Modern smartphones based on Android offer users many ways to interact with contact information, but sometimes the standard dialing interface hides the necessary functions. Users are often faced with the need to enter special characters such as hash or asterisk, or change the number display format for international calls. Understanding how to write a number on Android using specific characters is critical for setting up forwarding, accessing the USSD menu of operators or correctly saving contacts from other countries.
In this article we will analyze in detail the mechanics of entering telephone numbers, the hidden capabilities of the dialing keyboard and the technical nuances of working with symbols in the operating system Google Android. You will learn where to find hidden characters, how to activate caller ID, and what key combinations allow you to control communication services directly from the device.
Some smartphone models from manufacturers like Samsung, Xiaomi or Pixel may have slight differences in the arrangement of interface elements, but the basic principles of typing remain the same for the entire ecosystem. We will consider universal methods that are suitable for the vast majority of devices, regardless of the version of the operating system or the manufacturer's shell.
Basic typing keyboard and hidden symbols
The standard interface of the Phone or Dialer application usually displays only the numbers 0 to 9, as well as call and delete buttons. However, to fully work with communication services and USSD requests, additional characters are required, such as * (asterisk) and # (grid). To access them, just press a special key, often labeled as +/= or Symbols, which is usually located in the bottom row of the keyboard or when switching input mode.
After pressing this key, the number pad transforms, opening access to technical signs. The # symbol is often used to complete commands in the operator menu, and * serves to activate various service functions. In some shells, for example in One UI ot Samsung, additional characters may be hidden behind a long key press 0 or +.
It is important to note that the layout may depend on the regional settings of your device. If you don't see the characters you want after standard steps, check your input language settings or try switching the keyboard layout inside the dialer app. Sometimes you need to press and hold the key +to access other special characters, such as ; (semicolon), which is used to create pauses in typing.
If you often use USSD commands, add the desired number to your contacts with a symbol at the end - this will speed up access to operator services without the need for each manually dial the code once.
Entering the international format and plus symbol
When saving contacts or dialing numbers abroad, it is critical to use the international format that begins with the symbol +. This sign replaces the international line access code (for example, 810 or 00), making the number universal for use anywhere in the world. On a dialing keyboard, the symbol + is usually حاصل by long pressing the key 0.
Hold your finger on the number 0 for one or two seconds until the symbol +appears on the screen. After this, you can continue to enter the country code and the subscriber number itself. Using this format ensures that your smartphone routes the call correctly, regardless of whether you are in your home region or roaming.
Modern smartphones Android automatically recognize the international format and can offer appropriate options for saving in the phone book. If you copied a number from a messenger or website, make sure that the country code is preceded by +, and not the local exit code, to avoid connection errors when traveling.
⚠️ Attention: When saving numbers in international format, make sure that you delete the first digit of the local number (often this is
8or0), if it duplicates the country code. For example, for Russia+7immediately follows the operator code, without an additional eight.
Special characters for pauses and waits
In automatic dialing scenarios, for example, when calling a help desk or corporate PBX, you often need to enter an extension number after connecting to the main line. For this purpose, two special characters are provided: comma Android There are two special characters: comma , (pause) and semicolon ; (wait). These characters allow you to automate the process of entering an extension number without user intervention.
Pause character , creates a fixed delay (usually 2 seconds) before sending the next digits. This is useful if you know exactly how long it will take for the automated attendant to ask you to enter an extension number. The wait character ; pauses dialing until you manually press the send button, which is useful if the operator's response time varies.
To insert these characters, you need to open an additional character panel on the dialing keyboard (often through the +/= or Symbolsbutton). In some versions Android they are accessible by long pressing the key * or #. After inserting a character, the number will look like a single line, but the phone will process it in stages.
Example of a format with a pause: +71234567890,,1234
Example of a format with a wait: +71234567890;1234
The use of such structures significantly saves time during daily calls to technical support or offices where entering an extension number is required. You can save such a contact once and use it many times without manually entering numbers after each connection.
☑️ Checking the correctness of the number with pauses
Hide numbers and identification codes
One of the common tasks is the need to hide your phone number when making an outgoing call. For this purpose, special prefixes are used in mobile communications, which are entered before the main number. In most CIS and European networks, to hide a number one-time, a code is used #31#, which is entered immediately before the dialed number.
For example, to call a subscriber incognito, you must dial the sequence: #31#79991234567 and press the call button. In this case, “Unknown number” or “Hidden number” will be displayed on the screen of the receiving device. This feature is subject to service support from your carrier and may require a fee or require prior activation.
