How do I use the call functions on my device?

How do I use the call functions on my device

Your smartphone has a variety of call options, allowing you to block or unblock numbers, set up call forwarding, detect spam or put calls on hold, amongst other options.

If you are unable to make or receive any calls, check first that your SIM card is correctly inserted and has been activated with your network ('not registered on network error'), and that you have mobile coverage in your area.

Please note: Not all the options below will be available on older devices. Screenshots and steps may vary depending on your device.

To call a contact in your phone book, you will need to:

1 Open the Phone app
phone app icon
2 Tap Contacts
Tap contacts
3 Scroll down to the person you would like to call, then tap on their name and tap the call icon

Please note: if your contact has more than one telephone number you can tap the green arrow icon next to the contact’s number to choose the preferred number to call.

Scroll down to contact and press call icon

To dial a number (of someone who is not a contact), you will need to:

1 Open the Phone app
phone app icon
2 Tap Keypad
Tap the keypad
3 Enter the number you want to call, then press the call icon

To end a call, you will need to press the end call icon.

Tap the end call icon

On some devices, the end call icon can be changed to the side key. To do this, you will need to:

1 Open the Phone app
phone app icon
2 Tap the More options icon (three vertical dots)
Tap more options icon
3 Tap Settings
Tap settings
4 Tap Answering and ending calls
Tap Answering and ending calls
5 Tap the switch to enable or disable Press Side key to end calls
Tap press Side key to end calls

When your device is ringing, press or swipe the red end call button (decline) from right to left to reject a call. This will send the person calling through to your answer phone.

Press or swipe and call icon from right to left to decline a call

You can block unknown numbers in your Phone settings by adding them to your auto-reject list.

Please note: While most people choose to block unknown or withheld numbers in order to reduce nuisance calls, you may also block genuine callers who have withheld their number for legitimate reasons if you block unknown numbers.

1 Open the Phone app
phone app icon
2 Tap the More options icon (three vertical dots)
Tap more options icon
3 Tap Settings
Tap settings
4 Tap Block numbers
Tap block numbers
5 Tap the switch to enable or disable unknown/private numbers, or type in a number or contact to block a specific number
Tap the switch to enable or disable unknown/private numbers, or type in a number or contact to block a specific number.
1 To place a call on hold, you will need to tap Hold call
Tap the hold call button
2 To resume the call, you will need to tap Resume call

Please note: if you do not have this option on your screen, you will need to tap More options (three vertical dots) > Hold. To resume the call, tap Resume call.

Tap the resume call button

Call waiting allows you to receive incoming call alerts while you are on a call.

1 From the Phone app, tap the More options icon (three vertical dots)
Tap more options icon
2 Tap Settings
Tap settings
3 Tap Supplementary services
Tap supplementary services
4 Use the toggle to enable or disable Call waiting
Use the toggle by call waiting

You can use your device to automatically forward incoming calls in certain circumstances.


Follow the below steps to set up call forwarding:

1 From the Phone app, tap the More options icon (three vertical dots)
Tap more options icon from the phone app
2 Tap Settings
Tap settings
3 Tap Supplementary services
Tap supplementary services
4 Tap Call forwarding
Tap call forwarding
5 Choose how and when you would like your calls to be forwarded
Chose how and when
6 Enter the number the calls are to be forwarded to, and choose Update
Enter the number the calls are to be forwarded to, and choose update

When you are on an active call, you can adjust the call volume with the dedicated Volume keys on the side of the device. 

Please note: depending on your device your volume keys may be found on either the left or right hand side.

Tap the volume keys

You can decide to hide your caller identification when calling somebody. This will ensure that the person receiving your call won’t be able to see your phone number and name.

Some network carriers and countries do not allow you to hide your number. If you have followed all the below steps and your number is still showing, you should check with your mobile network if they allow this feature.

Please note: when sending text messages your caller identification will not be hidden. Please also be aware that many smartphones have the functionality to block unknown numbers. If the person you are calling has enabled 'block unknown numbers' on their phone, you will not be able to call them.

