Sometimes phone calls go directly to voicemail. Is there a fix?

[Android Central Question]

I have a Moto E5 plus, Android version 8.0.0. I have discovered that sometimes incoming phone calls go directly into voicemail without the phone ringing. This happens when I take the phone out of my pocket and lay it on a table for a while without using it. The phone seems to go into some kind of sleep mode. But if I have been using the phone recently, incoming calls cause the phone to ring. I don't know if it matters, but I am at home connected to Wifi. The signal from a nearby cell tower is also strong.

It's embarrassing when I miss calls this way. Is there a fix?

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! Is Do Not Disturb turned on? Is it only with certain contacts, or does it seem random? Are you certain the ringer volume slider is turned up?

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[jwwarren]

Thank you for your help! "Do Not Disturb" is not turned on. The problem is not limited to certain contacts, so far as I can tell. The volume slider is turned up. As I wrote, the phone rings normally except when I have laid it down for a while (maybe ten minutes? not sure about the precise time).

 

[B. Diddy]

Any power-saving modes turned on, or 3rd party battery saver apps installed? Does this also happen in Safe Mode? https://support.motorola.com/us/en/...oto-e-family/moto-e5-plus/documents/MS128425/

 

[jwwarren]

No power-saving modes, nor any battery saver apps installed. However, the problem has now disappeared (in normal mode), meaning I am unable to reproduce it. I thought that laying the phone down was the key, but evidently I was wrong. I am afraid this only means the problem will reappear at the worst possible moment, but I suppose I must consider the problem "solved". Thank you for your help. If I ever figure out what is really causing the problem I will come back. Of course I hope it has gone away forever, but I doubt it.

 

[B. Diddy]

Longshot, but is the phone connected to any BT headsets or smartwatches? If so, then it's possible that it's connecting with one of them without you intending it, and when you get a phone call, the ringing/notification is happening on the headset or watch, while the phone is silenced.

 

[jwwarren]

No, there are no headsets or smartwatches connected.

 

[MTTwister]

may be irrelevant - Moto 8 Power, Android 10, has a 'do not disturb' feature if you place the phone Face Down. Toggle option buried somewhere in settings.
We now have a call screener thingy ( Thanks Google ) that's really annoying. If the number isn't in your contacts, it's evidently spam or hostile. Theoretically Goog is using it's massive number data base to pre screen calls , evidently not a thorough as our contact list.