The Person You're Calling is Not Accepting Calls at This Time: Reasons & Fixes

The message “The person you are trying to reach is not accepting calls at this time” usually means the recipient’s phone is unable or set not to receive calls at that moment. This can happen due to temporary settings, network issues, or restrictions.

In most cases, this message doesn’t indicate a problem with your phone. Instead, the recipient’s phone might be turned off, have no signal, or be set to block calls. Some users also intentionally make the phone unreachable by enabling features like Airplane Mode, call barring, or call filters, which can cause this message to appear.

Common reasons for “The person you are trying to reach is not accepting calls at this time” include the phone being off, out of battery, in Airplane Mode, or in a no-signal area. Other causes may involve call blocking, call barring settings, SIM issues, or temporary network outages.

If the person you’re calling has powered off their phone or the battery has died, it won’t ring. In such cases, some networks respond with the “cell phone not accepting calls at this time” message. This usually happens when someone forgets to charge their phone, turns it off during travel, or shuts it down intentionally.

Mobile phones need signal coverage to receive calls. If someone is in a remote area, inside a basement, or in a location with poor network coverage, their phone can’t connect. So, when you try to reach them, you might hear “the caller is not accepting calls at this time,” even though the phone itself is technically on.

If your number has been blocked by the person you’re calling, your calls will be rejected automatically. You won’t be notified that you’ve been blocked, but hearing “this caller is not accepting calls at this time” consistently could be a sign.

Some users set up call barring or install call filtering apps to block calls from unknown numbers, private numbers, or international numbers. These settings may cause the phone to silently reject calls from numbers they don’t recognize and show messages like “can not accept calls at this time.”

Sometimes, the issue lies with the mobile network provider. Temporary outages, maintenance, or technical errors can stop calls from connecting, even when the phone is on and working fine.

If their SIM card is not active or their service has been temporarily suspended due to a calling restriction by the carrier, billing or technical issues, the network will block calls. You may then hear a system message stating that the “person is not accepting calls at this time.”

Airplane mode disables all wireless communication, including the ability to make or receive calls. If the recipient forgets to turn it off, their phone will not accept any calls, and you might hear the message “not accepting calls at this time.”

If the person you’re trying to reach is not accepting calls at this time, wait and try again later or send a polite text message to let them know you called. You can also try to reach them through messaging apps, call from a different number, or simply respect their unavailability if it’s not urgent.

In many cases, the issue is temporary. The person might be in a meeting, traveling, or in an area with no signal. Simply wait for a while and try calling them again after some time.

Even if calls are blocked, text messages might still be delivered. A short, polite message like “Hi, I tried calling, please reach out when you're free” lets them know you attempted to connect.

If you keep getting the same message every time you call, and other methods don’t work either, your number may be blocked. Try calling from a different number to know if someone has blocked you.

Try using alternative platforms like WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, or email. The person might be active on those apps even if their phone is set to block regular calls.

Sometimes, people use call-blocking features or Do Not Disturb to focus, rest, or handle emergencies. If it’s not urgent, give them space and wait until they’re ready to take calls again.

Hearing the message “The person you are trying to reach is not accepting calls at this time” can be confusing. However, it often happens due to temporary phone settings, network problems, or call restrictions. Understanding the possible reasons, such as Do Not Disturb, call blocking, or lack of signal, helps you respond calmly and take the right steps.