1 From the Phone app, tap the More options icon (three vertical dots)
Tap more options icon
2 Tap Settings
Tap settings
3 Tap Supplementary services
Tap supplementary services
4 Tap Show your caller ID
Tap show your caller ID
5 Choose between Network default, Never or Always
Choose between Network default, Never or Always

You call log shows all the incoming, outgoing and missed calls on your Galaxy device. If you accidentally delete your call history, you can restore it using Samsung Cloud.

1 Log in to your Samsung Account on your device
2 Go to Settings
Tap Settings
3 Tap Accounts and backup
Tap Accounts and backup
4 Tap Restore data
Tap Restore data
5 Select which data you would like to restore. Then, tap Restore. Once it has finished restoring, tap Done
Choose which data to restore, then tap Restore

Please note:

  • If you have not backed up your data before you will be prompted to do this before you can restore.
  • If you have uninstalled any apps since the last time you backed up your account, you will be prompted to choose whether to reinstall those apps or not.
6 Choose whether or not to free up space in Samsung Cloud
Choose whether to free up space in Samsung Cloud

To clear the call log, you will need to:

1 Open the Phone app
Phone app icon
2 Tap Recents
Tap Recents
3 Tap the More options icon (three vertical dots)
Tap more options icon
4 Tap Delete
Tap Delete
5 Tap the call log you wish to delete, or tap to select All
Tap the call log you wish to delete or select all
6 Tap Delete
Tap Delete
7 Your selected call logs have now been deleted

To set up automatic answering on your device, you will need to:

1 From the Phone app, tap the More options icon (three vertical dots)
Tap more options icon
2 Tap Settings
Settings selected
3 Tap Answering and ending calls
Tap Answering and ending calls
4 Use the toggle to enable or disable Automatic answering
Use the toggle to enable or disable Automatic answering

This service helps to identify spam and scam callers. It uses Hiya to show you the names and profile pictures of callers and message senders who aren't in your contacts.

1 From the Phone app, tap the More options icon (three vertical dots)
Tap more options icon
2 Tap Settings
Tap settings
3 Tap Caller ID and spam protection
Tap caller ID and spam protection
4 Use the toggle to enable or disable Caller ID and Spam protection
Use the toggle to enable or disable Caller ID and spam protection
5 Once you have read the Privacy notice, tap Agree. This will only appear if you haven't already used this feature
Once you have read the Privacy notice, tap agree
6 Using the Block spam and scam calls toggle you can choose to Block all spam and scam calls or Only block high-risk scam calls
Block spam and scam calls toggle options
7 Using the Show your name and number toggle, will register your name and number, allowing other people to see your information when you call or message them.
Tap the show your name and number toggle

You won't be able to receive calls from people if they're on your auto-reject list, or your phone has been set to reject unknown numbers and they have hidden their number.

1 From the Phone app, tap the More options icon (three vertical dots)
More options icon selected
2 Tap Settings
Tap settings
3 Tap Block numbers
Tap block numbers
4 Check whether or not the rejected number is in the Blocked list

To remove the number from your auto-reject list, tap the minus symbol or the checkbox next to the number to remove the tick. Depending on your device, you may need to tap the bin icon first.

Tap the - or checkbox to remove the number

If you aren't able to call a contact that you have recently transferred from another device, check the phone number. Some contacts may have been stored on the old device with both the area code '+44' and the '0' in the phone number e.g. +44 (0) 7777777777. If so, the number may start with '+440' after being transferred, making the contact number invalid:

check phone number

Update the contact number so that instead of starting with '+440' it starts with either '+44' or '0'.

If you're experiencing unusual behaviour on Samsung mobiles, tablets or wearables, you can send us an error report or ask us a question in the Samsung Members app.

This allows us to a closer look at what is happening. The data is anonymised and only held for the duration of the investigation. Find out more about sending an error report through the Samsung Members app.

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