How to change dialing on Android: a complete guide

Smartphones based on Android provide users with the widest possibilities for customizing the interface and functions of the device. However, when it comes to basic system applications, such as the dialer, owners have many questions. Often the standard application for dialing, preinstalled by the manufacturer, does not suit the user with its appearance, lack of conversation recording or inconvenient sorting of contacts.

Changing the method of dialing a number may imply either replacing the software itself with a more advanced one, or adjusting the system settings within the current shell. Depending on the version of the operating system and the model of your gadget, the algorithm of actions may vary significantly. Below we will analyze in detail all possible scenarios, from simply changing the icon to deeply customizing system protocols.

The need to change settings often arises after an update Google Phone or when switching to smartphones from Chinese brands, where privacy policies may limit the recording of conversations. Understanding how to manage this process will allow you to regain control of your device and make communication more comfortable.

Selecting and installing an alternative calling application

The most radical, but effective way to change the dialing process is to install a third-party dialer. The store Google Play presents many solutions that offer features not found in stock versions: spam blocking, smart sorting by region, or advanced call recording. After installing such an application, the system itself usually offers to make it the main one.

If there is no automatic request, you will have to manually redirect the system commands. To do this, you need to go to the settings section, where all installed apps are listed. Here it is important to find the item responsible for default applications, since it is this that dictates to the system what software to launch when you click on the green handset.

The change process may take only a couple of minutes, but requires care when selecting the desired item in the menu. Not all manufacturers make this setting visible on the interface; sometimes it is hidden in additional submenus.

• 📱 Go to Settings your smartphone.
• 🔍 Find the section Applications or Application Manager.
• ⚙️ Go to Default Applications.
• 📞 Select a category Phone or Dialing.
• ✅ Tick the newly installed application.

After completing these steps, any call through contacts or history will open exactly the interface you have chosen. This allows you to completely bypass the restrictions imposed by the smartphone manufacturer on standard software.

Customizing the display of the keyboard and buttons

If you are not satisfied with the application itself, but with the way the dial panel looks, you should pay attention to the internal settings of the theme and button size. Many modern shells, such as One UI from Samsung or MIUI from Xiaomi, allow you to change the visual style without installing additional software.

In some cases, users are faced with a situation where the buttons become too small or, conversely, take up half screen. This is often due to accessibility settings or changing the font size on the system. Checking these settings may solve the problem without having to reset the settings.

It is also worth mentioning the "Speed ​​Dial" function, which allows you to assign a contact to long-press a number key. This significantly speeds up the process of connecting with loved ones and is an important part of the ergonomics of the interface.

⚠️ Attention: Changing the theme through third-party launchers may not affect the phone's system application, since it is often rendered on top of the main interface.

To access visual settings, you usually need to click on the three dots in the corner of the screen or the gear icon directly in dialing interface. Here you can enable or disable vibration when pressed, change the color scheme and display order of frequently used contacts.

Resetting the Phone application settings

Sometimes changing the dialing number is required not for beauty, but due to technical glitches. If the application freezes, does not save history, or does not detect the region correctly, the best solution is to completely reset its settings to the factory state. This action will not delete your contacts, but will clear the cache and error logs.

You can perform this procedure through the app management menu. It is important to understand the difference between clearing the cache and clearing data: the first deletes temporary files, the second resets all settings, including favorites and call history (in some firmware).

Action	What is deleted	Risk of data loss
Cleaning cache	Temporary files, thumbnails	Minimal
Data clearing	Settings, history, favorites	High (for local history)
Forced stop	Nothing (only restarting the process)	None

Before pressing the reset button, make sure that your contacts are synchronized with your account Google or saved to USIM-map. This will prevent the loss of important information in case of unexpected synchronization errors.

The action algorithm is simple: find the application in the list, click “Storage” and select the appropriate button. After this, the phone will ask you to confirm the action, and the application will restart in its original form.

