Table of Contents
The field of technology has exhibited rapid advancements over the years, making life easier and more convenient. Among these technological advancements are modern phones that comprise reliable aspects such as cordless designs. These features may be easy to embrace, especially for the tech geeks, but that may not be the case for average consumers.
As an average consumer, keeping up with state-of-the-art technological equipment could be overwhelming. Most best cordless phones, for instance, feature LED lights to indicate whether line in use. However, the reliability of this feature may be compromised when the unit malfunctions and LED indicates; the home phone says line in use even when it isn’t, leaving you wondering what to do when your cordless phone says line in use.
Read on to learn what to do when your cordless phone says line in use.
Also Read:
Whenever your cordless phone says “line in use”, it means that the phone is engaged. One of the handsets could be in use, making you unable to make a call. Turn off all the other handsets and ensure no one else is on a call.
Cordless phones are expandable and come with more than one handset for convenience. However, this feature makes it challenging to have all the many handsets under control, and you may be unaware that one of the handsets is occupied. In such cases, the line is held hostage, and the phone indicates that the line is in use.
Alternatively, you can correct the line in use error by unplugging the base unit from the power source and replugging it after 5 seconds. You can then test the line to determine if the error still occurs by calling your line using a different phone line or cell phone.
Besides, someone might have used one of the handsets and failed to turn it off for the line to be available for use. In some cases, any household member may have accidentally turned on one of your handsets.
If none of these cases apply, you may have to consider evaluating other possible sources of the problem as follows;
Most people often question themselves, “why does my home phone say line in use?” This is particularly when there is no one using the handset. Do not panic. Among the most straightforward explanations why your cordless phone says “line in use” is that it may be detached from the power source.
Cordless phones come with a base station whose position should be fixed. The base unit bridges the telephone and the handset, and it’s connected to a power source. If the base unit is accidentally unplugged from the power source, it might fail to signal the handset as the two are synchronized.
In this case, consider checking whether the base unit is correctly plugged into the power source. Consequently, ensure that the power source is on and there is an adequate power supply to the base unit. Then, secure all the connections and adequately plug in the base unit while ensuring the cables are not defective.
Sometimes you can be prompted by line in use message on landline when your handset is appropriately connected to the power source. There are instances when the primary issue is not detachments from the power source. For example, if you live in an area characterized by poor network coverage, there are high chances that network connectivity issues could be the root of the problem.
In addition, your home network could be congested or overloaded by a lot of traffic, especially if the network has many users.
If such is the case, consider improving the network coverage by eliminating unnecessary traffic. You can do this by disconnecting equipment that is not in use or prioritizing the important ones.
There is also a possibility that your cordless phone is faulty and may need to be repaired. One of the ways to evaluate whether your cordless phone is defective is to try using another phone. Normally, the phone says line in use no dial tone.
Once you have confirmed that none of the handsets are engaged, you may have to unplug the base station from the power source for a few seconds, then plug it in again.
At this point, try testing your cordless phone by calling your line using your cell phone or another phone and check whether your cellphone gets a dial tone. If it does, it means the cordless phone has a problem, and you should seek professional help.
Below is an example of a cordless phone from the AT&T phone brand you can find at amazon.com. Also, you may consider buying some exemplary units of the best cordless phones with answering machine to enhance you convenience in using cordless phones.
Note: Sometimes, the at&t landline says line in use. If you encounter this problem, also consider the exact diagnostic solutions as with the other cordless handsets.
First, you will need to confirm if there is another individual on the line, as when the line in use is displayed, it means the line is currently active on a call. If your home or office features multiple handsets, one of the handsets may be turned on.
Check the rest of the handset and turn it off.
In a worst-case scenario, you may be encountering a line problem. If you try using another phone yet still fail to get a dial tone or experience the same issue, this might be the case.
You may want to confirm by connecting your cordless phone to a different line. You could do so at a neighboring house or a different house and check whether the problem recurs. If it does, you may have to contact a technician to repair your line.
The line in use problem can be a frustrating and inconveniencing ordeal, especially when running a business office characterized by thousands of calls every day. In most cases, your cordless phone says line in use even when there is no one on the call, and this can make it unusable for several hours.
You can see a line in use message on the phone, and during this time, you cannot receive or make a call. Quite embarrassing! However, you do not need to fret.
