How to make a phone call on a tablet

By Alex Choros

Last updated 29 June 2018

It might sound like black magic, but it's possible to use a tablet to make a phone call. If you've got an iPhone and iPad, you're even able to use the same number on both devices. Read on for the secret to this sorcery.

Pro tip: use headphones or a headset when calling on a tablet to avoid holding a 10-inch or so device to your ear

Making a phone call on an iPad

If you've got an iPhone and iPad, you can setup your iPad to make and receive phone calls from your current phone number thanks to an iOS feature called Continuity. For Continuity to work, you'll need to ensure that:

Your iPhone and iPad are both signed into iCloud with the same Apple ID
Both devices are signed into FaceTime with the same Apple ID
Each device has Wi-Fi switched on, and is connected to the same wireless network
Both devices are running iOS 8 or better. Ideally, they should be on the same version of iOS

Once you've made sure that this is a-okay, you'll need to follow these steps.

On your iPhone:

Open the Settings app
Tap Phone
Taps Calls on Other Devices
Toggle on Allow Calls on Other Devices

On your iPad:

Open the Settings app
Tap FaceTime
Toggle on Calls from iPhone

Once that is all setup, you'll be able to make a call on your iPad by tapping a phone number in your Contacts app, Safari, or any app that automatically detects numbers. Alternatively you can open FaceTime and enter the phone number you wish to call.

Continuity will also mirror phone calls; if you're receiving a call on your iPhone, it will also appear on your iPad. You can choose to answer it on either device.

Making a phone call on an Android tablet

Android tablets don't have the same kind of Continuity features as you get on iPhone and iPad, so you're not able to use an Android tablet make phone calls using your regular phone number. If that's not a problem, your best option for making phone calls on an Android tablet is Skype.

Using Skype to call an actual phone number isn't free, but it isn't expensive either. Calls cost as little as 1.4¢ per minute and you can buy credit in blocks as small as $10.

Phoning from Skype does however mean whoever receives your call won't see your regular number.