Many users who switched from the ecosystem Google to Appleare faced with an unusual interface of the "Phone" application. While on Android, dialing, call history and contacts are often combined into an intuitive interface with large buttons and easy sorting, the standard one may seem disjointed and less functional. This is especially true for working with a black list, spam blocking and quick access to selected numbers. dialer on iPhone may seem disjointed and less functional. This is especially true when working with a black list, spam blocking, and quick access to favorite numbers.
Fortunately, the operating system iOS has made a huge step forward in terms of customization in recent years. Now you can not just put up with the inconvenience, but actually change the experience of use, making dialing as comfortable as possible. There are third-party solutions that integrate deeply into the system, allowing you to get functionality familiar to owners Samsung, Xiaomi or Pixel. In this article, we will look at what tools will help you adapt your iPhone to your needs.
It is worth noting right away that a complete replacement of the system dialer is impossible due to security restrictions. Apple. However, using the right software and settings, you can achieve visual and functional similarities that will blur the line between platforms. The main thing is to know which applications really work and which are just dummies.
Why the standard iOS dialer seems inconvenient
The main complaint of users about the native application Phone is the separation of tabs. On Android, you can often see your call history and dial pad at the same time, or switch between them with a single swipe. N iOS navigation requires moving through the bottom panel, which breaks the context of use. When you need to quickly find a number in the history and immediately dial it, an extra touch on the screen is annoying.
Another pain is working with spam. Built-in mechanisms Apple work well, but they are inferior to powerful algorithms built into shells from Yandex or Kaspersky, which are familiar to many in the CIS. Standard blocking requires manually adding numbers or enabling the limited “Unknown Callers” mode, which can lead to missing important calls from couriers or doctors.
⚠️ Attention: It is impossible to completely remove the standard “Phone” application from the iPhone, since it is a system component. Any third-party solutions work in parallel or replace only part of the functions, for example, number identification.
It is also worth mentioning the contact list interface. Android often features convenient alphabetical navigation on the right and quick search by company. On the iPhone, search is implemented perfectly, but the visual presentation of the list may seem too minimalistic for those who are used to dense information layout. Displaying contacts iOS focuses on the name and photo, sometimes hiding additional details until the card is opened.
The best third-party applications to replace the interface
If you're looking for a way to completely change the experience, caller ID apps that also offer their own dialing interface are the way to go. The market leader in the Russian-language segment remains Yandex with the application Yandex with Alice. It can identify organizations, block ads, and provides its own convenient watch face. After installation and configuration, it can intercept incoming calls, showing a beautiful window with information about the caller.
Another popular option is Kaspersky Who Calls. This solution focuses on security and spam database. The dialing interface here is strict and functional, reminiscent of classic Android dialers. The application allows you to create blacklists based on number masks, which is critical for fighting annoying robots. Installing such software provides spam protection at a level unavailable for stock iOS.
- 📞 Yandex with Alice: Better identification of company numbers and integration of a voice assistant directly into the call interface.
- 🛡️ Kaspersky Who Calls: A powerful database of spam numbers and flexible blocking settings by category (for example, "Taxi" or "Delivery").
- 📱 Truecaller: A world leader with a huge database, but in our latitudes it may be inferior to local solutions in the accuracy of determining local numbers.
It is important to understand that these applications do not replace the system "dialer" 100%, but they take over control of incoming calls and provide their own dialing screen. For this to work correctly, you need to grant the app all the necessary permissions in your privacy settings. Without this number identification it will not work, and you will see only the standard iOS window.
After installing the identification application, be sure to go to Settings → Phone → Call blocking and identification, and turn on all the switches associated with the new application there.
Customize the display of contacts and favorites
To make contact management more similar to Android, you can use the built-in sorting functions. iOS defaults to sorting contacts by name, but this can be changed. Go to Settings → Contacts and select "Sort Order". By switching it to “Last Name, First Name”, you will get a list familiar to many corporate users and owners of old Android smartphones.
