How to turn off RTT calling on iPhone or Android

When communicating with someone who has a hearing disability, you must take extra care to avoid miscommunication. The same goes for if you have a hearing disability and need to digest the words being communicated by someone else. Phone calls can be an extra tricky situation, but RTT makes those issues less prominent. Let’s talk about how to turn off RTT calling on iPhone or Android if you don’t need the feature active.

Editor’s note: These instructions to turn off RTT on iPhone and Android were assembled using a Google Pixel 8a running Android 15 and an Apple iPhone 15 running iOS 18.5. Some steps may differ depending on your device and its software version.

What is RTT calling?

RTT — or “Real-Time Text” — helps those with hearing problems better communicate over phone calls. Think of the feature as something like closed captions or subtitles, except in real-time. In the USA, incoming RTT calls are automatically enabled. If you wish to make an outgoing RTT call, it’s an accessibility feature that must be enabled.

How to disable RTT calling on Android

Disabling the RTT calling feature makes it so that when you call someone, the RTT function for both of you won’t trigger. If you know the person you’re calling may have a hearing issue, leaving the feature on would probably be best. However, if you don’t want to send or receive RTT calls, here’s where to find the toggle.

1. Launch the Phone app on your Android device.
2. Tap the ⋮ button in the search bar at the top.
3. Select Settings.
4. Within the Settings menu, go to Accessibility.
5. Go into Real-time text (RTT), and select Not visible.
6. You can also go back to the Accessibility settings, select TTY Mode, and pick TTY Off.

How to turn off RTT calling on an iPhone

RTT is also available on iPhone. If you’ve enabled RTT but have forgotten how to turn it off, here’s how.

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Accessibility.
3. In Accessibility, tap RTT/TTY.
4. Toggle Software RTT and Hardware TTY off.