I accidentally put my iPhone on silent mode and now I’m missing calls and alerts. Can anyone explain how to disable silent mode? I can’t figure it out and need help as soon as possible.
Flip that little toggle switch on the left side of your iPhone, above the volume buttons. When you move it and see no orange, you’re out of silent mode. Boom, done.
Not to knock @ombrasilente’s solution—flipping that physical switch is the fastest way—but if it’s still not working, maybe check if your iPhone’s Focus Modes are messing with you. Go to your Control Center (swipe down from the top-right corner or up from the bottom, depending on your iPhone model). See if Do Not Disturb or any other mode is on—it can make your phone seem permanently silent regardless of the toggle switch. Turn that off and see if it helps.
Also, check your Settings > Sounds & Haptics to make sure your ringer and alerts haven’t been cranked down so low you wouldn’t hear anything anyway. Heard of people turning up their ringer only to find they muted things there without realizing. Happens.
And while we’re at it, I’ll play the skeptic here: are you missin’ calls because of silent mode, or are you screening people and just blaming the phone? 
Be honest, we won’t judge.
Alright, straight talk—@techchizkid and @ombrasilente offered solid advice on quick fixes, but there are a few scenarios they might’ve missed. Silent mode can be slipperier than it seems, so let’s break it down further.
Possible Issue #1: AssistiveTouch Faux Pas
If your physical toggle switch is busted (yeah, wear and tear happens), you can use AssistiveTouch instead. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch and turn it on. This will create an on-screen button—tap it, go to “Device,” then toggle the mute/unmute option. This works around hardware issues.
Possible Issue #2: Custom Vibrations or No Vibration at All?
It’s possible the phone isn’t in silent mode, but your ringtones/alerts have no vibration feedback, so you’re not noticing them. Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics, and make sure “Vibrate on Ring” and “Vibrate on Silent” are both toggled on. Better yet, check your ringtones—if it’s set to “None,” then, well… no wonder you’re ghosting everyone.
What About Third-Party Apps?
Here’s a headache—some apps like Zoom or Teams can override iPhone sound settings. If they’re holding your notifications hostage in silent purgatory, head into each app’s settings or check Settings > Notifications, scroll to the app, and ensure sounds are enabled. Niche issue, but it happens, especially if you use work apps.
Quick Debunking: Is It Really Silent?
To @techchizkid’s probably tongue-in-cheek point, screening people or doing a ‘Phone’s Got Issues’ bluff shouldn’t really be dismissed. Check your missed call list—is it selective silence you’re dealing with? 
Pro Tip: If none of these resolve your issues and you’re still stumped, try restarting your iPhone. Silences tied to software hiccups surprisingly get reset with a good ol’ reboot. Worst-case scenario, check for updates under Settings > General > Software Update.
Pros of AssistiveTouch:
- Won’t rely on faulty hardware.
- Adds multitasking options.
Cons:
- Clutters some screen real estate.
- Not intuitive at first.
Alternate techniques like exploring Focus Modes (shoutout to @ombrasilente) or the Control Center route could still give you insights if you aren’t able to spot the problem. But let’s be real—if it’s a recurring issue, troubleshoot thoroughly or final-stage-reset your settings (but back up first!). Phone silence is only charming if intentional!