How to make a call on iPad

There are a number of ways you can make a phone call on your iPad: dial the number on the keypad, choose a favorite or recent call, or choose a number in your contacts list.

You can also redial or return a recent call, add or remove contacts from your Favorites, and view information when you make a call. And Siri can call or dial a number for you, if you speak each digit separately.

Note: If the Phone app isn’t on your iPad, you can download it from the App Store.

Dial a number

Siri: Ask Siri to call or dial a number. Speak each digit separately—for example, “four one five, five five five….” For the 800 area code in the U.S., you can say “eight hundred.” Learn how to use Siri.

Or without using Siri:

1. Open the Phone app on your iPad.
2. Tap the Circle Grid button in the top-right corner. Then do any of the following:
   • Enter the number using the keypad: If you make a mistake, tap the Delete button.
   • Redial the last number: Tap the Call button to see the last number you dialed and then tap the Call button to call that number.
   • Paste a number you’ve copied: Tap the phone number field above the keypad and tap Paste.
   • Enter a soft (2-second) pause: Touch and hold the star (*) key until a comma appears.
   • Enter a hard pause (to pause dialing until you tap the Dial button): Touch and hold the pound (#) key until a semicolon appears.
   • Enter a “+” for international calls: Touch and hold the “0” key until “+” appears.
3. Tap the Call button to start the call.

To end the call, tap the End Call button.

View information when you make a call

With Apple Intelligence, a Call Context card with related information may appear when you start a call. This can include an upcoming or recent birthday when you call a contact, or it can include tickets, orders, or confirmation numbers when you call certain businesses. Tap the card to view the information in the related app, such as Mail or Wallet.

To turn Call Context on or off, do the following:

1. Open Settings, then tap Apps.
2. Tap Phone, then tap Siri.
3. Turn Show When Calling on or off.

To find related information like confirmation codes or reservation numbers, Call Context identifies the business from the phone number you dial and then searches Mail, Messages, Wallet, and Calendar.

Note: Apple Intelligence on iPadOS 27 or later is available on an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPad mini (A17 Pro) and iPad models with M1 or later. Apple Intelligence is not available in all languages or regions. Usage limits may apply.*

Add or remove contacts from your Favorites

1. Open the Phone app on your iPad.
2. Tap the Filter button, then tap Calls.
3. To add a contact to your Favorites, tap Edit in the top-left corner of the screen. Then do one of the following:
   • If you’re adding your first Favorite: Tap Add Favorite.
   • If you’ve already added a Favorite: Tap Edit Favorites and then tap the Add button.
4. Tap a contact and choose the default method of communication (for example, message, call, or video) and the preferred number. Tap the Done button.
5. To remove a contact from your Favorites, tap Edit, tap Edit Favorites, tap the Remove button in the upper-left corner of the contact you want to remove, and tap the Done button.

To contact someone in your Favorites, tap their name.

Redial or return a recent call

1. Open the Phone app on your iPad.
2. Tap the Filter button, then tap Calls.
3. In the Recents list on the left side of your screen, tap a name or number.

   Information about the call or caller appears on the right side of the screen.

4. To redial or return a call, tap the Call button below the caller’s name or number on the right side of the screen.

Call someone on your contacts list

Siri: Ask Siri something like “Call Eliza’s mobile.” Learn how to use Siri.

Or do the following:

1. Open the Phone app on your iPad.
2. Tap the search field in the top-right corner of the screen, type the name of the contact you want to call. Tap their name when it appears in the search results.
3. In the contact card on the right side of the screen, tap the Phone button. Then tap the number you want to call.

WARNING: For important information about avoiding distractions that could lead to dangerous situations, see Important safety information for iPad.

*Apple Intelligence is available with Siri and device language set to Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, or Vietnamese. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. Some devices may not be available in all regions. Siri AI is available in beta in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27 and requires an Apple Intelligence–enabled device set to a supported language. Available in English to start. Siri AI will not be initially available in the EU on iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. Certain Apple Intelligence features that rely on server-side models are subject to daily usage limits, including but not limited to Siri AI, Intelligent Photo Editing Tools, Image Playground, and AFM 3 Cloud models in Shortcuts. Daily limits may vary by feature, request complexity, system demand, system policies, and other factors. Expanded access to such features will be available for a fee in the future. Use of these features is subject to the Apple Intelligence Terms and Conditions.

See also

• Use iPhone to allow calls and text messages on your iPad
• Answer or decline incoming calls on iPad