iOS 26 hidden feature lets you access extended call history for any contact

Apple iPhone

iOS 26 introduces a subtle but useful feature in the Phone app, allowing users to access extended call histories with any contact. This hidden functionality provides a detailed view of all calls made and received with a particular person, including date, time, and duration, potentially stretching back several years depending on usage.

By default, iPhone call history lists calls in reverse chronological order without filtering by contact. The extended history feature enhances this by consolidating calls with a single individual into one accessible record. This may be useful for legal purposes, verifying communications, or resolving disputes over missed or received calls.

To access this feature, users should open the Phone app and tap the Recents tab. In the Unified view, selecting a contact’s name will reveal the extended history. In Classic view, tapping the information icon next to a contact serves the same purpose. The resulting window displays all interactions with that contact in chronological order, including missed calls, answered calls, and call duration.

Extended call history is not available from the Contacts app. While Apple has not specified exactly how far back the history can go, early tests indicate that for frequent contacts, it may cover activity from early 2023 onwards. Users with older devices or less frequent contact may see shorter histories.

Alongside this hidden feature, iOS 26 continues to offer other improvements to the Phone app, such as Call Screening, which avoids connecting unknown callers unless they identify themselves, and Hold Assist, which maintains the call while navigating automated customer service menus. Live Translation for calls is also supported on devices with Apple Intelligence features.

By incorporating these updates, iOS 26 enhances user control over phone communications, combining security, privacy, and utility in a single interface. The extended call history feature may go unnoticed by many but provides a powerful tool for users who need detailed records of their interactions.