How you turn the ringer on depends on which iPhone 15 you have. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus have a Ring/Silent switch on the left side: push it toward the screen so no orange shows. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max replaced the switch with the Action button: press and hold it to turn Silent Mode off, or turn off Silent Mode in Settings > Sounds & Haptics. If calls still don’t ring after that, the volume or a Focus mode is the likely cause. Every step is below.
Which iPhone 15 do you have?
Look at the top of the left side. A small sliding switch means iPhone 15 or 15 Plus. A small button means iPhone 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max. You can also check Settings > General > About > Model Name.
iPhone 15 and 15 Plus: use the Ring/Silent switch
- Find the switch above the volume buttons on the left side.
- Push it toward the screen. When the ringer is on, you won’t see the orange stripe.
- A Silent Mode Off message appears briefly at the top of the screen.
- Press and hold the Action button above the volume buttons.
- You’ll feel a vibration, and Silent Mode Off appears at the top of the screen with a bell icon.
If pressing it opens the camera, a shortcut, or something else, you’ve assigned the Action button to a different action. Use one of the other methods below, or change it back in Settings > Action Button by swiping to Silent Mode.
Any model: turn off Silent Mode in Settings
- Open Settings > Sounds & Haptics.
- Turn off Silent Mode.
On recent versions of iOS, you can also open Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner and tapping the bell-shaped Silent Mode control, if it’s been added.
Turn the ringer volume up
- Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics.
- Drag the Ringtone and Alerts slider to the right.
- Turn on Change with Buttons if you want the side volume buttons to control the ringer when you’re not playing media.
To pick a different sound, tap Ringtone on the same screen. See how to change your iPhone ringtone.
Still not ringing? Check these
- Focus or Do Not Disturb: a moon or other Focus icon in the status bar means calls are being silenced. Swipe down for Control Center and tap Focus to turn it off. See how to turn off Do Not Disturb on iPhone 15.
- Silence Unknown Callers: in Settings > Apps > Phone (or Settings > Phone on older iOS), this sends unknown numbers straight to voicemail.
- Bluetooth: calls may be ringing on connected AirPods, a car, or a speaker. Turn off Bluetooth in Control Center to test.
- Sleep Focus: your sleep schedule turns on Do Not Disturb automatically at night.
Troubleshooting
The orange line is gone but there’s still no sound
Raise the Ringtone and Alerts volume, and check that no Focus is on. Restart the iPhone if it still stays silent.
The speaker sounds muffled
Remove the case and clean the speaker grille at the bottom with a soft, dry brush.
Frequently asked questions
Does silent mode block alarms?
No. Clock alarms still sound in silent mode, at the Ringtone and Alerts volume.
How do I put my iPhone 15 back on silent?
Reverse the steps. See how to put an iPhone 15 on silent.
Summary
On iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, flip the Ring/Silent switch toward the screen. On iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, press and hold the Action button, or turn off Silent Mode in Settings > Sounds & Haptics. Then check the ringer volume and Focus.
Related: How to Switch Between Miles and Kilometers in iPhone Maps.
Related: how to put iPhone 15 on vibrate.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.