How to Extend Ring Time on Android (Stop Missing Important Calls in Under 5 Minutes)

Why Your Phone Stops Ringing Too Soon

Missing important calls? Your Android phone might stop ringing too early. Most phones ring for only 15-30 seconds by default. This isn’t enough time to find your phone or finish what you’re doing.

The good news? You can extend ring time for free. It takes just a few minutes using a simple carrier code. This code works on almost all Android devices.

What You’ll Learn

This guide shows you three proven methods to extend ring time:

• The quickest universal solution
• Carrier-specific approaches
• Maximum control options

You can choose ring times from 15 to 30 seconds. Never miss another important call again.

Time required: 2-5 minutes
Cost: Free
Difficulty: Beginner-friendly

What You Need

Before you start, make sure you have:

• Any Android smartphone (Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, etc.)
• Active cellular service with any major carrier
• Access to your phone’s dialer app
• A secondary phone to test the changes

Important: Have another phone available to test your changes. These settings affect your carrier, not your device. No data backup is needed.

Step 1: Open Your Phone’s Dialer

Find the Phone app on your home screen. Tap to open it. This app usually has a green icon with a phone symbol. Samsung devices might show “Phone” or have a blue icon.

The dialer will show numbers 0-9. You’ll also see * and # symbols at the bottom.

Step 2: Enter the Ring Time Code

Type this code exactly as shown:

**61*+1[your 10-digit phone number]**[seconds]#

Example

Your number: (555) 123-4567
Want 30 seconds? Enter: **61*+15551234567**30#

Ring Time Options

Choose your preferred ring time:

• 15 seconds: Replace [seconds] with 15
• 20 seconds: Replace [seconds] with 20
• 25 seconds: Replace [seconds] with 25
• 30 seconds: Replace [seconds] with 30 (maximum)

Double-Check Your Code

Make sure your code:

• Starts with two asterisks (**)
• Includes +1 before your number
• Ends with a pound sign (#)

Step 3: Execute and Confirm

Press the green Call button. You should see one of these responses:

• “Call forwarding registration was successful”
• “Settings updated” message
• The call ends after a few seconds (this is normal)

This means the code worked. Your carrier updated your ring time settings. The change happens right away.

Step 4: Test Your New Settings

This step is crucial. Here’s how to test:

Testing Process

1. Use a different phone to call your Android
2. Let it ring without answering
3. Count the seconds from first ring to voicemail
4. Check if the timing matches your setting

What to Expect

Your phone should ring for your chosen duration. If you picked 30 seconds, expect 6-7 rings instead of 3-4 rings.

Step 5: Try Carrier-Specific Codes

If the universal code didn’t work, try these alternatives:

Verizon Users

• First dial: *71[your 10-digit number]
• Then dial: **61**30# (for 30 seconds)

AT&T Users

• Dial: *61*+1[your number]*11*30#

T-Mobile Users

• Dial: **61*+1[your number]**30#

Press call after entering the code. Wait for confirmation. Then test using Step 4.

Common Issues and Solutions

“Invalid Code” Error

Your carrier might not support codes. Call customer service. Ask them to “extend ring time to 30 seconds.” Most reps can make this change instantly.

Code Works But No Change

Wait 15-30 minutes. Network updates take time to reach all cell towers. Then test again.

Calls Still Go to Voicemail Quickly

Check your call forwarding settings:

1. Go to Settings
2. Select Call Settings
3. Choose Call Forwarding
4. Make sure all options are off or set to voicemail only

Different Ring Times for Different Callers

This is normal. You might have VIP settings active. The ring time extension affects general voicemail forwarding. Contact settings may override this.

Doesn’t Work with Wi-Fi Calling

Ring time changes typically affect cellular calls only. Wi-Fi calling may use different timing controls.

Advanced Tips

Contact-Specific Options

You can’t set different ring times per contact with carrier codes. But you can assign longer ringtones to important contacts. This gives you more time to recognize their calls.

Do Not Disturb Setup

Set up Do Not Disturb with exceptions for key contacts. This doesn’t change ring time. But it ensures critical calls always get through.

Update Your Voicemail Greeting

Your calls now ring longer. Consider updating your voicemail greeting. Let callers know you might still be coming to the phone.

Final Results

You’ve successfully extended your Android’s ring time. You now have extra seconds to answer important calls. Whether you chose 20, 25, or 30 seconds, you should notice a big improvement.

Important Notes

These changes link to your phone number and carrier account. They don’t link to your specific device. If you switch phones but keep the same number, your extended ring time carries over. The setting stays active until you manually change it.

Ongoing Maintenance

Test your settings periodically. Check especially after carrier updates or plan changes. This ensures they stay active.

With your newly extended ring time, you can go about your day with confidence. You’ll have enough time to respond to every important call that matters.

Note: This guide was created for smartphone users running Android. Some steps may vary on other devices or OS versions.