Overview
The way the UC mobile application receives and rings for incoming calls depends on whether the app is currently open and active on the screen or running in the background. Understanding the difference between these two scenarios helps explain why background ringing can sometimes behave differently from foreground ringing.
Foreground Ringing
When the UC mobile app is open and actively displayed on your screen, incoming calls are handled directly by the application. The app receives the call signal in real time over its existing connection to the back-end services and rings immediately. This is the most straightforward and reliable scenario, and ringing behavior is consistent and fast.
Background Ringing
When the app is running in the background, closed, or when the screen is locked or in screensaver mode, the process of receiving an incoming call is more complex. The app cannot maintain a constant open connection in the background the way it can in the foreground. Instead, the system relies on a push notification sent to the device to wake the app and trigger the ring.
This push notification is delivered through the operating system’s push notification infrastructure, which means a number of factors can affect whether and how quickly the phone rings:
- Push notification permissions must be enabled for the UC app in the device settings.
- Background App Refresh must be allowed on iOS.
- Do Not Disturb, Focus mode, or Low Power Mode must not be active.
- The device must have an active data connection, either cellular or Wi-Fi, to receive the push notification.
- If the app has not been active for an extended period, the connection token may have expired and will need to be refreshed by opening the app or signing in again.
For the most reliable background ringing experience, keep all app permissions enabled, ensure the device is on a stable data connection, and make sure the app has been used at least once within the past 30 days.