What is butt dial?

A "butt dial" occurs when a mobile phone accidentally makes a call due to buttons being pressed inadvertently, often while the phone is in someone's pocket or bag. This typically happens with phones that have physical buttons or touchscreens that are not locked. The inadvertent pressing can dial a contact's number without the user's intention or awareness.

Butt dialing can lead to a variety of situations, including accidental eavesdropping if the recipient answers the call, privacy breaches, or misunderstandings. Modern smartphones generally include features designed to prevent accidental calls, such as screen locks, fingerprint sensors, and facial recognition, which add layers of security to help avoid these unintended calls. However, butt dials can still occur if those features are not used or if the locking mechanism is not properly engaged.

To minimize the chances of butt dialing, users can lock their screens when not in use, adjust sensitivity settings on their touchscreens, or store their phones in a way that minimizes pressure on the device's buttons or screen.