The plus sign in the international telephony system (E.164) is a critical element for the correct routing of calls abroad. On smartphones running an operating system Android this symbol serves as a replacement for the national access code during international roaming. Users often encounter difficulties when trying to enter this character in the dialing field, especially when using non-standard input methods or specific firmware versions.
There are several ways to activate this character, which depend on your device model, shell version and current keyboard layout. International format numbers begin with this character, followed by the country code and the local number of the subscriber. Ignoring this rule often leads to connection errors when trying to call from abroad or using services like WhatsApp and Telegram to register accounts.
In this material we will analyze in detail all existing methods for entering the “+” sign on the lock screen, in the standard “Phone” application and in third-party instant messengers. You will learn about hidden features engineering menu, features of Gboard and SwiftKey, as well as how to save the number in the correct format in the phone book to avoid communication problems in the future.
Standard method input in the Phone application
The most common and intuitive way to enter a plus sign is available in the standard dialing interface. On most modern devices, including models from Samsung, Xiaomi and Google Pixel, this symbol is hidden on the numeric keypad. To find it, you need to hold your finger on the button 0 for one or two seconds.
When you press it for a long time, the system interprets this action as a request for a special character, and a “+” sign appears in the input field instead of zero. This mechanism is built deep into the operating logic of telephone module Android and works regardless of the selected keyboard layout. This is the most reliable method, which is guaranteed to work even in emergency situations when other input methods are not available.
However, on some custom firmware or outdated versions Android the behavior of the zero key can be changed by interface developers. In such cases, a long press may have no effect, or the symbol may take a while to appear. If the standard method does not work, you should check the settings of the Phone application or switch to a third-party keyboard where character management is implemented differently.
⚠️ Attention: On some devices with a heavily modified interface (for example, older versions of MIUI or specific builds for the Chinese market), long pressing zero may open the SIM card selection menu instead of entering a plus. In this case, use the alternative methods described below.
If long pressing on zero does not work, try quickly pressing the button to switch the layout to symbols (usually the "?123" or "Sim" icon), where the plus is often placed on the main screen of the number pad.
Using third-party keyboards and layouts
Users who have installed alternative text input applications, such as Gboard, Yandex Keyboard or SwiftKeymay encounter different character layout logic. In these applications, the plus sign is usually available in the special characters section. To access it, you need to press the numbers and symbols button, which is often indicated as ?123 or =\<.
After switching to symbols mode, the “+” sign is usually located in the top row of the keyboard or next to the number zero. In some configurations virtual keyboard this symbol may be hidden in a second page of symbols, accessed by pressing the =\< or right arrow button. This ensures a compact interface, but makes it difficult to quickly access the desired character when dialing a number.
It is important to note that the keyboard layout in the “Phone” application may differ from the layout in instant messengers. Android allows you to customize keyboard behavior for different types of input fields. If you can't find the plus in dialing mode, try activating voice input or using the clipboard to copy a character from another application.
- 🔍 Press the button
?123to move to numbers and signs. - 🔍 Look for the "+" symbol in the top row or next to the key
0. - 🔍 Check the second page of symbols by pressing the button
=\<. - 🔍 Use a long press on the symbols key to bring up additional options.
Inputting a plus through USSD codes and the engineering menu
There is a specific scenario for using the plus sign associated with by entering USSD requests and engineering menu commands. In some regions and with certain carriers, the command format requires a plus sign at the beginning of the line, although an asterisk * or hash #is more commonly used. The standard telephone keyboard is best suited for entering such combinations.
When working with the engineering menu, which is often accessed through combinations of the form ##4636##, the plus sign may be required to indicate the country code in network test modes. In this context, the method of long pressing zero remains the only working option, since engineering menus often block the use of third-party text input methods.
Some hidden network settings allow you to force registration in roaming using an international number format. Here, the accuracy of the input is critical: one extra digit or the absence of the “+” sign can lead to a registration error in the network or a complete failure of the communication module. Be extremely careful when entering such commands.
##4636##
*#06#
+79001234567
⚠️ Attention: Entering commands into the engineering menu may change the settings of the radio module of your device. Do not change parameters whose meaning you do not know, as this may lead to signal loss or incorrect network operation.
What to do if the engineering menu does not open?
On new versions of Android, access to some engineering menus is closed by manufacturers. Try installing the "Force LTE Only (4G/5G)" application from Google Play, which provides similar functionality through special ADB permissions.
