Getting dialnote on your iPhone takes just a few minutes. The app works on iOS 15.1 and later, and you'll need to grant microphone access to make and receive calls.
Download and Install#
- Open the App Store on your iPhone
- Search for "dialnote" or visit the direct App Store link
- Tap Get to download and install the app
- Once installed, tap the dialnote icon to launch
iPad support
dialnote works on iPad too. There's no separate iPad layout, so you get the iPhone screens scaled up to the larger display.
Sign In to Your Account#
When you first open dialnote, you'll see the sign-in screen with several options:
- Continue with Google - Sign in with your Google account
- Continue with Microsoft - Sign in with your Microsoft/Office 365 account
- Continue with Apple - Use Face ID or Touch ID with your Apple ID
- Email and password - Enter your dialnote credentials directly
If you don't have an account yet, sign up at dialnote.com first. Your account and settings sync automatically across web and mobile.
Apple Sign-In
Apple Sign-In uses your device's Face ID or Touch ID for quick authentication. It needs a native build of the app, so it isn't available in Expo Go.
Grant Permissions#
Microphone is the only permission dialnote needs to place and answer calls. Everything else is optional. iOS shows no permission prompts when you first open the app or sign in. You'll be asked as you reach each feature, or you can grant permissions upfront in your iPhone's Settings app. Importing your iPhone contacts, for example, asks for Contacts access at the moment you tap Import.
Microphone Access (required)#
This is the one permission you can't skip. The prompt appears the first time you place or answer a call, not at sign-in. Tap Allow so dialnote can connect to calls. If you decline it, that call won't connect and dialnote tells you to turn the microphone on for dialnote in your device Settings.
Notifications (optional)#
Notifications power incoming call alerts, new message pings, and voicemail alerts while the app runs in the background. They're optional, so you can use dialnote without them. After you sign in, a soft banner on the Inbox screen invites you to turn them on — tap Enable to allow, or dismiss it for the session.
dialnote also asks on its own about a second after your first answered call. That ask happens once per device, so a decline is never repeated.
If you already tapped "Don't Allow," the banner switches to Open Settings, since iOS won't show the popup a second time.
Bluetooth (optional)#
If you use Bluetooth headsets, AirPods, or a car's hands-free system, iOS routes call audio to them for you. dialnote doesn't ask for a separate Bluetooth permission on iPhone. Calls still work through your iPhone's built-in speaker and microphone.
Denied a permission?
If you accidentally tap "Don't Allow," you can fix it later. Go to Settings → dialnote on your iPhone and toggle on Microphone or Notifications.
Verify Your Setup#
Once you've signed in, you're ready to go. Here's a quick checklist:
- Check your phone numbers - Your assigned numbers appear in the side menu under "Inboxes"
- Test your audio - Make a quick test call to confirm your microphone works
- Enable Do Not Disturb (optional) - Set your availability status to control when you receive calls
The dialer is always accessible from the main navigation. Type a number on the keypad to place your first call, or pick someone from the Contacts tab.
Background Calling and CallKit#
dialnote uses Apple's CallKit framework along with VoIP push notifications. This means incoming calls look and feel just like regular phone calls on your iPhone:
- Native call screen — Incoming calls ring on the iPhone's own CallKit call screen, even when your phone is locked or the app is closed. Inside the app, the incoming-call screen has Accept and Decline buttons
- Multitasking — Calls keep going when you switch to other apps, check email, or browse the web
- Audio routing — Sound automatically routes to Bluetooth headsets, AirPods, your car's hands-free system, or the built-in speaker
- Call history — dialnote calls appear in your iPhone's recent calls list alongside regular calls
To switch audio output during a call, tap the speaker icon. With a Bluetooth device connected, a picker opens with Speaker, Normal (Earpiece) and Bluetooth. Without one, the icon just toggles between the earpiece and the speaker.
Focus and Do Not Disturb
dialnote respects your iPhone's Focus modes. If you've set up a Focus schedule or Do Not Disturb, incoming call notifications follow those rules. You can also set your availability status to "Do Not Disturb" inside the app to stop calls from ringing on any device.
What's Next#
You're set up. Here's where to go from here:
- Making calls on mobile — place and manage calls from the dialer
- Mobile notifications — pick which alerts you get and how
- Android setup — setting up a teammate's Android device
- Mobile app overview — a tour of the app's navigation and screens