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Why calls fail

Beside calls failing, dropping, no audio, or not connecting - common causes and how to fix them.

Written by Livie
Updated yesterday

Sometimes calls on Beside may fail, drop unexpectedly, or have no audio. This can happen for a few different reasons - most of them are easy to fix on your end.

πŸ“Œ Note:

  • This article focuses on outgoing calls and in-call issues.

  • If your phone isn't ringing for incoming calls, see instead: πŸ“– Fix calls not ringing


Your internet connection is weak or unstable

Beside uses your internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data). If the signal is weak or unstable, your call may fail, drop, or lose audio.

How to fix

  • Move to a place with stronger signal

  • Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data

  • Restart your router

  • Close apps using heavy bandwidth

πŸ’‘ Try switching to cellular network during a call:

  • During a call, tap the network icon in the top-right corner of the screen

  • Choose "Call with cellular network"

  • If needed, tap "Hang up and call with cellular"


Call forwarding conflicts (carrier-level)

If you're forwarding your personal phone number to Beside, incorrect carrier forwarding can cause calls failing to connect, no audio, or calls disconnecting.

How to fix

  • Turn call forwarding OFF on your carrier line

  • Turn it ON again using the in-app setup steps

  • Make sure the right line is being forwarded to your Beside number


International calls are not supported

Beside currently supports calls only to U.S. and Canadian numbers. Calls to numbers outside these regions will fail.

You can still receive international calls to your Beside number. For outgoing international calls, use your personal carrier's plan.


T-Mobile to T-Mobile Caller ID conflict

Calls may fail when all of these conditions are true:

  • You are forwarding a T-Mobile number to Beside

  • Caller ID is enabled in your Beside settings

  • You are calling another T-Mobile number

How to fix

Disable Caller ID in Beside settings before making the call.


Testing calls from your own forwarded number

If you're forwarding your personal number to Beside and call your Beside number from that same number, the call may fail.

Beside detects this as a self-call and automatically ends it. This is expected behavior and does not indicate a configuration issue.

How to test correctly

  • Call your Beside number from a different phone number

  • Or use "Try Receptionist" in the app to hear what real callers experience

πŸ’‘ Good to know: If calls from other numbers reach your AI Receptionist, everything is working as intended.


FAQ

My call connects but there's no audio on one or both sides. What should I do?

This is usually caused by a weak internet connection. Try switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data, or move to a location with better signal. You can also tap the network icon during a call to switch to cellular network without hanging up.

My calls keep dropping after a few seconds. Why?

Short calls that drop quickly are often related to call forwarding conflicts. Try turning call forwarding OFF on your carrier, then setting it up again using the in-app steps. πŸ“– Troubleshoot call forwarding issues

Can I make calls to numbers outside the U.S. and Canada?

Not yet. Beside currently supports outgoing calls to U.S. and Canadian numbers only. You can still receive international calls on your Beside number. For outgoing international calls, use your personal carrier's plan.

I'm on T-Mobile and some of my calls fail. What's going on?

If you're forwarding a T-Mobile number to Beside and calling another T-Mobile number with Caller ID enabled, the call may fail. Disable Caller ID in your Beside settings before making the call.

How can I test if my Beside line is working correctly?

Call your Beside number from a different phone number - not the one you're forwarding. You can also use the "Try Receptionist" feature in the app. If calls from other numbers reach your AI Receptionist, your setup is working.

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