My iPhone is dialing a contact while in my pocket unexpectedly

[Lifeisabeach]

Hey guys, i've been experiencing a really baffling issue. Three times now, my iPhone dialed my ex without any attempt by myself to do it. The first time I was unaware it even happened until she called me back asking if something was wrong. When it happened, I was unloading my car. It happened twice again today, first time while cutting up some branches and the second time just walking to the mailbox. Every time, my iPhone was in my shorts pocket and not being used. The first time it happened today, I was aware when it happened because I had my PowerBeats on listening to music, and i was startled when the music stopped it I heard it ringing out instead.

The second time it happened today, I glanced at the screen and noticed it appeared to have tried to make an emergency call. I forget what I saw exactly, but it was the dialer and 3 digits on the number entry (996, maybe?), with maybe the asterisk character in between the digits. Her number is still listed as an emergency contact, so maybe that had something to do with it. but I'm still trying to figure out HOW it got activated. Using the two methods I know of (rapid click lock button x5 or holding the volume and lock button together) give me a different screen and are supposed to initiate a call to 911, and that didn't happen. Sooooo.... any thoughts?

 

[chscag]

No idea why it would have done that, but I have experienced some strange things going on with my iPhone while it was in my pocket. One time it brought up a game and it appeared that it was trying to play.

The only thing I could think of is that my movements - getting in and out of my car, etc, was somehow causing the phone to think I was inputting to it. This has happened a few times with my iPhone 12 (no home button). It has never happened with my iPhone 8 which has a home button.

I purchased a phone holster to use but quickly gave up on it because it was too uncomfortable to wear.

I honestly have never heard of a phone dialing out by itself though.

 

[MacInWin]

Do you have an Apple Watch? I ask because it can sense when/if you fall. It then asks if you are OK and if not, it dials the emergency contact in the iPhone to tell them you appear to have fallen and have not responded. Wonder if that is what happened? False fall sensed, no response from you, dial the emergency number.

 

[Lifeisabeach]

Do you have an Apple Watch? I ask because it can sense when/if you fall. It then asks if you are OK and if not, it dials the emergency contact in the iPhone to tell them you appear to have fallen and have not responded. Wonder if that is what happened? False fall sensed, no response from you, dial the emergency number.

Nope, no Watch. Don't even own one. Yet. I just had the iPhone in my pocket and PowerBeats in my ears.

 

[ferrarr]

Was the screen facing your skin, or outward? That happens to me a lot at work, but I would rather have the screen facing me, rather than all the objects could crack it.

 

[MacInWin]

I've had the same issue. I'll call my wife (usually from the store for clarification) and then hang up, put the phone in my pocket and it then calls her again. What worked to stop it happening for me is to click on the side button to darken the screen. On my setup, that then locks the phone and it won't dial just from a touch to the screen by anything while it's in my pocket.

 

[Slydude]

Good thought, Jake.

I've had that problem a few times and use the same process. I've also been known to trigger the flashlight or camera from that screen.

 

[chscag]

I've had that problem a few times and use the same process. I've also been known to trigger the flashlight or camera from that screen.

There was a rather interesting thread over at MacRumors regarding the same thing. The question folks were asking is why in the world did Apple see fit to have both the Flashlight and Camera appear on the lock screen?

I've also had my wife come to me and ask why is the flashlight on? LOL.

 

[Slydude]

There was a rather interesting thread over at MacRumors regarding the same thing. The question folks were asking is why in the world did Apple see fit to have both the Flashlight and Camera appear on the lock screen?

I've also had my wife come to me and ask why is the flashlight on? LOL.

The only solution I've seen so far is to turn off Raise to Wake and Tap to Wake functionality. Doing so might affect some useful features such as quick access to the camera.

 

[Lifeisabeach]

Was the screen facing your skin, or outward? That happens to me a lot at work, but I would rather have the screen facing me, rather than all the objects could crack it.

Facing inward, I do believe. That is my preference for the same reason.

I've had the same issue. I'll call my wife (usually from the store for clarification) and then hang up, put the phone in my pocket and it then calls her again. What worked to stop it happening for me is to click on the side button to darken the screen. On my setup, that then locks the phone and it won't dial just from a touch to the screen by anything while it's in my pocket.

Thing is, the phone was locked and I hadn't interacted with it for well over half an hour... maybe an hour or more. She also wasn't on my recent calls, so it's not like it re-dialed.

Good thought, Jake.

I've had that problem a few times and use the same process. I've also been known to trigger the flashlight or camera from that screen.

Yeah, I've accidentally triggered the flashlight several times and am a bit baffled how. I mean, I know about that button, but somehow I activate it without trying.

 

[MacInWin]

Good thought, Jake.

I've had that problem a few times and use the same process. I've also been known to trigger the flashlight or camera from that screen.

