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How to Call Someone and Put Them on Speaker Without Picking up Your iPhone

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Next time you find yourself with your hands full and you want to make a call on your iPhone – or even if you're in bed and your phone's just out of reach – don't forget that you can get Siri to start a speakerphone call for you, handsfree.

iphone x speakerphone call handsfree
All you need to do beforehand is make sure that your iPhone is set up to listen for the "Hey Siri" voice command. You can check this by following the steps below:

Enable the "Hey Siri" Command on Your iPhone

  1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Siri & Search in the list.
    call handsfree speakerphone

  3. At the top of the screen, check that the Listen for "Hey Siri" slider is toggled to the green ON position.

With that done, you don't even have to pick up your iPhone to speak to someone on speakerphone. Simply say "Hey Siri, call [name] on speaker," and you'll be chatting in no time.

call handsfree speakerphone 1
What if the person you want to call isn't in your contacts list? No problem – just dictate the number to Siri instead: "Hey Siri, call [number] on speaker."

Remember this quick tip the next time you want to make a call and you might just save yourself some bother.

Related Forum: iOS 12

Top Rated Comments

jlc1978 Avatar
103 months ago
The idea is great, wasn’t it for Siri too often not understanding what I say

And really, do you want me to tell Siri the number, like 555-3462168???
I don’t even “remember “ or know my own wife’s number by heart anymore, let alone other people’s numbers.
"Hey Siri, Call wife on speaker"
"I can't find Wifon Speakerr. Did you mean John Speaks? I've found 6 of them near you..."

My general Siri experience. God help me if I try to use it when watching TV or a movie...

It's even worse if you are trying to call someone whose name is prounounced differently than it is spelt; for example an X in Portuguese so Xuxa is prononunces Shoo Sha. So unless you remember the Siri way with hard X's you can't call them and need to give them some other keyword in the contact.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bigskygangsta Avatar
103 months ago
"Hey Siri, Call wife on speaker"
"I can't find Wifon Speakerr. Did you mean John Speaks? I've found 6 of them near you..."

My general Siri experience. God help me if I try to use it when watching TV or a movie...

It's even worse if you are trying to call someone whose name is prounounced differently than it is spelt; for example an X in Portuguese so Xuxa is prononunces Shoo Sha. So unless you remember the Siri way with hard X's you can't call them and need to give them some other keyword in the contact.
[doublepost=1543068471][/doublepost]Simple solution to odd name pronunciations. Tell Siri to learn how to pronounce “xyz” contact and she’ll ask you how it’s pronounced and fix it. This has been available for years.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
103 months ago
I use my speakerphone for almost all my calls (The stereo speakers are outstanding on the newer iPhones) and I didn’t even think to ask Siri to invoke the speaker hands free. Good article.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
840quadra Avatar
103 months ago
I use this quite often, especially from iPad or HomePod.

Siri does far more, far better than many give it credit for.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Michael Scrip Avatar
103 months ago
The idea is great, wasn’t it for Siri too often not understanding what I say

And really, do you want me to tell Siri the number, like 555-3462168??? I don’t even “remember “ or know my own wife’s number by heart anymore, let alone other people’s numbers.
The article explains two ways to call.

You could dictate each digit like you described. You're right... you might not remember their number.

Or you can call someone from your contact list by simply saying:

"Hey Siri, call [WIFE] on speaker"

:p
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mattopotamus Avatar
103 months ago
I thought this was actually going to show you how to answer on speaker. I usually use my Apple Watch and then handoff when my hands are free.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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