Note: Available on iPhone 12, iPhone SE (3rd generation), or later. Hold Assist isn’t available in all countries or regions. See the iOS and iPadOS Feature Availability website.

An ongoing call screen showing a banner that asks if the caller would like to use Hold Assist to receive a notification when they’re no longer on hold.

Go to the Phone app on your iPhone.
When you’re in a call and put on hold, tap , then tap Hold Assist.
Important: Check your ring settings before you step away from the call. If your iPhone is on silent or Do Not Disturb, you won’t hear the incoming call when an agent is available. See Silence iPhone.
Hold Assist will notify you when an agent is available and transcribe the part of the call you missed. Tap to rejoin the call.

Note: Phone can also automatically detect hold music and prompt you to start Hold Assist. Go to Settings > Apps > Phone, then turn on Hold Assist Detection.

Respond to a second call on the same line

If you’re on a call and receive a second call, do one of the following:

Ignore the call and send it to voicemail: Tap Send to Voicemail.
Respond to the second call with a text message: Tap Message.
Set a reminder to return the call: Tap Remind Me, then choose when you want a reminder to return the call.
End the first call and answer the new one: When using a GSM network, tap End & Accept. With a CDMA network, tap End; when the second call rings back, tap Accept, or drag the slider if iPhone is locked.
Put the first call on hold and answer the new one: Tap Hold & Accept.
To switch between calls when you have a call on hold, tap Swap to switch between calls, or tap Merge Calls to talk with both parties at once. See Start a conference or three-way call.

Note: With CDMA, you can’t switch between calls if the second call was outgoing, but you can merge the calls. You can’t merge calls if the second call was incoming. If you end the second call or the merged call, both calls end.

On models with Dual SIM, note the following:

Wi-Fi Calling must be turned on for a line to enable that line to receive calls while the other line is in use for a call. If you receive a call on one line while the other is in use for a call, and no Wi-Fi connection is available, iPhone uses the cellular data of the line that’s in use for the call to receive the other line’s call. Charges may apply. The line that’s in use for the call must be permitted for data use in your Cellular Data settings (either as the default line, or as the non-default line with Allow Cellular Data Switching turned on) to receive the other line’s call.
If you don’t turn on Wi-Fi Calling for a line, any incoming phone calls on that line (including calls from emergency services) go directly to voicemail (if available from your carrier) when the other line is in use; you won’t receive missed call notifications.
If you set up conditional call forwarding (if available from your carrier) from one line to another when a line is busy or not in service, the calls don’t go to voicemail; contact your carrier for setup information.

Use Live Translation

If Apple Intelligence* is turned on, you can use it to get spoken translations during phone calls. See Translate messages, calls, and conversations.

Helpful?

iPhone User Guide

While on a call on iPhone

Adjust the audio during a call

Use another app while on a call

Receive a notification when you’re no longer on hold

Respond to a second call on the same line

Use Live Translation