How to Put Someone on Hold on iPhone
Are you stuck in a situation where you need to transfer a call to someone else, but the person on the other end isn’t answering? Don’t worry, this is a common problem that many iPhone users face. With a few simple steps, you can put someone on hold on your iPhone and transfer the call to the desired recipient.
Getting Started
To put someone on hold on your iPhone, you’ll need to use the "Do Not Disturb" feature, also known as "Do Not Call" in some regions. This feature allows you to silence notifications, excluding specific numbers, such as the person on hold.
To access the "Do Not Disturb" feature, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings > Do Not Disturb
- Toggle the switch to the right to enable Do Not Disturb
- Choose Custom Contacts if you want to add specific numbers to the list
Putting Someone on Hold
Once you’ve enabled Do Not Disturb, you can put someone on hold by answering a call or message that prompts you to do so. Here’s how to do it:
- Answer a call or message that prompts you to put someone on hold
- Tap the "Do Not Disturb" notification in the top-right corner of the screen
- Tap the Put Me On Hold button
- Wait for the person on hold to answer or hang up
Transferring Calls to Someone Else
Now that someone is on hold, you can transfer the call to the desired recipient. Here’s how to do it:
- Answer the call and wait for the person to answer or hang up
- Find the number of the person you want to transfer the call to in your contacts
- Tap the "More" button (represented by three dots) next to the person’s name
- Tap Transfer Call or Add Call (depending on your iPhone model)
Specifying the Destination
When transferring the call, you’ll need to specify the destination number. Here’s how to do it:
- Tap Who to open the Contacts app and add the person’s number to the list
- Find the number of the person you want to transfer the call to in your contacts
- Tap Add to add the person’s number to the list
- Tap Next to select the person to transfer the call to
Additional Tips
Here are some additional tips to keep in mind when using the "Do Not Disturb" feature and putting someone on hold:
- Make sure you’re in a designated call-waiting position, such as a conference call or a meeting, when someone calls in to put you on hold
- If you’re on a call and someone hangs up, the person on hold will remain on hold until you answer the call or send the call to voicemail
- If you’re trying to transfer a call to someone, make sure they’ve actually heard the person on hold first
Table: Do Not Disturb vs. Do Not Call
| Feature | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Do Not Disturb | Allows you to silence notifications, excluding specific numbers | You receive a notification from Apple that a certain number has a busy status, but you’re not able to respond |
| Do Not Call | Allows you to block specific numbers from calling or texting you | You receive a notification from Apple that a specific number has blocked you from calling or texting you |
| Do Not Disturb vs. Do Not Call | The main difference between the two features is that Do Not Disturb allows you to silence notifications, excluding specific numbers, while Do Not Call allows you to block specific numbers from calling or texting you | In the Do Not Disturb example, you’ve silenced all notifications, excluding specific numbers, while in the Do Not Call example, you’ve blocked a specific number from calling or texting you |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Here are some common mistakes to avoid when using the "Do Not Disturb" feature and putting someone on hold:
- Using Do Not Disturb too frequently, which can be seen as rude or disengaged
- Putting someone on hold without verifying the person’s identity or contact information
- Not verifying the destination number before transferring the call
- Not specifying the destination number when transferring the call
By following these steps and tips, you should be able to put someone on hold on your iPhone and transfer the call to the desired recipient. Remember to use the "Do Not Disturb" feature responsibly and only when necessary.