Placing a call in dialnote takes a few clicks. The dialer is a floating, draggable pane you can open from anywhere in the app, so you don't lose your place while you work. Let's walk through how to call out and what you can do once you're connected.
Before you start#
You'll need at least one phone number on your account, and your role needs call access to it. Numbers come in three access levels: full access (owner), call & text (shared user), and view only. If a number shows as view only, you can't dial from it.
To call from a specific number, pick it in the dialer's "From" selector. dialnote shows the recipient your verified caller ID for that number when one is set.
Place an outbound call#
- Open the dialer pane.
- Type or paste a phone number, or search your contacts.
- Tap the green call button to connect.
The call button stays disabled until you enter a valid number. Numbers go through right away once you tap it.
Pro tip
You can type digits on your physical keyboard while the dialer is open and idle. Keys 0-9, * and # all register on the keypad.
Controls during a call#
Once you're connected, the dialer shows a row of call controls:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Mute | Silences your microphone. Tap again to unmute. |
| Hold | Pauses the call and plays hold music for the other side. |
| Record | Starts recording. Tapping again pauses (doesn't stop) so you can resume into the same recording. |
| Keypad | Opens the dial pad to send touch tones (for IVR menus). |
| Add participant | Brings a third person onto the call as a conference. |
| Transfer | Hands the call off to a teammate or another number. |
| End | Hangs up. |
Recording mid-call#
The Record button toggles between three states: a circle to start, a red pause icon while recording, and an amber play icon when paused. Pausing keeps a single recording rather than creating a new one each time. Whether calls record automatically depends on the number's setup — see Call recording.
Transfer a call#
Tap Transfer to choose how you hand the call off:
- Cold transfer — the call moves to the new person immediately, and you drop off.
- Warm transfer — the original caller goes on hold while you brief the recipient first, then you complete or cancel the transfer.
For either mode, pick the target by searching your contacts or by typing a raw phone number.
Keyboard shortcuts#
When the dialer is open, these shortcuts work without reaching for the mouse:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + M / Cmd + M | Toggle mute |
| Ctrl + H / Cmd + H | Toggle hold |
| Ctrl + K / Cmd + K | Toggle the keypad (only while connected or on hold) |
| Esc | End the call (only while connected or on hold) |
On a Mac
Use the Command (⌘) key instead of Ctrl — both trigger the same shortcuts.
After the call#
If the number you called from has AI transcription turned on, dialnote can transcribe the call and generate a summary once it ends. You manage these in the number's AI & Intelligence settings. Learn more in Call transcription.
What's Next#
- Receiving calls — handle incoming calls
- Caller ID — set the number people see
- Phone number settings — recording, voicemail, and more
- Call transcription — automatic transcripts and summaries