WhatsApp calls not appearing on your lock screen? Learn why caller names disappear after updates and how to fix notification and permission settings that block call alerts.
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| Discover why WhatsApp calls fail to appear on the lock screen and follow this detailed guide to restore caller name visibility. Image: CH |
Tech Desk — November 18, 2025:
Many users have recently reported that WhatsApp calls ring as usual but do not appear on the lock screen. The phone vibrates or plays the ringtone, yet no caller name or call interface is displayed, making it impossible to answer without unlocking the device. Regular mobile calls still appear normally, which only adds to the confusion. One user described the experience clearly, noting that since updating the app, WhatsApp calls produce sound but do not show on the lock screen, and despite searching through every app and system notification setting, nothing seems to resolve the problem.
The most common cause of this problem is that WhatsApp’s Silent Notifications channel becomes enabled, often automatically after an update or a system-level notification reset. When this happens, the device treats incoming WhatsApp calls as silent background notifications rather than urgent alerts. As a result, the lock screen remains blank even though the call is ringing.
To resolve this, users should open their device settings and navigate to the Apps or App Management section, then select WhatsApp and open Manage Notifications. Within this menu, Silent Notifications should be located and the Allow Notifications toggle turned off entirely. Once disabled, the section should display "None," which ensures that WhatsApp call alerts are treated as active notifications again. For many users, this alone restores the lock-screen caller name display.
If the issue persists, there are several additional settings that must be checked. It is important to verify that WhatsApp’s call notification channel is enabled and set to alerting mode rather than silent, and that lock-screen visibility is turned on. On many Android devices, WhatsApp requires the Display Over Other Apps permission for the incoming call interface to appear as a full-screen overlay; if this permission is blocked, the call UI will not appear even though the device rings. Battery optimization settings can also interfere, particularly on aggressively managed systems such as Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo, and Samsung. Ensuring that WhatsApp is set to unrestricted or not optimized allows the app to trigger call notifications without system restrictions. In some cases, Do Not Disturb modes may block VoIP call alerts unless specific allowances are made, so reviewing DND settings is also necessary.
Many phone manufacturers hide or limit notifications on the lock screen by default, so confirming that lock-screen notifications are set to show all content can also resolve the issue. On some devices, this option is nested under a general notifications or privacy menu.
iPhone users generally encounter this issue less often, but when they do, the solution is similar: enabling Lock Screen and Banner alerts in the WhatsApp notifications settings, ensuring that notifications are not set to Deliver Quietly, and, if available, turning on Critical Alerts. Toggling notification permissions off and then back on can refresh iOS permissions after updates.
If none of these adjustments solve the problem, additional troubleshooting may help. Restarting the phone, updating WhatsApp to the latest version, clearing the app cache on Android, or reinstalling the app entirely (after backing up chats) often restores normal behavior. Some users have also noted differences between Wi-Fi and mobile data, so testing both connection types can help identify network-related issues.
WhatsApp calls disappearing from the lock screen is almost always a notification-channel or permission-related issue, most commonly caused by the Silent Notifications channel becoming active. Disabling this channel and ensuring that WhatsApp has full notification and overlay permissions typically resolves the issue completely, restoring caller names and the full incoming call interface on the lock screen.