You can talk to several people at once from the Phone app on an iPhone, with no extra app. The key buttons are Add Call and Merge Calls. Most US carriers allow up to five people on a call plus you, though the limit depends on your carrier and plan.
Start the conference call
- Call the first person and wait until they answer.
- Tap Add Call (the + icon). The first person is put on hold.
- Choose the second contact or dial the number.
- When they answer, tap Merge Calls. Everyone can now hear each other.
- To add more people, repeat: Add Call, dial, then Merge Calls.
If someone calls you during a call, tap Hold & Accept, then Merge Calls to bring them in.
Manage the people on the call
Tap the info button (an “i” in a circle) next to the participants’ names.
- Private lets you speak with one person while the others stay on the line together. Tap Merge Calls to bring them back.
- End removes one person from the call without ending it for everyone.
When you hang up, the call ends for you. On many carriers it ends for everyone, since you are the host.
If Merge Calls is missing or grey
- Your carrier or plan may not support conference calling. Contact them to check that it is enabled.
- Some carriers require VoLTE (voice over LTE) to be on. Look in Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Voice & Data.
- Wi-Fi calling can limit conference features on some networks. Try turning it off temporarily.
- Prepaid and some MVNO plans limit the number of participants. If you are on Google Fi, our guide on using an iPhone with Google Fi explains how to check what is supported.
Make the call sound better
Use headphones or AirPods so the iPhone does not echo voices back. When you are not talking, tap mute. Turn on Voice Isolation from Control Center during a call, when supported, to reduce background noise. A quiet room matters more than any setting.
When to use an app instead
For more than five people, video, or international participants, a group FaceTime call (up to 32 people on Apple devices, and Android or Windows users can join through a link in a browser), WhatsApp, Zoom or Google Meet works better and does not depend on your carrier.
Need to keep a record of what was said? Screen recordings do not capture phone call audio, as we explain in how to screen record on iPhone. Take notes instead, or use a meeting app with an authorized recording feature, and always tell participants first.
