How to Put a Call on Hold With an iPhone

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Learn how to mute and put a caller on hold with your iPhone

Co-authored by Christopher Batchelor and Rain Kengly

Last Updated: December 13, 2023 Fact Checked

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Placing On Hold

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Muting

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Q&A

On iPhones, you can put a person on hold if you need to answer another call. This can be done quickly by holding the mute button. Here's how to place an iPhone call on hold using any iPhone.

Things You Should Know

To put a call on hold with your iPhone, tap and hold the "Mute" button for about 5 seconds.
To take a call off hold, tap the "Hold" button.
To mute yourself on an iPhone call, tap "Mute".

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Placing On Hold

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1
Start or receive your call. You can place a person on hold whether you call or answer a call.^{[1]
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Research source}
- If you don't want to end a call, you can place the person on a temporary hold.
2
Tap and hold the mute button. The icon looks like a microphone with a slash through it. It will take about 5 seconds. You should see HOLD at the top of the call screen.
- When the call is on hold, the other person cannot hear you.
- You can swipe up (or press the Home button) to use other apps while you're on a call. When you're finished, just tap the bar at the top to return to the call screen.
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This will take the person off hold. You'll no longer be muted.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Muting

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You can mute a call once you're in it.
2
Tap the "Mute" button. This looks like a microphone with a slash through it. You'll be muted, and the other person will be unable to hear you.
- You can swipe up (or press the Home button) to use other apps while you're on call. When you're finished, just tap the bar at the top to return to the call screen.
The other person will be able to hear you again.

Community Q&A

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Question

How do I place a call on hold on my iPhone 7?

Community Answer

While on your phone if you are getting a call you can click "hold and answer".

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Question

How do I put a call on hold to make another call?

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Community Answer

Once its on hold, press "add call." Then, you can talk to the other person.

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Question

How can you put a call on hold and call another party before returning to the original call?

Community Answer

Place the call on hold then press "add call"; choose the person you'd like. Press "merge calls," and take the other person off hold.

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