To fix the line in use problem, ensure that your base unit has power. Try unplugging the base unit from the power source for about 30 seconds and then plug it back.
In some instances, resetting your phone would be a quick fix to the problem.
Besides, the line in use message is shown when it is active on a call. Therefore, you must ensure there is no other individual on a call. If that is not the case, you may have numerous handsets in your office, and there is a possibility one of the phones is in use or turned on. Check the rest of your handset and turn it off.
If you have troubleshot your phone with all these diagnostic processes and the problem persists, you may be experiencing a line problem. You can check for a line issue by plugging your cordless phone onto a different line. For instance, you can visit a friend’s house, plug in your phone, and see if it works.
If it works, it means you have a line issue, and you need to call professionals or your phone line providers for assistance.
Programming or setup errors can result in your phone displaying an error message. However, when this happens, you shouldn’t fret. You can quickly fix the error by yourself without having to consult a technician or an expert.
For instance, if you are using a cordless phone with an answering machine, the error message shows that the message in your answering device is short. In this case, you only need to re-record the greeting message.
If you are a holder of an AT&T cordless phone, registering your new handset could be one of the primary challenges you will experience, especially when you are a first-time user. However, the process is pretty simple.
Note that: Your newly registered phone will be assigned the lowest extension number that has not to be given to any handset system. If your registration is unsuccessful, you should repeat the above process.
The faulty power adapter is a common problem with cordless Panasonic phones. If you plug in the power adapter to the wall and main receiver and the phone is not charging even with the new batteries, then the source of the problem might lie with its adapter.
The main solution to this problem would be the replacement of the adapter. Also, you should check the power port on the base as it can also be faulty.
Connectivity issues form a significant challenge with the Panasonic cordless phones. The cordless systems have a range through which they operate. For instance, you may experience rough-sounding calls, and you will be forced to move closer due to connectivity problems.
However, consider buying Panasonic’s range booster if you want to communicate with your loved ones even as you execute other duties. The booster helps extend the range at which you get clear calls, which will help solve connectivity issues.
The connectivity issue may also result from signal problems. Sometimes you may not experience signals at all while operating your Panasonic phone.
The first thing you must consider is checking whether you have all the cords connected in place. Find another telephone jack and connect it to your telephone cable. If your phone works effectively with the other phone jack, the telephone connection is the primary issue. To troubleshoot the signal problem, you should consider replacing the cords, lines, and hardware on your base unit.
The most common problem with cordless phones is faulty batteries. Most cordless phones come with rechargeable AAA batteries. In a case where your adapter is properly plugged in and displays a sign of powering the base, it shows the batteries are faulty and require a replacement.
You should note that you will need a Ni-MH battery when replacing the original AAA batteries that often come with the phones due to their massive power.
Click the below link to find more of the Panasonic Cordless phone problems and verified solutions.
The primary reason why we buy phones is to make and receive calls. However, in isolated cases, your phone can fail to accept incoming calls, which can be frustrating, especially when using your landline for business communications.
However, it is not the end of the road for you when this happens. You can resolve the issue following the below steps. However, you must also know the potential problems barring your phone from receiving the incoming calls.
If you fail to remit one or more of your payments on the cellphone bill, your providers might discontinue your telephone services until they are ultimately settled. You cannot use the calling and texting features during this time, meaning your phone won’t accept the incoming calls.
Contact your telephone customer service team to request a payment plan or make payments to settle the due charges. The certification from the customer service based on the payments made or payment arrangement will be followed by a reconnection to your telephone services.
The problem with the signal is another primary issue that can inhibit your phone from receiving incoming calls.
Specifically, your network provider may have signal issues, or you might have moved to an area with low signal levels.
You can quickly determine the signal problem. Look at the signal bars in your phone and note if there are no bars or few. Try moving to different locations and see whether there is a change in the signal bars.
Suppose you notice the signal bar changes with the locations and attempt to make a call in an area where it is full. If the phones go through, the problem is with the signal in a place where you were.
However, if this does not work and you have paid for the services again, you may use another phone and call your career to determine if there are any technical hitches from their end.
A malfunctioning installed software in your phone can be another problem, especially when using a smartphone. A software failure can prevent you from receiving incoming calls.
