The basic way to call someone on iPhone

To call someone on iPhone, open the Phone app (the green icon with a white phone symbol on your home screen), tap the keypad icon at the bottom, and enter the phone number. Then tap the green call button. The call connects when ready if the person answers.

You can also call someone by finding their contact in your Contacts app, opening their card, and tapping the phone number. If you have their number in a text message or email, you can tap the number directly and it will dial.

The Phone app keeps a record of every call you make and receive. You can see your recent calls by tapping the "Recents" tab at the bottom of the Phone app, which shows who you called, when, and how long the call lasted.

Key Takeaways

  • The Phone app is where you dial numbers, view contacts, and see your call history on iPhone.
  • You can call by typing a number, tapping a contact, or tapping a number in a text or email.
  • FaceTime lets you make video calls to other iPhone, iPad, or Mac users over WiFi or cellular data.
  • Your iPhone records all incoming and outgoing calls in the Recents list, which you can clear or delete individually.
  • Speakerphone, mute, and keypad options appear during an active call so you can adjust how you talk.

Using FaceTime to call with video

FaceTime is Apple's video calling service built into iPhone. To start a FaceTime call, open the FaceTime app (a white icon with a red phone symbol), tap the plus sign to start a new call, and enter the person's name, phone number, or email address. Tap the video camera icon to call with video, or the phone icon to call with audio only.

FaceTime works between iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers. The other person does not need to have FaceTime open — they will receive a notification and can answer from any of their Apple devices. If you call someone who does not have an Apple device, you can send them a FaceTime link through text or email, and they can join the call through a web browser.

During a FaceTime call, you can blur your background, switch between your front and back camera, or add filters and effects. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to see these options.

Controlling your call with buttons and settings

When you are on an active call, your iPhone shows buttons for speakerphone, mute, keypad, add call, and FaceTime. Tap the speaker icon to switch between the phone's speaker, your ear speaker, or a connected Bluetooth device like a car or headphones. Tap the mute button (a microphone with a line through it) to stop the other person from hearing you without ending the call.

The keypad button lets you enter numbers during a call — useful for navigating automated phone systems. The add call button lets you call a second person and switch between them or merge both calls into one conversation.

If you need to silence your phone during a call, press the volume down button on the side of your iPhone. To end any call, tap the red hang-up button.

Finding and managing your call history

The Recents tab in the Phone app shows every call you have made or received, listed with the person's name or number, the date and time, and how long the call lasted. A blue arrow next to a contact means you called them; a red arrow means they called you. Missed calls appear in red text.

To delete a single call from your history, swipe left on it and tap Delete. To clear your entire call history at once, tap Edit in the top left corner, then tap Clear, then tap Clear All Recents. This action cannot be undone, so make sure you want to remove all records before confirming.

You can also tap the information icon (a circle with an i) next to any call to see more details, block that contact, or add them to your favorites.

Calling from Siri or your lock screen

You can call someone without opening the Phone app by using Siri. Press and hold the home button (or side button on newer iPhones) and say "Call [contact name]" or "Call [phone number]." Siri will confirm the number and start the call.

From your lock screen, you can also swipe up to see your favorites and recent contacts, then tap a contact to call them directly. This is faster than unlocking your phone and opening the Phone app.

If you have Do Not Disturb turned on, incoming calls will be silenced but still appear in your Recents list. You can set exceptions so that calls from certain contacts always ring through even when Do Not Disturb is active — go to Settings, then Do Not Disturb, then Calls From, and choose your exceptions.

Calling over WiFi when you have no cell signal

WiFi Calling lets you make and receive calls using a WiFi network instead of your cellular signal. This is useful if you are in an area with poor cell coverage but have a strong WiFi connection. To turn it on, go to Settings, Phone, WiFi Calling, and toggle it on.

Your carrier must support WiFi Calling for this to work — most major carriers do, but some regional carriers do not. When WiFi Calling is active, a WiFi symbol appears next to the signal bars at the top of your screen during a call.

WiFi Calling works the same way as a regular call — you dial the number or tap a contact, and the call connects. The other person will not know whether you are calling over WiFi or cellular data.

Blocking calls and managing unwanted contacts

If you receive calls from someone you do not want to talk to, you can block them. Open the Phone app, go to Recents, find the contact, tap the information icon, scroll down, and tap Block This Caller. Blocked contacts cannot call or text you, and their calls will go straight to voicemail.

You can also block a contact from their card in your Contacts app. Go to Contacts, find the person, tap Edit, scroll to the bottom, and tap Block This Contact.

To unblock someone, go to Settings, Phone, Blocked Contacts, find the person, and tap Unblock. You can block as many contacts as you need, and the list is stored in your Settings so you can review it anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I call someone if I do not have their number saved in my contacts?

Yes. Open the Phone app, tap the keypad icon, type the number, and tap the green call button. You do not need to save the number first. If you want to save it after the call, tap the information icon in the call details and select Add to Contacts.

What is the difference between a regular call and a FaceTime call?

A regular call uses your cellular network or WiFi and works with any phone number. FaceTime is video or audio-only calling between Apple devices or through a web link. FaceTime usually has better sound quality but only works with people who have Apple devices or can access a FaceTime link.

Why is my call dropping or cutting out?

Call quality depends on your signal strength or WiFi connection. Move closer to a WiFi router, check that you have cellular signal bars, or try turning airplane mode off and on. If the problem continues, restart your iPhone or contact your carrier to check for network issues in your area.

Can I record a phone call on my iPhone?

You can record a FaceTime call by swiping up during the call and tapping the Record button. For regular cellular calls, recording is not built into iPhone, and recording calls without the other person's permission is illegal in many places. Check your local laws before using third-party recording apps.

What happens if I accidentally call someone?

If you hang up before they answer, the call does not go through and they will not be notified. If they answer and you hang up when ready, they will see a missed call from you. You can call them back or send a message to explain it was accidental.