The small phone icon with a keyboard at the top of your iPhone screen means RTT/TTY is turned on. To remove it, go to Settings > Accessibility > RTT/TTY and turn off Software RTT (or Software TTY) and Hardware TTY. The icon goes away once both are off.
This guide follows Apple’s iPhone User Guide pages Set up and use RTT and TTY on iPhone and Learn the meaning of iPhone status icons, plus Apple’s support article About the TTY symbol in the status bar. Older guides point to a TTY switch under Settings > Phone, but Apple now lists the setting under Accessibility.
How to Turn Off RTT/TTY on iPhone
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Accessibility.
- Tap RTT/TTY. Apple says that depending on your carrier, it may say RTT, TTY, or RTT/TTY.
- Turn off Software RTT (or Software TTY).
- Turn off Hardware TTY if it’s on.
Result: Apple says the TTY icon appears in the status bar whenever RTT or TTY is turned on, so with both off, the icon disappears.
What RTT and TTY Are
Apple describes Teletype (TTY) and real-time text (RTT) as ways for people with hearing or speech difficulties to communicate by phone, sending text as they type so the other person can read it right away. RTT is the newer protocol, and Apple says it can also send audio as you type.
- Software RTT/TTY is built into the Phone app and needs no extra hardware. Apple says the iPhone uses RTT whenever your carrier supports it.
- Hardware TTY is for connecting the iPhone to an external TTY device with a TTY adapter. Apple says that if both are on, incoming calls default to Hardware TTY.
If you don’t make RTT or TTY calls, it’s fine to turn both off. Apple notes that standard voice call rates apply to RTT and TTY calls.
Don’t See RTT/TTY in Settings?
Apple says RTT and TTY aren’t supported by all carriers or in all countries or regions, and its TTY symbol article says TTY is only available if your carrier supports it. If the setting isn’t there, the icon you’re seeing is probably something else. Several status icons involve calls:
- Phone call: the iPhone is on a call.
- Call forwarding: call forwarding is set up.
- Wi-Fi calling: the iPhone is set up for Wi-Fi calling, and Apple says the carrier name appears next to the icon.
Apple says that on an iPhone with Face ID, there are additional status icons at the top of Control Center, so swipe down from the top-right corner to see them. For the full list, see what the icons at the top of your iPhone screen mean.
If the Icon Comes Back
Check that both Software RTT/TTY and Hardware TTY are off, since Apple says the icon shows when either RTT or TTY is on. Also check Answer All Calls as RTT/TTY, which Apple lists as an option under Software RTT. You won’t need it if you’re not using RTT.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning off TTY affect normal phone calls?
Apple’s guide treats RTT and TTY calls as separate options you pick when you call someone (RTT/TTY Call or RTT/TTY Relay Call). Turning the feature off removes those options and the icon; regular calls are still made from the Phone app as usual.
Can I still answer an RTT call with it turned off?
Yes. Apple says that if you haven’t turned RTT on and you receive an incoming RTT call, you can tap the RTT button to answer it with RTT.
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Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.