How to Stop Incoming Calls Without Using Airplane Mode

Airplane mode stops regular phone calls, but it also turns off mobile data. That makes it a poor choice when you still want to browse the internet, use social apps, or receive messages. You can keep mobile data on and control incoming calls in other ways. The right setting depends on whether you want to silence calls, restrict regular phone calls, or stop calls from messaging apps.

Use Do Not Disturb when you only want silence. For regular calls, use call barring for broader restrictions or number blocking for specific callers. If the calls come from imo or another messaging app, change the app’s call settings.

Why Airplane Mode Doesn’t Work for This

Airplane mode disconnects your phone from the cellular network, stopping regular calls and mobile data at the same time. Turning Wi-Fi back on restores internet access, but messaging-app calls may then come through again.

Regular calls use your carrier’s network, while app calls use Wi-Fi or mobile data. No single setting usually blocks both while keeping mobile data available, so they need to be controlled separately.

Use Do Not Disturb to Silence Calls

Use Do Not Disturb when you want the phone to stay quiet but still want to see missed calls later.

Open your phone’s settings and look for Do Not Disturb or Focus under the sound or notification controls. The menu name and location vary by device. Check the allowed callers before turning it on, since favorite contacts, selected people, or repeated callers may still ring through. Do Not Disturb doesn’t block calls. It only silences the ringtone, vibration, or incoming-call alert.

Use Call Barring or Number Blocking

Use call barring when you want to restrict a broad category of regular calls. Use number blocking when the problem comes from one or several known numbers.

Call Barring

Call barring can restrict incoming cellular calls while leaving mobile data available. Availability depends on your carrier, phone, and plan. Look for it under the Phone app, SIM settings, Calling Accounts, or Supplementary Services. Wi-Fi Calling still uses your carrier’s phone service, so manage it through your carrier or Phone app.

Block Specific or Unknown Numbers

To stop calls from a specific number, open the recent call list or contact page and select Block. You can also use unknown-caller controls to reduce calls from unfamiliar numbers. The meaning of “unknown caller” varies by phone. It may include all unsaved numbers, or only calls with a hidden number.

On a dual-SIM phone, call barring and number-blocking settings may need to be checked separately for each SIM.

Stop App Calls Without Disconnecting From the Internet

Calls on apps such as imo use mobile data or Wi-Fi. They are not controlled by your carrier’s normal call settings. This means that call barring, SIM settings, or blocking a phone number may not stop the same person from calling through an app.

To control these calls directly, use the privacy or call settings inside the app. Depending on the app, you may be able to:

• Allow calls only from contacts
• Restrict calls from unknown users
• Prevent selected people from calling
• Disable incoming calls
• Silence call notifications

Tip: Avoid disabling all app notifications unless you also want to stop message alerts. App-level call controls are more useful when you still want to chat.

How to Stop imo Calls While Keeping Messages

imo allows you to control who can call you without turning off mobile data or disabling messages.

1. Open imo and tap Me.
2. Tap Security & Privacy.
3. Select Call.
4. Choose Everyone, My Contacts, or Nobody.
5. Use Never Allow to prevent selected people from calling.
   
   

Choose My Contacts to reduce calls from people you do not know. Choose Nobody when you do not want to receive imo calls for a while.

Can You Stop Calls but Still Receive Messages?

Yes. Do Not Disturb, call barring, and number blocking do not normally affect messages sent over the internet.

For imo and other messaging apps, use the app’s call privacy settings rather than turning off all notifications. This lets you limit calls while continuing to send and receive messages. Some Android phones provide separate notification categories for calls and messages. If your phone only offers one notification switch for the entire app, use the app’s internal call settings instead.

Which Setting Is Closest to Airplane Mode?

Setting	Keeps mobile data on	Keeps the phone from ringing	Restricts regular calls	Restricts app calls
Airplane mode	No	Yes	Yes	Only while the app is offline
Do Not Disturb	Yes	Usually	No	No
Number blocking	Yes	Yes, for blocked numbers	Yes, for blocked numbers	No
Unknown caller controls	Yes	Depends on the phone	Depends on the phone	No
Call barring	Usually yes	Yes, when supported	Yes, when supported	No
Messaging app call settings	Yes	Yes, for restricted callers	No	Yes, when supported by the app

The closest option depends on which calls you want to stop: Do Not Disturb for silence, carrier controls for regular calls, and in-app settings for messaging-app calls.