There are also codes to check the status of the number hiding service. The command *#31# allows you to find out whether the hiding service is active by default for your tariff.
| USSD code | Action | Usage example |
|---|---|---|
#31# |
Hide number (one-time) | #31#79001234567 |
*31# |
Show number (if hidden by default) | *31#79001234567 |
*#31# |
Checking service status | Dial and press call |
##002# |
Cancel all forwarding | Universal reset |
If the codes do not work, it is possible that the number hiding control function is only available through the settings of the smartphone itself. In this case, you need to go to the “Phone” application menu, select “Settings” → “Accounts” or “Additional services” → “Caller ID” and select the “Hide number” option.
⚠️ Attention: Some telecom operators block the possibility of one-time hiding a number through prefixes, requiring you to change the tariff settings in your personal account. Check the terms of your tariff plan before using codes.
What to do if the code #31# does not hide the number?
If the prefix does not work, go to your phone's call settings. The path is usually this: Phone application → Three dots (menu) → Settings → Calls → Additional settings → Number identification. Select the "Hide number" option. If the menu is not available, contact the operator.
Setting up the number display in the system
In addition to the set of special characters, users are often interested in how to change the display format of already saved or incoming numbers in the system Android. The operating system automatically formats numbers according to regional standards, but sometimes you need to force a change in the type of notation, for example, to separate the operator code with brackets or hyphens.
In the standard Contacts application, formatting usually occurs automatically when saving. However, if you imported the database from an old SIM card or another phone, the numbers may appear as a continuous line. To remedy the situation, you can use third-party applications to normalize contacts or edit each contact manually, adding spaces and brackets for ease of reading.
To change the output format on the lock screen or in the call log, you may need superuser rights (Root) or the use of specialized modules such as Xposed Framework, although in modern versions Android this is becoming increasingly difficult due to increased security. The average user is advised to rely on the built-in theme personalization tools, which may affect the font and padding, but not the number formatting logic.
If the number is displayed incorrectly (for example, symbols or hieroglyphs instead of numbers), this may indicate an encoding problem when importing the file. .vcf. In this case, it is recommended to open the file in a text editor, check the encoding (should be UTF-8) and repeat the import.
Automatic formatting of numbers depends on the regional settings of the smartphone. Changing the country in the system settings can affect how the phone breaks the number into groups of numbers.
Solving input and recognition problems
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the phone does not recognize the dialed number or the call button remains inactive. This often occurs when invalid characters are used or the format is incorrect. Make sure that the number does not contain extra spaces at the beginning of the line or invalid characters that are not supported by the standard E.164.
Another common problem is characters being blocked in certain modes. For example, in emergency call mode, only numbers and the call button are available from the locked screen, and the symbol keyboard can be hidden. To enter complex combinations in this case, you must first unlock the device.
If the dialing keyboard does not work correctly (sticks, does not respond to presses), try clearing the cache of the “Phone” application. To do this, go to Settings → Applications → Phone → Storage → Clear cache. This action will not delete your contacts or call history, but may fix software glitches in the interface.
- 📱 Check if Do Not Disturb mode is enabled, which may block some call functions.
- 🔄 Reboot your smartphone to clear temporary radio module errors.
- 🌐 Make sure the correct network mode (2G/3G/4G/5G) is selected in SIM card settings.
- 🛡️ Check blocker applications that can intercept number input.
⚠️ Attention: Settings interfaces and input capabilities may vary depending on the version of Android and the manufacturer’s shell (MIUI, One UI, ColorOS). If the described paths do not match, use the search in the phone settings.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How to write a phone number in letters on Android?
The standard dialing keyboard does not support entering letters directly into the number field, since telephone networks use only numbers. However, if you want to save a contact with a letter designation (for example, 1-800-FLOWERS), you can enter the letters in the Contact's Name field. Some older phones had a mode for entering letters on the numeric keypad, but modern Android this feature has been removed for the number field.
Why do asterisks appear instead of numbers when dialing a number?
This is a normal security feature in some applications or when entering SIM card PINs, but not in regular dialing. If you see asterisks in the Phone app, you may have accidentally enabled hidden input mode or may be using a third-party theme that changes how characters appear. Check your accessibility and theme settings.
Is it possible to copy a number with a + symbol from a message and call immediately?
Yes, Android automatically recognizes phone numbers in text messages, mail and browser. If the number is written in international format (s +), when you click on it, an action menu is usually offered, where you can select “Call”. The system itself will substitute the number in the dialing field.
How to remove the country code when displaying the number in contacts?
This is regulated by the contact display settings. Go to the Contacts application, open Settings and find the “Number Format” or “Display” option. There you can select the “National format” option, which will hide the country code for local numbers, leaving it only for foreign ones.
What does the P or T symbol after the number mean?
The symbol P (Pause) means a pause of 2 seconds, and T (Wait) means waiting for confirmation before continuing dialing. These characters are used to automatically enter extension numbers. In the interface Android they are often displayed as a comma , and a semicolon ; respectively.