Use widgets for quick access to important numbers. You can place a Favorites widget on your Home screen or Today view. This allows you to make calls in one tap, bypassing opening the application and navigating through tabs. This implementation brings the experience as close as possible to how speed dials work on the lock screens of some Android shells.
| Settings option | Where to find | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Sort order | Settings → Contacts | Changes the display order (First Name or Last Name) |
| My Card | Settings → Contacts | Links your number for iMessage to work correctly |
| Number format | Settings → Phone | Affects the display of the country code in the call list |
Don't forget about the "Large Text" function. If the size of the watch face buttons is not enough for you, as is often the case on large Android screens with user-friendly themes, you can increase the font systemically. Go to Settings → Accessibility → Text size and move the slider to the right. This will make the dialing interface more readable and easier to click.
Anti-spam and blacklist
One of the main reasons for wanting to do “like on Android” is an effective blacklist. iOS has a built-in Mute Unknowns feature that sends all numbers not saved in contacts directly to voicemail. This is a radical method, but it is effective. It is activated in the menu Settings → Phone → Silencing unknowns.
A more flexible approach is the use of third-party databases, which we talked about earlier. They allow you to block only spam, allowing calls from new contacts (for example, from a courier) to pass through. Unlike Android, where blocking occurs instantly at the system level, in iOS the application must be active in the background or have special extensions to work.
⚠️ Warning: The Mute Unknowns feature may miss an important call from a doctor or delivery service if their number is not in your phone book. Use with caution.
It is also worth considering the possibility of using operator services. Many mobile operators provide Antispam services that work at the network level, even before the call reaches your iPhone. This is a solution independent of the phone model, which often turns out to be even more effective than any application. Check your operator's personal account for such an option.
☑️ Setting up anti-spam protection
Recording conversations: myths and reality
This is perhaps the most painful issue for migrants with Android. On many Android smartphones, call recording is built into the standard dialer and works in one click. On iPhone, this feature is not available at the operating system level due to strict privacy laws in the US and Europe, where iOS is developed.
There are workarounds, but they are far from ideal. Some apps use conferencing: you call the other party, then connect to the app's recording server. This often costs money, takes time to connect, and most importantly, the voice assistant will alert both parties that the conversation is being recorded. This is not the discreet solution that Android users are accustomed to.
Why doesn't Apple add call recording?
Apple has a strict user privacy policy. Introducing native call recording is contrary to their data protection philosophy and could result in legal action in a number of jurisdictions, especially the US and EU.
Hardware voice recorders connected to the Lightning connector or operating via Bluetooth also have limitations due to changes in audio transmission protocols in the latest versions of iOS. Therefore, if recording conversations is critical for you, the easiest way is to use another phone or warn the interlocutor and turn on the speakerphone, recording the conversation on a second device.
Data transfer and synchronization with Android
If you just switched to iPhone, it is important to transfer contacts correctly so as not to lose the structure of your phone directory. The app Move to iOS (Transfer to iOS) allows you to transfer contacts, message history and even some settings from an old Android device. This ensures that your new “dialer” will immediately be filled with familiar names.
For those who use cross-platform solutions, synchronization through an account is an excellent option Google. You can add your Google account to your iPhone settings (Settings → Contacts → Accounts) and enable contact syncing. This will allow you to edit numbers on any device, and the changes will be applied to the iPhone automatically.
When transferring, pay attention to duplicates. Sometimes when merging data from iCloud and Google Contacts, duplicates occur. iOS has a built-in merge feature: go to the Contacts app, and if the system finds duplicates, it will offer a "Merge Duplicates" button. This will help clear the list and make it neat, like after a good cleaning on Android.
Using Google Contacts cloud synchronization on iPhone is the best way to maintain a single database of numbers when using devices of different platforms.
Frequently asked questions
Is it possible to completely remove the standard dialer on iPhone?
No, the “Phone” application is a system application and cannot be deleted. You can only hide it from the main screen, but it will remain in the application library and will be used by the system to make calls.
Why do third-party dialers not always show their screen when there is an incoming call?
This is due to iOS restrictions on running applications in the background. In order for the number detection to work stably, you need to give the application permission to display on top of other windows and regularly open it to update the databases.
How to return the dial look like on old push-button phones?
The App Store has launcher applications and themes that imitate retro interfaces, but they only work within themselves. It is impossible to replace the system dial screen with a retro style without jailbreaking, which is not recommended for ordinary users.
Does recording conversations via a Bluetooth headset work?
In most cases, no. Modern Bluetooth protocols on iOS transmit call audio directly to the speaker or headphones, bypassing the system microphone, which makes recording through a voice recorder impossible.