One way of fixing the software problem is restarting your phone. However, if this fails, you can restore your smartphone to factory settings. Ensure you have backed up all the essential information you need before the factory reset since you may lose your personal information and essential apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
A busy signal indicates that the call cannot be completed because the line you are trying to call is in use or is not available. However, if this is not the case, it could be due to a power outage, disconnection, or poor network connectivity.
In such cases, you may try calling using another phone or hang up the phone and wait for some time before you try calling again.
The “no line” message may display when your telephone set is disconnected from the power source or wall plug or due to cabling problems in your house. Also, the message could result if your telephone service providers or company have turned off your service, especially when your payments are due.
You must first check the cabling in your house and see if there is termination, an incomplete circuit, or when your telephone set is not plugged into the wall. If this is not the case, you may call your service providers to confirm if your service has been turned off.
The primary culprit to the “no line” in your AT&T cordless phone is your phone base station not being connected or plugged into the telephone line that provides the dial tone.
Locate your phone’s base station and unplug the modular connector. Try it with another phone that you are sure works. If you get a dial tone on your test phone, the problem is with your cordless handset.
Another problem could be low battery. Check and recharge the batteries or use the extra pair of batteries if the others are due for a recharge.
However, if you have directly connected the phone to the power source, another problem may be an open circuit or a break in the circuit system which feeds the modular cord. Check the connections and ensure the circuit is complete.
Knowing whether someone has blocked your phone number or when phone line not working could help you save time and effort by not constantly trying to call them. If your phone number has been blocked, you will receive a busy tone followed by a disconnection upon calling the number. Consequently, if you call, then the phone rings, and your call goes to voicemail, there are high chances that your phone number has been blocked.
However, if the person you call has activated the “do not disturb” mode, the call may also go to voicemail. The difference comes in if you try several times again for several days and get the same result; the person has most certainly blocked your phone number.
Your phone not showing the caller ID is one of the phone line problems. A caller ID feature in cordless phones requires batteries and a functional power source to operate effectively. In such instances, consider unplugging the base unit from the power source for a few seconds, then plug it back in. Also, make sure you confirm that all the cords are functioning properly. I would also recommend that you replace the handsets’ batteries with new ones.
However, not all phone numbers display the caller ID. Some callers prefer withholding their numbers, and for this reason, you may not see their caller ID. Additionally, if the call is from a different country, network, or some payphones, the caller ID may not be displayed.
The most probable cause for failing to hear the other person on the line is inadequate volume. Consider turning up the volume of your device before opting for more technical solutions. If increasing the volume fails to do the trick, consider replacing the batteries of your handset.
In addition, consider plugging another phone into the same power source and check whether you experience the same. If not, you may have to repair your cordless phone or seek technical support.
Your cordless phone says line in use when the line is active on another call. The first approach you can take is confirmation that there is no other person on the line.
In addition, if you have numerous handsets, check if any of them is turned on or engaged and turn it off.
To unlock your Panasonic cordless phone, press and hold the middle joystick for about 3 seconds. You can do the same when you want to lock the phone.
However, if you intend to switch off the handset completely, press and hold the power button for 3-5 seconds.
When your handset cannot detect any live telephone line, it will indicate NO LINE. To diagnose this issue, check the connections to your telephone line, both at the base and the telephone jack, for any possible defective telephone code and replace them.
Suppose you are experiencing challenges receiving the incoming calls on your cordless or landline phone. In that case, you should determine whether your calls are getting transferred to a voicemail or whether your volume on the phone’s ringer is not loud enough to hear.
You can use another phone and call your landline phone to confirm whether the calls are transferred to voicemail as a diagnostic solution.
The video below gives detailed steps on how to reset your VTech or AT & T handsets
If you are not a technician, it is normal to be challenged by modern phone technology. However, most of the time, when your cordless phone acts up, the simplest solution may be the way to go. That said, before you start imagining the worst, consider the easiest solution before opting for more technical ones, which could end up worsening the problem.
For instance, when your cordless phone says “line in use”, one of the handsets may be on, or the phone may have been accidentally plugged out of the power source. However, if this is not the case, consider checking for the aforementioned possible causes of the problem. In this way, you will get a head-start on the problem and how to go about it.
