When you try to call someone in another country for the first time, and it’s not something you frequently do, you could be puzzled about how to dial a country code in addition to the phone number that you have.
Fortunately, the iPhone features a feature called Dial Assist that can help with this.
But, Dial Assist can occasionally cause issues, and you may find that you need to place the call without its assistance.
The article below will show you how to disable the dial assist feature on your iPhone.
You can also check out this Dial Assist iPhone video on YouTube.
How to Disable iPhone Dial Assist
- Go to the Settings menu.
- Choose Phone.
- Tap the button to the right of Dial Assist.
Our explanation continues below with further information on how to turn off Dial Assist on the iPhone, including screenshots.
When you’re attempting to do something new on your iPhone and think you’re doing it correctly, only to get an unexpected outcome, it can be irritating.
If you don’t make international calls on a regular basis, one such task is to phone someone in another country. Dial Assist, a function provided by a number of major cell phone carriers such as Verizon and AT&T, can help to simplify the usually perplexing international calling procedure.
But, if it is causing you problems, you can disable Dial Assist on your iPhone by navigating to Settings > Phone > and scrolling all the way to the bottom, where you will find the Dial Assist setting.
When you make a call that requires international or local prefixes, the Dial Help feature on your iPhone attempts to add them automatically.
While this can be useful in some cases, you may find that your individual foreign phone usage necessitates a different method.
For example, if you frequently travel internationally and have a large number of international connections, you may wish to save those contacts with their full phone numbers (country code, area code, phone number), obviating the need for Dial Help.
Fortunately, you can disable Dial Assist on your iPhone if you aren’t utilizing it or if it is causing problems. Our instructions below will show you how to locate and disable this setting on your device.
Related: This article about the iPhone phone symbol can help you to identify that icon if it appears at the top of your device screen.
Disabling the Dial Assist Option in iOS 16 (Guide with Pictures)
The procedures in this guide were carried out on an iPhone 13 running iOS 16.
Turning this option off will change a setting in your iPhone’s Phone menu, causing the phone to no longer automatically select the right international or local prefix when you dial.
You will need to enter that information once you place your call manually.
These instructions will show you how to disable the iPhone Dial Assist feature so that you may make calls without adding any numbers to the one you’re trying to dial.
Step 1: Go to the Settings menu.
Step 2: Scroll down and select the Phone option.
Step 3: To disable Dial Assist, press the button to the right of it.
When there is no green shade around the button, you have disabled Dial Assist.
In the image above, Dial Assist is disabled.
Now that you know how to disable the dial assist iPhone feature, you may make international calls without worrying about adding extra area codes or country codes to the number you dial.
Our article continues below with more information on how to disable the dial assist feature on an iPhone.
What Does iPhone Dial Assist Mean?
The most common reason users visit our website is that they are browsing the menus on their device and come upon the Dial Assist setting.
The iPhone’s dial assist feature is described in the menu as “Dial assist automatically determines the correct international or local prefix when dialing.”
If you live in the United States, you are probably aware of the requirement to dial area codes before phone numbers in order to contact the correct individual. The phone number 111-555-5555, for example, will connect you to a different individual than 222-555-5555.
Nevertheless, if you want to call someone in another country, you must additionally use a country code. Dial Assist appropriately adds the local prefix and/or country code.
However, the iPhone’s automatic detection of country codes might cause issues for contacts that have been saved with the correct country and local prefixes, which is why many individuals need to disable the dial assist feature.
Several of the icons at the top of your iPhone’s screen can be difficult to understand. Our iPhone clock icon guide can explain what that one symbolizes and how to remove it.
Dial Assist Help on iPhone: Commonly Asked Questions
What is iPhone dial assist?
The iPhone’s dial help feature is designed to make it easier to make international calls.
While this is useful for many people who don’t make frequent overseas calls or who are aware that dial help is enabled and what it will do, it can be difficult to dial the entire, complete number for an international contact.
When you try to call someone in another country, the iPhone’s dial assist feature will automatically add the relevant international and local prefixes.
If you are having issues turning assisted dialing on or off, you should contact your cellular service provider, as certain Apple iPhone users in different nations have varying degrees of difficulty reaching contacts in foreign regions.
What exactly is dial assist?
You may be curious about it if you are browsing the Phone menu on your iPhone or if you notice the phrase “dial help” when making an international call.
Dial assist simply means that your iPhone is attempting to assist you in placing your call by adding the right country codes and local prefixes for the number you are seeking to contact.
What does dial assist mean on my phone?
Dial assist is displayed on your phone because it is actively assisting you in placing an overseas call by including a country code or local prefix.
You can disable it by navigating to Settings > Phone > and deactivating the Dial Assist option.
How can I enable or disable dial assist on my iPhone?
If you already have the correct number with the correct country code or local area code, you may need to disable the dial assist function in order to make the call correctly.
Dial Help is located at the bottom of the Phone menu in the Settings app. To toggle the setting on or off, go to Settings, Phone, and then touch the Dial Assist switch.
How can I prevent my iPhone from adding international and local prefixes when making a call?
To prevent the iPhone from incorporating these prefixes while placing a call to another area, disable Dial Assist.
On the iPhone, you can disable Dial Assist by:
- Going to the Settings app.
- Choosing the Phone menu.
- Removing the green shading next to Dial Assist by tapping the button.
You should now be able to return to the Phone app and make the call without your iPhone app appending extra numbers to the beginning of the number you’re attempting to dial.
Our guide continues below with more information on the dial assist iPhone features and settings.
More on How to Disable the iPhone Dial Help Function
If you’re having trouble with your iPhone adding a country code or local prefix when you make a call, turning off the dial assist option will help.
Yet, for many travelers, the support provided by this function can be really useful.
In fact, if you’re in another nation and have trouble finishing a call, you should consider turning on the dial assist option to see if it helps.
The Dial Assist option is located at the very bottom of the Phone menu. To find it, you will need to scroll below.
While this guide was prepared on an iPhone 13 running iOS 16, the instructions are the same for newer iPhone models and iOS versions, as well as most older devices and software versions.
There are several additional choices on the Phone menu that you may want to change. These are some examples:
- Wi-Fi Calling
- Calls on Other Devices
- Respond with Text
- Silence Unknown Callers
- Call Blocking & Identification
- Blocked Contacts
- SMS/Call Reporting
- Change Voicemail Password
These alternatives can assist you in taking advantage of your wireless network at home or at work, as well as providing some tools to assist in reducing the number of unwanted spam or junk calls that may be attempting to reach you.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.