Called Number & Beeps Repeatedly: Meaning?

Here’s what it means when you call a number and it repeatedly beeps:

Ever made a call and all you heard was beep after beep? It’s weird, right? That could mean a lot of different things, some simple and some not so much.

Want to know what’s going on and how to deal with it? Good news – you’re in the right place. Let’s figure this out together. Ready to get started?

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Why Does the Called Number Beep Repeatedly?

We call a number, we expect it to ring, and the person we’re calling picks up the phone. When it beeps, we dial it again and again sometimes.

We then question whether someone gave us the wrong number or changed their number without telling us. The good news is that you’re not alone or losing your mind.  So let’s go through why you might experience an annoying beep or three on the other end of the phone.

Are Networks Responsible?

You’d think that with 220,000 cell towers decorating the skyline, that they could handle all of our phone calls.

But, towers only work for those in their area, and they can get overloaded, too. 

One tower divides its signal into users, and when you make a call, you’re allowed part of that cell phone signal for a fixed amount of time.

It sounds confusing, but there are a few easy steps you can take to stop the three-beep network busy sound:

1. Turn your phone on airplane mode. Wait ten or so seconds and switch it back off.
2. Try to redial the number. even if you are totally annoyed.
3. Reboot your phone. Some of us likely don’t do that enough.
4. Finally, you might just need to find another network if it happens all of the time. Who has time for a beeping sound every day?

What Is the Busy Beep?

Some of us remember telephone landlines and how often we had to hear them.

Even with the newest-fangled cell phone, busy signals are still a thing, just not as often. 

The reasons you might get a busy tone can vary and might only happen once out of a hundred calls.

• The person you call is talking to someone else and might not have the call waiting feature or a voicemail set up.
• You might be calling someone just as they are making a phone call themselves. 
• Someone else got the idea to call the number at the same time as you. 
• Phones left off the hook are rare, but it happens. Sometimes a person or business still uses a landline. 

Is a Fast Beeping a Sign That You Are Blocked?

First, understand that when people block you, it might have nothing to do with you.

But, before you get angry, we want to make sure that is why you’re getting a fast busy signal.

• Sometimes you won’t get a beep at all. It will just tell you that the caller is unavailable. 
• All of your calls get forwarded to voicemail. Most providers don’t work this way, but when in doubt, leave a voicemail.
• If you hear a fast beep every time you call over the course of a few days, it likely means you’re blocked, especially if it rings when you use another phone line.

What Else Can a Repeated Beeping Mean?

It is frustrating when someone asks you if you have turned your phone off and back on when you’ve likely done it several times. 

It can be something in your settings or a malfunction in equipment. 

We will help you troubleshoot a bit and see if we can stop the beeping noise in your ear.

We mentioned turning the airplane function on and off. It is never a bad idea. 

Sometimes we’ve accidentally activated it, and it is the best way to check ourselves.

Do the same thing with your do not disturb settings. Tap DO NOT DISTURB and just check your status.

Blocked numbers on your end can cause beeps, just like if they blocked you.

It never hurts to double-check your list for an accidental block.

Another setting that you might have and need to check is your CALL FORWARDING.

Do a hard reset of your settings. 

It will erase your saved settings, including passwords and VPN settings. 

Starting from scratch is likely better than going through setting after setting.

Check your phones for updates. 

One software update can change, add, or remove a setting.

If you have a phone with a sim card, try removing it and reinserting it. It might have wiggled loose.

Check with your cell phone provider. 

They can verify your account is set up, no service outages in your area, or call errors on the carrier system.

And finally, if you get a beep after making and receiving calls from another phone, it is not you.

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