Saving contacts in international format
Correctly saving numbers in the phone book is the key to hassle-free communication when traveling. When you save a contact, it is recommended to always use the "+" sign instead of the number eight or other national access codes. This allows the device to automatically enter the correct international call code depending on what country you are currently in.
Synchronizing contacts with your account Google is also preferable to do in international format. This ensures that numbers are displayed correctly on all your devices, including tablets and computers, regardless of their regional settings. Universal format records eliminates confusion when importing and exporting contact databases between different operating systems.
When importing contacts from a SIM card, there is often a problem of duplication or incorrect number format. The system may store the number without a country code, making it unusable abroad. In such cases, it is recommended to manually edit the entries by adding the “+” sign and the country code using bulk editing through the Google Contacts web interface.
| Number type | Incorrect format | Correct format (E.164) | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile RF | 8 900 123 45 67 | +7 900 123 45 67 | Replacing 8 with +7 |
| City Moscow | 8 (495) 123 45 67 | +7 495 123 45 67 | Removing brackets and dashes |
| Number USA | 1 212 555 0199 | +1 212 555 0199 | Adding a plus |
| Help Desk | 0800 123 45 67 | +7 800 123 45 67 | For calls from abroad |
☑️ Checking the contact format
Problems with entering a plus in messengers
When registering in instant messengers, such as WhatsApp, Telegram or Viber, the phone number entry field often has its own limitations. The developers of these applications strive to simplify the process for the user by automatically inserting the country flag and code. However, sometimes this leads to conflicts when the user tries to manually enter a “+” sign, and the system perceives this as a format error.
In such situations, it is recommended not to enter the plus sign manually, but to use the drop-down list of countries, which is usually located above the number entry field. Selecting a country from the list automatically generates the correct prefix. If the input field is empty and requires full input, use the standard method of long pressing zero or switch the keyboard to symbol mode.
Sometimes the problem lies not in the input method, but in the application cache. If the keyboard does not respond to presses or the character cannot be entered, try clearing the messenger cache in the Android settings. This action will not delete your conversations, but will reset temporary files that can cause interface conflicts.
- 📱 Use the list of countries instead of manually entering the code.
- 📱 Check if there is a limit on the length of the number in the input field.
- 📱 Clear the application cache if the keyboard does not work correctly.
- 📱 Make sure that the application has permission to access the phone.
⚠️ Attention: Messenger interfaces are updated frequently. If the described methods do not work, check the current registration instructions in the help of a specific application, since the logic for entering a number may change in new versions of the software.
In messengers, the priority input method is to select a country from the list, rather than manually typing characters, as this guarantees that the number matches the operator's database.
Technical aspects and character encoding
From a technical point of view, the plus sign in telephony is encoded in a certain way in signaling protocols. In the standard ITU-T E.164 this symbol indicates the beginning of the international number. The Android operating system, when dialing a number, converts the visual “+” symbol into the corresponding code for sending to the network. Understanding this process helps you understand the importance of correct input.
In some rare cases, especially on devices with non-standard localized firmware, there may be a problem with symbol display. A question mark or square may appear instead of a plus sign. This indicates a problem with the font encoding in the system. Solving this problem requires changing the system font or resetting the region settings.
For developers and advanced users, it is possible to enter a character via Unicode if standard methods are not available. However, this method usually does not work in the Phone application, since the input field expects only numeric values and a limited set of special characters. Using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) allows you to emulate keystrokes programmatically, which can be useful for test automation.
adb shell input text "%2B"
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why can’t you type plus by long pressing zero?
This may be due to features of your keyboard or Android version. Try switching to the standard Gboard keyboard or looking for the "+" symbol in the special characters menu (the ?123 button). Also check if the emergency call mode is enabled, where the functionality of the keypad is limited.
Is it necessary to use the plus sign when making calls within the country?
No, for calls within one country you can use the national format (for example, starting with 8 or 0). However, using the international format with a plus works universally and will not cause errors, even if you are in your home region.
How to dial plus on a tablet without a SIM card?
On tablets without a phone module, the “Phone” application may not be available. In this case, the “+” sign can be typed in any text editor or instant messenger, copied and pasted into the desired field (for example, in the Skype or Viber settings).
Is it possible to change the layout so that the plus is always visible?
In standard Android settings this is not possible. However, some third-party keyboards allow you to create custom layouts or bring frequently used characters to the main screen of the number pad through theme or layout settings.
What to do if the number is saved without a plus?
Edit the contact manually. If the problem is widespread (for example, during import), use the Find and Replace function in the web version of Google Contacts to replace the beginning of the number (for example, "8") with "+7" for the entire phone book at once.