How to Enable Call Waiting on Samsung Phones
Turn on call waiting on Samsung Galaxy phones such as the J6, J7, A20 and A30: where to find the setting, how to check it works and fixes for common errors.
Call waiting lets you hear an alert and answer a second incoming call while you are already on the phone. On Samsung Galaxy models such as the J6, J7, A20 and A30, the switch is in the Phone app's settings. The service itself is provided by your mobile carrier, so the phone sends your choice to the network rather than storing it locally.
Before you start
Because the setting is applied on the carrier's side, it cannot be changed offline. Check the following first:
- An active SIM card is inserted in the phone.
- The phone has mobile network signal and airplane mode is off.
- Your plan includes call waiting. Many carriers enable it by default, but some require it to be added to the line.
- You are using the Samsung Phone app. If another dialer is set as the default, its menus will differ from the steps below.
On dual SIM models, call waiting is set separately for each SIM. The phone may ask you to choose a SIM before it shows the option.
Step-by-step instructions
Menu labels depend on the software version and on any carrier customization. The steps below follow the usual layout of the Samsung Phone app.
- Open the Phone app.
- Tap the three-dot More options icon in the top right corner and choose Settings.
- Tap Supplementary services. On older software, which some J6 and J7 units still run, this entry may be named More settings or More call settings instead.
- If prompted, select the SIM card you want to configure.
- Turn on Call waiting. Wait while the phone contacts the network. The switch updates once the carrier confirms the change.
If you cannot find these entries, type call waiting into the search field of the main Settings app. Depending on the software version, the search results may take you directly to the option.
On many GSM networks you can also control the service with standard codes typed into the dialer and sent like a call. Use *43# to activate it, #43# to deactivate it and *#43# to check its status. Not every carrier accepts these codes, and some handle them differently.
The change is fully reversible. To turn call waiting off, switch off the same toggle or dial #43#.
Check the output
Leave Supplementary services and open it again. When the screen reloads, it reads the status from the network, so a switch that still shows as on confirms that the carrier accepted the change. Dialing *#43# should also return a message stating whether the service is active.
For a practical check, ask someone to call you while you are on another call. You should hear a repeating tone and see the incoming call on screen, with options to answer it while holding the first call or to decline it. The exact buttons vary by software version and carrier.
This setting covers regular voice calls handled by your carrier. Calls made through internet calling apps follow those apps' own behavior and are not controlled by this switch. Whether you can merge or swap calls also depends on your carrier.
Common problems and next steps
An error appears when you turn it on
A network or SIM error usually means the request did not reach the carrier. Confirm that you have signal, restart the phone and try again. If Wi-Fi calling is enabled, try again with it turned off, because some carriers process these requests only over the mobile network. If the error continues, the service may not be available on your plan.
The option is missing or greyed out
Some carriers hide or lock the call waiting menu and manage the service through their own account tools or customer support. The option can also appear inactive while no SIM is detected or while airplane mode is on.
Second calls go straight to voicemail
Open Call forwarding in the same Supplementary services menu. A forward when busy rule can send incoming calls to voicemail instead of alerting you. Also check whether Do not disturb is on or whether the caller's number is blocked.
The setting changes after a SIM or plan change
Because the carrier stores the status, moving to a new SIM, number or plan can change it. Check the toggle again after any such change. If call waiting still does not work, ask your carrier to confirm that the service is enabled on your line.