In this article, we’ll go over how to easily dial an extension number on both iPhone and Android devices without having to manually navigate through automated main menus. We’ll show you how to do this using your phone’s built-in app. Before we get into the steps, it’s helpful to understand why offices use extensions. In large companies with multiple departments, phone extensions help route calls within the company to specific desks or areas. This means that when you call the main office number for help—let’s say, for setting up a product—you can quickly get through to the right department by entering the correct extension number. On smartphones, you can enter extensions directly, saving you from having to wait for instructions from an automated service. There are two main ways to dial an extension, and each works best in specific situations. Let’s go over both methods.
1. The Pause Method
This method is helpful when you can enter the extension as soon as the call connects, without having to wait for the whole automated message. The pause method uses a comma before the extension, and each comma adds a 2-second pause before dialing the extension. Here’s how to dial an extension using the pause method on Android: On some Android phones, there isn’t a three-dots menu. Instead, just press and hold the asterisk (*) key and a comma will automatically be added to the dial pad.
2. The Wait Method
The Wait method is used if you need to wait through an automated message, and the extension should only be dialed after the recording finishes. This gives you control over exactly when the extension is entered. You can also add a semicolon directly—without opening the three-dots menu—by pressing and holding the hashtag (#) key, and a semicolon will appear on the dial pad.
Just like on Android, you can dial extensions directly on your iPhone.
1. The Pause Method
2. Wait Method
If you need the phone to wait before dialing the extension, simply press and hold the hashtag (#) key to add a semicolon before the extension. This “wait” allows you to listen to the automated message before you send your extension number.
Saving Contacts with Extensions on Android
To make things even easier, you can save contacts with extensions directly in your phone’s contact list. This way, every time you want to reach a particular department, you don’t have to enter the extension again—just call from your saved contact.
Saving Contacts with Extensions on iPhone
Just like on your Android phone, you can save contacts with extension numbers on an iPhone too.
Dialing Extension on Mobile and Landline – What’s Different?
On many traditional landlines, you can’t dial an extension right away. Usually, you’ll need to wait for the automated system to prompt you to enter the extension number—unlike on a mobile phone, where you can combine everything in one step. Besides this, there aren’t many other differences between dialing extensions on mobile phones and landlines.
