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Apple keeps making the Phone app better; here’s how
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You might not think about it often, but the Phone app on your iPhone keeps getting more powerful. Here are two features you can use today, plus one coming next month in iOS 27.
With iOS 26 last year, Apple added a new feature called Hold Assist to the Phone app. When you’re on a call, the feature can detect when you’ve been placed on hold. Then you’ll see a pop-up you can tap to enable Hold Assist.
When the person on the other end of the call returns, your iPhone will notify you.
Here’s how Apple describes Hold Assist: “Automatically detect when you are placed on hold, so you can step away. iPhone will then notify you when it’s time to pick up.”
You can enable Hold Assist by going to the Settings app, scrolling down to Apps, then choosing Phone. In this menu, you’ll see a toggle: “Hold Assist Detection” that you can turn on.
Call Screening is another new feature in the Phone app, introduced as part of iOS 26 last year. Here’s how Apple describes it: “Calls from unsaved numbers will be asked for more information before iPhone rings.”
When someone from an unsaved number calls you, Call Screening kicks in and asks who they are and why they are calling. You can then view their explanation right on your iPhone’s Lock Screen and choose to answer or send them to voicemail.
In an age of ever-increasing spam calls, Call Screening is a must-enable feature. You can find it in Settings ⇾ Apps ⇾ Phone.
Finally, Call Context is a new feature coming to the Phone app with iOS 27. It’s an Apple Intelligence feature that proactively surfaces relevant information when you call a business.