How to Dial an Extension on iPhone + Save the Number as a Contact

Download Article

Quickly call an extension using your iPhone

Co-authored by Kyle Smith Reviewed by Luigi Oppido

Last Updated: March 3, 2023

Download Article

• Calling the Number
|
• Adding a Contact

|Show more |Show less

Trying to reach someone by dialing their phone extension? Luckily, it's pretty easy to do on an iPhone! Press and hold the asterisk key (*) to add a pause, or use the hashtag key (#) to add a wait-to-dial. This wikiHow guide will show you how to dial an extension on your iPhone, and how to add an extension number contact.

Things You Should Know

• Tap and hold * to add a comma, indicating a 2-second pause.
• Tap and hold # to add a semicolon, indicating a wait-to-dial pause.
• Tap the "+*#" button when entering a phone number contact to access the pause and wait functions.

Steps

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Calling the Number

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Open the

   

   Phone app. It's a green icon with a white phone on it. The app will be on one of your home screen pages.
2. 
   2
   Tap the Keypad tab. This will show you the phone keypad.
   Advertisement
3. 
   3
   Type in the main phone number. This is the number without the extension.
4. 
   4
   Tap and hold the * button. A comma will appear after the phone number. This will be a 2-second pause in the phone calling program.

   • Alternatively, tap and hold the # button to place a semicolon, indicating a "wait-to-dial" command. This means the call will stop dialing until you press the Dial button again.
5. 
   5
   Type in the extension number.
6. 
   6
   Tap the dial button. This is the green circle with a white phone icon at the bottom of the keypad. The number and extension you typed in will be called immediately. You're ready to speak with the person you're trying to reach (or place them on hold).
Advertisement

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Adding a Contact

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Open the Contacts app. It's a gray icon with a person on it. The app will be on one of your home screen pages.

   • If you already have the contact on a different iPhone, you can transfer it to your new iPhone.
   • You can also add contacts by opening the
     
     app and tapping the Contacts button in the bottom middle of the screen. Then, tap + in the top right corner of your contacts list.
2. 
   2
   Tap the + button. It's in the top right corner of the app. This will open the "New Contact" menu.
3. 
   3
   Type in the contact's name. Do this in the fields called "First name" and "Last name".
4. 
   4
   Tap add phone. A number pad will appear.
5. 
   5
   Type in the main phone number. This is the number without the extension.
6. 
   6
   Tap the +*# button. It's in the bottom left of the number pad.
7. 
   7
   Tap pause or wait. Pause will add a comma, indicating a 2-second pause. Wait will add a semicolon, indicating a wait-to-dial command.
8. 
   8
   Type in the extension number.
9. 
   9
   Tap Done. It's in the top right corner of the "New Contact" menu. Your contact will be saved to your contacts list. And you can always delete it later if needed.

   • Sort your contacts by first name if you need to quickly find the extension number.
Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!