I have lots of pictures of pocket lint.

 

[Lifeisabeach]

So here's my best guess at what happened. The phone was activated while while jostling around in my shorts... getting what it thought was a swipe up. Since it couldn't authenticate, the passcode screen was presented. While still jostling around, the button for "Emergency", which is at the bottom left corner of the passcode screen, got activated and now the dialer comes up. While still getting jostled around, "Medical ID" was activated at the bottom of that screen. And finally, while jostling around still, my emergency contact was activated. This is the only thing that makes sense, and would also explain why I saw those digits and asterisks... they were being "selected" with the dialer up.

The shorts in question were some mesh-like gym shorts, and the previous time were swimming trunks. I'm sure the material, and maybe some dampness (I was sweaty while doing yard work yesterday, and I had just gotten back from the beach the other time) played into this.

 

[Rod]

It' common enough to be referred to as "butt dialing" so it's a well known issue. I have experienced it myself a few time recently and I can completely relate to the pocket lint photos mentioned by Jake. The Raise to Wake setting could be partly responsible and i also think using the power button to turn off and lock the screen may help. Need to do some controlled tests.

 

[Alwyn]

No idea why it would have done that, but I have experienced some strange things going on with my iPhone while it was in my pocket. One time it brought up a game and it appeared that it was trying to play.

The only thing I could think of is that my movements - getting in and out of my car, etc, was somehow causing the phone to think I was inputting to it. This has happened a few times with my iPhone 12 (no home button). It has never happened with my iPhone 8 which has a home button.

I purchased a phone holster to use but quickly gave up on it because it was too uncomfortable to wear.

I honestly have never heard of a phone dialing out by itself though.

I have. My first generation SE often used to dial my brother who was at the top of my contacts list (A with a space) from my pocket.

 

[Lifeisabeach]

It' common enough to be referred to as "butt dialing" so it's a well known issue. I have experienced it myself a few time recently and I can completely relate to the pocket lint photos mentioned by Jake. The Raise to Wake setting could be partly responsible and i also think using the power button to turn off and lock the screen may help. Need to do some controlled tests.

Well historically, "butt dialing" involved phones with physical buttons and could be activated by, well, anything. I wouldn't have expected any of this to happen on a touch screen inside my shorts when normally human flesh is required to make contact before anything happens, but I think in this case, the material of what I was wearing along with dampness from salty water the first time, salty sweat the next, effectively stimulated the screen. I've never experienced in-pocket photos or other activations of any sort in the entire time I've owned iPhones, which has been since day 1.

 

[Cyprus95]

Do you have a PIN lock set for your phone? (if not, try enabling a PIN)
Do you have tap-to-wake enabled? (try turning that off)
Do you have Siri turned on? (try turning Siri off and see if it still happens)
Do you have any other app that integrates with your phone app?

 

[CaptainBart]

I totally understand. My original 11+ would do the same thing. I was sitting at my desk and actually watched the phone dial my doctor's #. Apple exchanged the phone saying that the touch pad was not functioning properly.

 

[Mac Man 2007]

I have had occasionally apps and or phone calls happen after putting my phone in the pocket. One time the phone was hot and it had been running an app(I forgot which one) for 15 minutes and it had drained the battery from 95% to 75% in that time. I have played around with this and realize my phone it set to sleep after 2 minutes of non use. So I found that all these experiences have come after using the phone and putting it directly in my pocket. Once asleep it will not turn on an app. Apps that I remember it using in my pocket are phone calls, compass, camera and measuring app. I had used these apps previously to putting my phone in my pocket. I am convinced that if the phone is "awake" it is very sensitive to touching an app in my pocket.

 

[Mikeo512]

This happens to me a lot and I believe it has to do with something called 'Voice Control', which I never knowingly use. I inherited my wife's iPhone (12.5.4; 5s) and use it mainly for listening to music or BBC Sounds when I've gone to bed and am trying to get to sleep. From time to time, the screen will suddenly show up blue with 'Voice Control' at the top and I hear a voice saying something like, "Calling Joe Bloggs, home or mobile?" (Always someone from my Contacts list.) I read somewhere that this is more likely to happen when an iPhone has headphones plugged in, which is always the case with any nocturnal calls from me. Sometimes when I've forgotten to set the Sleep Timer the thing will make (or more usually try to make) a whole series of calls during the night. I have put a stop to this by switching the iPhone off and switching it on again but ignoring the prompt about SIM card being inactive. There are various articles on the Internet about this phenomenon. However, I can say that even before I used the trick about not activating the SIM, no one ever called me back with a complaint.

 

[Ferdie]

In my case it was Siri that was initiated inside my trousers‘ pockets, presumably by some surrounding sounds (not what you think…) that triggered her and made her dial several different numbers. I deactivated Siri entirely and it hasn’t happened since.