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How to Make SharePoint Phone Numbers Tap-to-Call on Mobile Devices

Amos Gikunda Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to enable tap-to-call functionality for phone numbers stored in a SharePoint list so they can be dialed directly from iOS or Android devices.

How to Make SharePoint Phone Numbers Tap-to-Call on Mobile Devices

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: iOS, Android
Scenario: Accessing a SharePoint list on a mobile device and trying to tap a phone number in a Number column to initiate a phone call.
Observed behavior: The phone numbers stored in the Number column are displayed as plain text and cannot be tapped to initiate a call on mobile devices.

Before you start

Ensure you have the necessary 'Edit' or 'Design' permissions for the SharePoint list to modify column settings and apply custom formatting.

Solution 1Recommended

Use JSON Column Formatting as a Workaround

Since the default Number column does not support tap-to-call natively, applying JSON formatting can turn the text into a clickable telephone link.

By modifying the column display with simple JSON code, you can append the 'tel:' protocol to the number, which iOS and Android devices recognize as a phone number.

Open Column Settings

Navigate to your SharePoint list on a desktop browser. Click the header of the column containing the phone numbers, select 'Column settings', and then click 'Format this column'.

Enable Advanced Mode

At the bottom of the formatting pane on the right side of the screen, click on 'Advanced mode' to input custom code.

Apply JSON Code

Paste a JSON script that creates an anchor element (<a>) and sets the 'href' attribute to evaluate as '="tel:" + @currentField'. Click 'Save' to apply the formatting.

Test on Mobile

Open the SharePoint app or mobile browser on your iOS or Android device, navigate to the list, and tap the formatted number to ensure it triggers your phone's dialer.

Use JSON Column Formatting as a Workaround

Formatting Tip: Ensure the phone numbers in your list contain the country code and remove unnecessary spaces for the most reliable dialing experience across different mobile carriers.

Solution 2

Submit Feature Request via Microsoft Feedback

SharePoint currently lacks a native toggle to make Number columns tap-to-call automatically. You can voice your need for this feature directly to Microsoft.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a Hyperlink column instead of a Number column in SharePoint?

Yes. You can add a Hyperlink column to your SharePoint list and input your phone numbers using the format 'tel:1234567890'. This natively creates a clickable link that opens the phone dialer on mobile devices without requiring JSON formatting.

Why do phone numbers appear as regular text on the SharePoint mobile app?

By default, SharePoint renders Number and Single Line of Text columns as plain text strings to maintain formatting consistency. The mobile application does not automatically parse these strings to detect phone numbers unless they are specifically formatted as actionable links.

Does the 'tel:' link protocol work consistently on both iOS and Android?

Yes, using the 'tel:' prefix is a standard HTML web practice. Both iOS (Safari/Chrome) and Android browsers and applications recognize this protocol and will prompt the native phone dialer when tapped.

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