Lesson 4
Make and Answer Phone Calls
Calling is what your phone does best. This lesson covers making calls, answering them, checking voicemail, and shutting out unwanted callers.
First, tell us which phone you have
Not sure which you have?
If your phone has an apple on the back, it’s an iPhone. If it has anything else, it’s almost certainly an Android.
Step 1 of 9
Open the Phone app
Find the Phone app. Its icon looks like an old-fashioned telephone handset, usually on the home screen.
If you don't see it, swipe up to open all your apps and look for the handset icon.
Step 2 of 9
Dial a number
Bring up the keypad (the grid of number buttons), then tap the phone number you want to call, including the area code.
On your iPhone: On iPhone, tap Keypad at the bottom of the screen to bring up the number buttons.
On your Android: On Android, tap the dial pad icon, which looks like small dots or squares, to bring up the number buttons.
For a call to another country, add that country's code first. For most calls at home, the area code plus the number is all you need.
Step 3 of 9
Start the call
Tap the green call button (a green circle with a phone in it) to begin. Hold the phone to your ear and wait for the other person to answer.
You can also call a saved contact instead of dialing. The Contacts lesson shows you how.
Step 4 of 9
Use the buttons during a call
While you're on a call, buttons appear on the screen. Tap Speaker to hear through the phone without holding it to your ear. Tap Mute so the other person can't hear you for a moment.
Tapping Mute or Speaker does not hang up the call. Tap the same button again to switch it back.
Step 5 of 9
Hang up
When you're done, tap the red button to end the call.
If you still use an old flip phone, closing the phone hangs up the call.
Step 6 of 9
Answer a call that comes in
When someone calls you, their name or number shows on the screen.
On your iPhone: On iPhone, tap the green Answer button. If the phone is locked, swipe the green phone icon to the right. To turn the call away, tap the red Decline button.
On your Android: On Android, tap Answer. If the phone is locked, swipe the white circle up. To turn the call away, tap Dismiss or swipe the circle down.
If you can't get to it in time, the caller can leave a voicemail. You won't miss them.
Step 7 of 9
Check your voicemail
Voicemail holds spoken messages from people who called when you couldn't answer.
On your iPhone: On iPhone, open the Phone app and tap Voicemail at the bottom right, then tap a message to play it.
On your Android: On Android, open the Phone app and press and hold the number 1 on the keypad, or tap the Voicemail tab, then follow the spoken instructions.
The first time, it may ask you to record a greeting and set a password. Just follow the friendly voice that guides you.
Step 8 of 9
Call over Wi-Fi if your signal is weak
If your phone signal is weak at home but you have Wi-Fi, you can often make calls over Wi-Fi instead.
On your iPhone: On iPhone, open Settings, tap Phone, tap Wi-Fi Calling, and turn it on.
On your Android: On Android, open the Phone app, tap More or the three dots, tap Settings, tap Calls, and turn on Wi-Fi calling.
Not every phone company offers this. If you don't see the option, yours may not support it, and that's okay.
Step 9 of 9
Block an unwanted number
If a caller keeps bothering you, you can block their number so they can't call again.
On your iPhone: On iPhone, open the Phone app, tap Recents, tap the small 'i' next to the number, scroll down, and tap Block this Caller.
On your Android: On Android, open the Phone app, tap the menu (three dots), tap Settings, tap Blocked numbers, and add the number.
Blocking is quiet. The other person is never told that they were blocked.