How do you call a contact by voice on Android?

This article will provide a step-by-step guide for Android users on how to make a voice call to a contact directly from the Contacts application. With most Android phones, easily calling contacts by voice only requires navigating through a few key steps in the phone’s default Contacts app. Being able to quickly call contacts from your smartphone’s address book is one of the conveniences of mobile technology. This guide will outline the prerequisites needed as well as walk through the specific steps to search for and select a contact to voice call.

Prerequisites

Before calling a contact by voice on Android, you’ll need:

An Android phone (source)

Contacts added to your phone’s contacts app or another contacts app
An active cellular or WiFi data connection on your Android phone to place and receive calls (source)

Open Contacts App

To open the Contacts app on an Android device, follow these steps:

Swipe up from the bottom of your Android home screen to open the app drawer. The app drawer contains all the apps installed on your device.
Scroll through the apps until you find the Contacts app. The app icon is usually a picture of an open address book.
Tap on the Contacts app icon to open the app. The app will open and display your contact list and other contact information stored on your device.

You can also search for the Contacts app using your device’s search bar at the top of the home screen. Simply type in “contacts” to find and open the app quickly.

According to Contacts – Apps on Google Play, the Contacts app allows you to backup and sync contacts across devices.

Search for Contact

To search for the contact you wish to call, tap on the Contacts icon to launch the Contacts app. At the top of the app, you will see a search bar. Tap on the search bar to bring up the on-screen keyboard so you can type the name of the contact.

As you start typing the name of the contact, the Contacts app will display a filtered list of matching contacts based on what you have typed so far. You can keep typing to narrow down the results, or scroll through the list to browse the matches. Once you see the contact you want to call, tap on their name in the list to open their contact card.

Finding contacts you wish to call is quick and easy thanks to the search bar and scrolling contact list in the Contacts app on Android.

Tap Contact

After you’ve opened the Contacts app and have found the contact you want to call, tap on their name in the list to open their contact information. This will show the options for interacting with that contact such as calling, texting, or emailing them. Press down gently on your finger and lift on the contact name to select it. You should see the contact card for that person appear showing the available phone numbers, email addresses, and other details the app has stored for them.

Tap Call Icon

Once you have located the contact you wish to call, the next step is to tap the call icon to initiate the phone call. The call icon is typically represented by a phone handset or receiver icon, and is usually located near the top of the contact profile screen.

Specifically, to tap the call icon:

Locate the call icon, which is usually in the upper right area of the contact profile screen. It will look like a telephone handset or receiver.
Tap firmly on the call icon with your finger to initiate the call to the selected contact.

Tapping the icon should immediately begin dialing the preferred phone number listed for that contact. Make sure to tap the icon firmly and accurately in order to ensure the call connects properly.

Select Number

If the contact has multiple phone numbers listed, you will need to select which number to call. To do this:

Tap on the contact to open their details.
You will see a list of all their phone numbers. Tap on the number you want to call to highlight it.

Once highlighted, the call icon in the top right will automatically switch to calling the selected number. Tap the call icon to place the call.^[1]

If you want to set a default number that is called every time, long press the desired number and select “Set as default”. This will make that number the primary call number when tapping on that contact.

Call Connects

After tapping the call icon next to the contact you want to call, the call screen will come up, displaying the contact’s name and phone number. One or multiple phone numbers may be listed for that contact if available. Select the desired phone number to call by tapping on it.

Your Android device will initiate the call, going through the cellular network. You may hear ringing sounds or see an animation indicating the call is going through. Typically after a few rings, if the recipient answers, the call will connect and you will be able to start talking to your contact.

If the call keeps ringing with no answer, you can choose to hang up by tapping the end call button. You can also leave a voicemail if their voicemail greeting picks up. The call connects stage transitions to an active call once your contact answers.

According to this source, if you try calling your own number from your device, it will typically go straight to voicemail instead of ringing.

End Call

When you have finished your phone conversation, tap the “end call” button to hang up. On most Android phones, this will be a red button at the bottom of the screen. If your device has a physical hang up button, you can also tap that to terminate the call.

According to Google Support, some Android phones have a power button setting to enable hanging up calls. But in general, the easiest method is to tap on the bright red “end call” or “hang up” button that appears on screen during an active call on all Android devices.

Conclusion

Calling a contact by voice on Android is straightforward with a few easy steps. To summarize:

Open the Contacts app
Search for or select the desired contact
Tap on the contact’s name

Tap on the Call icon
Select which number you want to call
The call will connect, allowing you to speak with that person

End the call when finished

You can customize the calling experience by adding ringtones to your contacts so you know who is calling, or by setting up speed dials to quickly call your frequent contacts. Android also offers many accessibility features to make calls easier. Overall, it’s fast and intuitive to call a contact by voice on Android.