues within the recipient’s device, such as software glitches or hardware failures, can impede the ability to receive calls.

Problems with the phone app, SIM cards, or network settings can all contribute to call reception issues.

Ensuring that the device’s software is up-to-date and that the SIM card is functioning properly can help mitigate these problems.

6. Payment or plan issues

Money issues can stop incoming calls sometimes. If someone has an unpaid bill, their service might be paused until they pay. This pause will stop them from getting calls.

Prepaid phone users might see this message if they don’t have enough money in their account to keep their service active.

7. Do Not Disturb or Call Forwarding Settings

Sometimes, you see the “Incoming call is not available on this number” message because of settings on the other person’s phone.

If they have sent their calls to another number and that number is not working, you can’t reach them.

Also, they might have blocked your number, which means they don’t want you to call them.

8. Number Can Only Make Calls

When you hear, “incoming call is not available on this number,” it means the number can only make calls, not receive them.

This usually happens with numbers that are set up to make calls only. So, you can’t call this number directly. You will need to find another way to contact them, like calling a different number or sending a message.

Technical Aspects Behind the Message “Incoming call is not available on this number.”

The message “Incoming call is not available on this number” means the call you tried to make did not go through. This can happen for several reasons.

One common reason is that the call could not reach the person’s phone. This might be because they are outside the service area, their phone is off, or it is in airplane mode.

The call might also fail if there are too many calls happening at once or if there are temporary network problems.

Sometimes, the phone company might block the number due to suspected fraud or unpaid bills. If the person has “Do Not Disturb” mode on, it could also send the call to voicemail or another number.

There could also be issues with the network software. Problems like old software or a bad SIM card can stop the call from connecting. If these issues happen, the user can try turning off their phone, checking their coverage, or resetting the SIM card.

Troubleshooting Steps for Users “Incoming call is not available on this number.”

If you hear, “Incoming call is not available on this number,” there can be issues from your side or the receiver side.

Here are the troubleshooting steps if you receive these messages.

1. If the issue is in the recipient’s phone

Follow these steps if the issue is in the recipient’s phone:

A. Check if Their Phone is Turned On

Ensure that the recipient’s telephone is on, as a phone that is off or has a dead battery does not receive calls, causing the system to send this message.

It is also critical to confirm whether the phone is in airplane mode, as all connections on a device are suspended when in airplane mode, which will not allow the recipient to receive the phone call.

B. Verify Their Network Coverage

The intended recipient could be in an area with little or no cell service, in which case their phone wouldn’t be able to receive calls. Examples include being underground, in a remote area, or inside some buildings, which can affect service. You might suggest that they move into an area with better coverage.

C. Confirm If Their Number is Still Active

If the recipient’s phone number has been disconnected or suspended due to non-payment or other reasons, incoming calls won’t go through. It’s advisable to contact the recipient through alternative means to confirm the status of their number.

D. Ask if They Have Enabled the “Do Not Disturb” (DND) Mode

When DND mode is enabled, the phone silences incoming calls, which might lead to the caller receiving this message. Some phones allow exceptions for repeated calls or specific contacts.

Reach out to the recipient’s family or friends to check if their device is powered on, has a stable network connection, or is set to Do Not Disturb (DND) mode.

E. Check for Call Blocking or Restrictions

It’s possible that the recipient unintentionally blocked your number or established limitations on their phone that would prevent them from answering certain calls.

They should check their phone’s blocked contacts and any restrictions given by their carrier to check if their number is blocked. Also, some carriers have a service to filter or block calls, which could inhibit your call from going through to them.

2. If the issue is in your phone

Follow these steps if the issue is in your phone:

A. Restart Your Phone

Sometimes, a simple restart is all it takes to fix minor issues that may be affecting your ability to receive calls. To restart the phone, turn the phone off completely, wait a few seconds, and then turn it back on.

Restarting the phone clears out temporary issues due to the operating system being refreshed.

B. Your Network Signal

Make sure your device has enough signal bars displayed. Low coverage may prevent incoming calls. If you are in a location with weak coverage, consider moving to a location with stronger coverage, or if available, turn on Wi-Fi calling.

C. Verify If You Have Call Restrictions Enabled

Check your phone’s settings to ensure that features such as Do Not Disturb, call forwarding, or call blocking are not turned on because they can stop calls from coming through.

Make changes if necessary so that calls can come in.

D. Ensure You Are Dialing the Correct Number

Verify the accuracy of the number you are calling. Trivial mistakes may cause the calls not to connect. Make sure you are dialing the correct area and country codes, particularly for international calls.

E. Contact Your Carrier for Assistance

If the issue continues after taking these steps, please contact your mobile carrier customer support. Issues with your account, network downtime, or any other technical problems could be the reason for your inability to call.

Conclusion

Receiving a message “incoming call is not available on this number” can be frustrating when you need to connect with the other person urgently. There are various reasons for this kind of message.

However, if you understand the cause of this message, fixing these issues is not a big deal.

If you encounter these issues in your phone, try simple solutions like checking the recipient’s phone status, verifying your network connection, or ensuring you have the correct number.

FAQs

Why do I hear the message “Incoming call is not available on this number”?

This message typically means that the number you are trying to call is out of service, blocked, restricted, or experiencing network issues. It may also be due to the recipient’s phone being turned off or in an area with no signal.

Does this message mean that my number is blocked?

Not only blocking but call blocking could be a reason; other factors, such as network issues, the recipient’s phone settings, or an inactive number, can also be the reason for this message.

Can I fix this issue myself?

Yes, you can try troubleshooting by checking if the recipient’s phone is on, verifying the number, ensuring you have a strong network signal, and making sure your number isn’t blocked. If the issue persists, contact your mobile carrier.

Does this message indicate that the number no longer exists?

It can mean that the number no longer exists. If the number has been disconnected, suspended, or never assigned, you may receive this message. Try contacting the person through another method to confirm.

Why do I hear this message only sometimes when calling the same number?

This could be due to temporary network congestion, the recipient’s phone being off, or their number being restricted at certain times (e.g., Do Not Disturb mode or call forwarding).

Can a carrier block a number from receiving incoming calls?

Yes, carriers may restrict incoming calls on certain numbers, especially business, toll-free, or fraudulent numbers. Also, if a number has unpaid bills, the carrier may temporarily disable incoming calls.

If a phone is in Do Not Disturb mode, will I hear this message?

Sometimes, if DND is turned on, you can hear this message. If the recipient has Do Not Disturb enabled with strict settings, calls may be silenced or forwarded, resulting in this message. However, in most cases, DND sends calls to voicemail instead.