Using engineering codes to change call behavior

For advanced users, it is possible to change the behavior of the network and the device itself using special USSD codes and engineering menus. These tools allow you to forward calls, change the network type for calls and check the forwarding status.

Codes are entered directly into the dialing field. Some combinations are universal for all operators, while others depend on the specific processor model or firmware version. Be extremely careful when changing settings in the engineering menu.

*#61# - Checking forwarding when there is no response
*#62# - Checking forwarding when unavailable
**21*number# - Enabling unconditional forwarding

Is it dangerous use engineering codes?

Using standard USSD codes (starting with and #) is safe and does not entail loss of warranty. However, entering the deep engineering menu (for example, via code ##4636##*) can lead to unstable operation of the modem if the radio module parameters are incorrectly changed.

Using these commands, you can actually "change" where your call goes before it's even made. This is useful when traveling or when the main number is temporarily out of service.

⚠️ Attention: Engineering menu interface (##4636##) may differ on different devices. Do not change the settings in the “Phone Information” sections if you do not understand their purpose, this may lead to the loss of the network.

Setting features on different versions of Android

The procedure for changing call settings directly depends on the version of the operating system In older versions Android (before 9.0) users had much more. more freedom in choosing third-party applications for handling calls. From Android 10 and above, Google tightened security policies.

Now third-party applications may not have access to the microphone to record a conversation or to the call log without explicit user permission, which must be confirmed with each update. This is done to protect privacy, but adds complexity. customization.

Owners of devices based on Android 13 i 14 may notice that the system automatically rolls back changes if the third-party dialer is unstable. In such cases, it is recommended to use only certified applications from the official store.

• 🆕 On Android 14 It is now possible to change the font size in system applications regardless of general settings.
• 🔒 Access to the call list for third-party applications now requires a separate confirmation in a pop-up window.
• 📵 Do Not Disturb mode now has more flexible exception settings for repeated calls.

If you have updated your phone and noticed that the usual settings have been reset or stopped working, check the "Accessibility" section. Often, permissions necessary for the correct operation of alternative dialing applications are hidden there.

Solving problems with displaying contacts when dialing

A frequent problem is the situation when, when dialing a number, contact names are not substituted, only numbers are displayed. This may be due to a synchronization error or incorrect selection of the display source in the application settings.

To fix this, open the Phone application settings and find the “Contacts to display” option. Make sure that all available sources are selected there: Google account, phone book and SIM card.

Sometimes simply clearing the cache of the Contacts application, which is closely linked to the dialer, helps. These two components work in conjunction, and a failure in one inevitably affects the operation of the other.

⚠️ Attention: If a problem with displaying names occurred after transferring data from another phone, the contacts may have been saved in vCard format with an encoding error. Try exporting them and recording them again.

Also check if the “Numbers Only” mode or hiding contacts without numbers is enabled. Such filters are often activated accidentally when updating the interface or changing the theme.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Is it possible to return the old version of the dialing application?

Yes, it is possible, but requires uninstallation updates. Go to the application settings, click the three dots in the upper corner and select "Uninstall updates." The system will roll back the application to the factory version that was on the smartphone when purchased.

Why do calls not go through after changing the application?

Most likely, the new application was not granted the necessary permissions. Check the "Application Permissions" section in your phone settings and make sure that the new dialer has access to "Phone", "Contacts" and "Microphone".

How to change the dialing sound (button tone)?

The sound of button presses is adjusted in the general system sound settings, and not in the application itself. Find the “Keypress sound” item in the “Sound and vibration” section and disable it or change the volume of the media channel.

Does changing the application affect the quality of communication?

No, the application itself is only an interface. The quality of communication depends on the modem, antennas and operator network settings. However, some applications may handle codecs differently when calling over the Internet (VoLTE/VoWiFi).

Where can I find hidden dialing settings?

Hidden settings are often available through the engineering menu or in the “For Developers” section. Be careful: changing the settings in these sections may lead to unstable operation of the device.