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My AI isn't answering calls

Most "AI not answering" reports come down to one of five causes — number not connected, routing set wrong, after-hours mode active, AI temporarily disabled, or the caller hitting voicemail before AI engages. Work this checklist top to bottom.

Updated May 20, 20262 min read

If real calls aren't reaching your AI, work this list top to bottom. Each step takes under a minute and rules out a common cause.

1. Place a test call from inside the app

Settings → AI Voice → Call Scripts → click Test on the "General Inquiry" scenario. The system places a call to your registered cell phone within 30 seconds.

  • Test call works, real calls don't → it's routing or phone number config, not your AI. Skip to step 3.
  • Test call doesn't work either → your AI assistant config is the issue. Skip to step 5.

2. Confirm you have a connected phone number

Settings → Phone → Phone Numbers. You should see at least one number with status Active assigned to your current location. If not:

3. Check your routing mode

Settings → Phone → Inbound Call Settings. Confirm Routing Mode is not set to:

  • "Ring staff first" — calls go to your cell or office line first; AI is overflow
  • "Office hours route to staff" — during business hours staff get the call, not AI
  • "Voicemail-only" — AI is paused

If you want AI to answer every call, set Routing Mode to "AI answers first, always."

4. Check for upstream call forwarding

If you ported a number, occasionally the old carrier's forwarding settings persist. Call your carrier and ask them to disable any call forwarding on the line. (Easy to spot: every call rings exactly once, then jumps somewhere unexpected.)

5. Check the AI assistant config

Settings → AI Voice → Settings tab. Confirm:

  • Voice is selected (a card has the green checkmark border)
  • Opening greeting is non-empty
  • The status banner at top shows AI Active (not "AI Paused")

If anything's missing, fix it and click Save Settings, then rerun the test call.

6. Check your subscription status

Settings → Subscription. Failed payments past 14 days move accounts to read-only — calls keep being answered, but if you're at 30+ days the account may be suspended. Update payment method if needed.

7. Look at recent calls

Calls → Call Logs. If you see recent calls with outcome No Answer or Hung Up immediately, your AI is being reached but failing fast — open one and listen to the recording for the actual symptom.

Still stuck?

Email support@frontdesk.care with:

  • Your practice name
  • The phone number callers are dialing
  • The date/time and caller number of a specific failed call attempt
  • What the caller heard (silence, busy signal, voicemail, etc.)

We can pull the carrier-level trace from your call to see exactly where it died.

What's next

Frequently asked questions

How can I test my AI quickly?
Settings → AI Voice → Call Scripts → click Test on any scenario. The system places a call to your phone within 30 seconds. If the test call works but real calls don't, your routing or phone number config is the issue, not the AI itself.
My ported number's old carrier still answers — why?
The port hasn't completed yet. Check Settings → Phone → Porting tab for the current status. Until the FOC date passes, calls still go to your old carrier's voicemail or service.
Calls go straight to my cell phone — how do I switch back to AI?
You likely have call forwarding set on the underlying carrier line (left over from before FrontDesk), or your Inbound Call Settings are in "Ring staff first" mode. Check both.
I see calls in the log but my AI sounds wrong — quiet, robotic, or cut off
That's an audio quality issue, not a routing issue. Usually transient (carrier hiccup) or related to your AI voice settings. Try a different voice from Settings → AI Voice and run a fresh test call.

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