220-1101 Mobile Devices Practice Question
A user reports that their iPhone 12 will not vibrate when receiving incoming calls or text messages. The user has already checked the physical side switch (silent/ringer) and ensured it is not set to silent. The ringer volume is turned up. Which of the following should the user check NEXT to resolve the issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often assume the physical side switch controls all vibration behavior, when in fact iOS separates the mute switch function from the software vibration toggles, requiring a specific check in Sounds & Haptics.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Check the 'Vibrate on Ring' setting in Sounds & Haptics
The iPhone 12 uses a dedicated 'Vibrate on Ring' toggle within Settings > Sounds & Haptics to control vibration for incoming calls and texts. Since the user has already verified the physical side switch is not set to silent and the ringer volume is up, the next logical step is to check this software setting, as it can be independently disabled even when the ringer is active.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Check the 'Vibrate on Ring' setting in Sounds & Haptics
Why this is correct
iOS has a separate setting to enable or disable vibration for incoming calls. If this setting is turned off, the phone will not vibrate even when the ringer is on. Checking this should be the next step.
- ✗
Enable Do Not Disturb mode to ensure no interruptions are blocked
Why it's wrong here
Do Not Disturb (DND) is a Focus mode designed to suppress incoming calls, notifications, and their accompanying alerts, including haptic vibrations. Enabling DND would not restore a missing vibration; instead, it actively silences and blocks interruptions, making it more likely that the phone will not vibrate at all. The correct fix lies in the Vibrate on Ring or Vibrate on Silent toggles, not in enabling a feature whose purpose is to prevent interruptions.
When this WOULD be correct
A user reports that their iPhone does not ring or vibrate for incoming calls, but they want to silence all notifications during a meeting. The correct answer would be to enable Do Not Disturb mode to block interruptions.
- ✗
Perform a 'Reset All Settings' from the Settings app
Why it's wrong here
Resetting all settings restores system preferences like Wi-Fi passwords and Home Screen layouts to defaults, but it does not alter hardware-specific haptic motor configurations or the vibration toggle found under Sounds & Haptics. This step is tempting because it resolves many software glitches that cause erratic behaviour, such as an unresponsive touch screen or frozen settings menus, where a global reset clears corrupted preference files. However, the iPhone 12’s vibration failure stems from a disabled “Vibrate on Ring” or “Vibrate on Silent” setting, which is a single toggle, not a system-wide corruption.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct if the user had already tried all basic settings (including Sounds & Haptics, Do Not Disturb, and Bluetooth) and the issue persisted, or if the phone exhibited multiple unexplained software glitches beyond just vibration.
- ✗
Check the Bluetooth settings to ensure no external device is playing sounds
Why it's wrong here
Bluetooth settings control wireless audio routing to devices like AirPods, headphones, or car speakers; they do not control the iPhone's internal haptic engine or vibrator motor. When an incoming call arrives, vibration is produced by the Taptic Engine based on system haptic settings, independent of whether audio is being streamed over Bluetooth. Even if a Bluetooth speaker is connected and playing the ringtone, the phone will still vibrate according to its Sound & Haptics preferences, so checking Bluetooth cannot diagnose or fix a missing vibration.
When this WOULD be correct
A user reports no sound from iPhone during calls, but vibrations work. The ringer volume is up, and silent mode is off. Checking Bluetooth settings to ensure audio isn't routed to a disconnected device would be the correct next step.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 220-1101 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Check the 'Vibrate on Ring' setting in Sounds & HapticsCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
iOS has a separate setting to enable or disable vibration for incoming calls. If this setting is turned off, the phone will not vibrate even when the ringer is on. Checking this should be the next step.
✗Enable Do Not Disturb mode to ensure no interruptions are blockedWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Enabling Do Not Disturb mode would silence calls and notifications, which is the opposite of what the user wants. The user already has ringer volume up and the silent switch off, so Do Not Disturb would only worsen the issue.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A user reports that their iPhone does not ring or vibrate for incoming calls, but they want to silence all notifications during a meeting. The correct answer would be to enable Do Not Disturb mode to block interruptions.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse Do Not Disturb with a troubleshooting step, thinking it might override a silent setting, or they may not fully understand that Do Not Disturb silences rather than enables vibration.
✗Perform a 'Reset All Settings' from the Settings appWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Performing a 'Reset All Settings' is a drastic step that should be taken only after simpler, more targeted troubleshooting steps have failed. The issue is likely a misconfiguration in the vibration settings, not a system-wide problem requiring a reset.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct if the user had already tried all basic settings (including Sounds & Haptics, Do Not Disturb, and Bluetooth) and the issue persisted, or if the phone exhibited multiple unexplained software glitches beyond just vibration.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think a reset is a quick fix for any unexplained issue, overlooking that it erases all personalized settings and should be a last resort after more specific checks.
✗Check the Bluetooth settings to ensure no external device is playing soundsWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Checking Bluetooth settings is not the next step because the issue is about vibration, not audio output. Even if an external device were connected, it would affect sound, not vibration.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A user reports no sound from iPhone during calls, but vibrations work. The ringer volume is up, and silent mode is off. Checking Bluetooth settings to ensure audio isn't routed to a disconnected device would be the correct next step.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that if a Bluetooth device is connected, it could interfere with phone functions, but vibration is independent of audio routing.
Analysis generated from the official 220-1101blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Visual reference
About these practice questions
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1101 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1101 exam.