How to Add Your Doctor's Phone Number to Your Contacts on Your iPhone

Remember the little address book that sat by the kitchen phone? The one with tabs down the side, filled in over the years with pencil, then pen, then crossed out and rewritten? Your iPhone has one of those too. It's called Contacts, and once your doctor's number is in there, you can call the office with two taps instead of hunting for the appointment card in your wallet.

Let's put your doctor in today.

Opening the Contacts App

Look on your iPhone's screen for an icon that says Contacts. It's a gray square with the silhouette of a person's head and shoulders inside a colored tab, a bit like the tab on that old address book.

If you don't see it on your first screen, swipe your finger from right to left to move to the next screen. Still not there? Swipe down from the middle of the screen — a search bar will appear at the top. Type the word "contacts" and tap the Contacts app when it shows up.

Adding the New Number

Once Contacts is open, you'll see a list of names you already have. In the top right corner, there's a small plus sign (+). Tap it.

A blank form appears, ready for you to fill in — just like an empty line in your address book. Here's what to do:

Tap where it says First name and type your doctor's name — for example, "Dr. Smith." You can leave the last name blank if you'd like, or use the office name like "Dr. Smith Office."
Tap add phone just below.
Type the phone number using the number pad that pops up. You don't need to add dashes — the iPhone puts those in for you.
When you're finished, tap Done in the top right corner.

That's it. Dr. Smith is now saved in your phone forever, or until you decide to change it.

Making the Call

Now let's try it out. Open the Phone app — the green square with the white telephone receiver. At the bottom, tap Contacts. Scroll down until you find Dr. Smith, and tap the name. You'll see the phone number you just entered. Tap it, and your iPhone dials the office.

No more digging through the drawer for the appointment card. No more squinting at a magnet on the refrigerator.

A Helpful Extra

While you're at it, consider adding a note to the contact. On the contact's page, tap Edit in the top right, scroll down to add notes, and type something useful — the office address, your doctor's suite number, or the days they're open. Tap Done when you're finished. Next time you call, that information is right there on the screen.

One Thing to Do Today

Grab your doctor's business card, appointment reminder, or the number written on the fridge. Follow the steps above and add that one contact. Then close the app, open it again, and find the name — just to prove to yourself it's really saved. Tomorrow you can add the pharmacy.

Need a hand with your technology? We're here to help. Give PorchSwing a call or book an appointment, and we'll walk you through it at your own pace — no rush, no jargon.