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what is rtt on iphone

RTT on iPhone is an accessibility feature called Real-Time Text that lets you type and read text live during a phone call, instead of (or along with) speaking.

What RTT on iPhone actually is

  • RTT stands for Real-Time Text.
  • It sends each character (or each line) as you type, so the other person sees the text instantly while the call is in progress.
  • It’s mainly designed for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech difficulties, but anyone can use it where it’s supported.
  • It works over modern networks (like VoLTE) and usually requires that your carrier and the other person’s device support RTT too.

Think of it like a live chat window attached to a phone call, where both voice and text can be used at the same time.

Where you see RTT on your iPhone

  • When RTT is enabled, you may see a small symbol in the status bar that looks like an old-style phone handset over a keyboard.
  • RTT settings live under: Settings → Accessibility → RTT/TTY (or RTT).

If you’re wondering “why is that weird phone/keyboard icon showing,” it usually means RTT/TTY is turned on.

Basic features and options

Some common RTT options on iPhone include:

  • Software RTT/TTY : Built‑in RTT/TTY over the Phone app, no extra hardware needed.
  • Send Immediately :
    • On: each character is sent as you type.
    • Off: you type a full message, then tap send.
  • Answer All Calls as RTT/TTY : Makes all incoming calls default to RTT instead of regular voice.
  • Relay Number : Used when placing RTT relay calls through a relay service (often for accessibility support).

During an RTT call, you open the Phone app, place a call, then choose RTT/TTY Call or RTT/TTY Relay Call, and type in the conversation pane that appears.

If you want to turn RTT off

If you don’t need RTT and just want the icon or prompts gone:

  1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
  1. Tap Accessibility.
  1. Go to RTT/TTY (or TTY/RTT).
  1. Toggle off Software RTT/TTY (and Hardware TTY if it’s on).

After that, the RTT/TTY symbol in the status bar and RTT call options should stop appearing.

TL;DR: RTT on iPhone is Real-Time Text , a built‑in accessibility feature that lets you type back and forth live during a phone call, often used by people with hearing or speech difficulties, but it can be turned off in Accessibility settings if you don’t need it.