Cannot open phone call with Linking.openURL

Cannot Open Phone Call with Linking.openURL

Understanding the Problem

The Linking.openURL function in React Native is designed to open URLs in the native browser or other supported applications. However, it does not directly support opening phone calls. This is because opening phone calls requires a specific intent and handling by the device’s operating system.

Solutions for Opening Phone Calls

1. Using the “tel:” URL Scheme

The “tel:” URL scheme is specifically designed to trigger phone calls. You can construct a URL using this scheme and then use Linking.openURL to open it.

import { Linking } from 'react-native';

const phoneNumber = '+15551234567';
const callURL = `tel:${phoneNumber}`;

Linking.openURL(callURL);

This will open the phone app and initiate a call to the provided phone number. The phone app will handle the call according to the device’s settings.

2. Using Platform-Specific APIs

For more control and flexibility, you can utilize platform-specific APIs to handle phone calls:

Android:

import { Linking } from 'react-native';

const phoneNumber = '+15551234567';

Linking.openURL(`tel:${phoneNumber}`); // Using the "tel:" URL scheme

// Alternatively, using Android's Intent API:
// (Requires installing 'react-native-intent' package)
// import IntentAndroid from 'react-native-intent';

// IntentAndroid.startActivity({
//   action: IntentAndroid.ACTION_CALL,
//   data: `tel:${phoneNumber}`,
// });

iOS:

import { Linking } from 'react-native';

const phoneNumber = '+15551234567';

Linking.openURL(`tel:${phoneNumber}`); // Using the "tel:" URL scheme

// Alternatively, using iOS's native libraries:
// import { NativeModules } from 'react-native';

// const { CallKit } = NativeModules;

// CallKit.makeCall(phoneNumber);

Important Considerations

• Permissions: Ensure your app has the necessary permissions to make phone calls. For Android, this typically involves requesting the “CALL_PHONE” permission.
• Error Handling: It’s crucial to handle potential errors that might occur when opening a phone call. For instance, if the device does not have a phone app or the user declines the call, your app should display an appropriate message.
• Platform Compatibility: The “tel:” URL scheme is supported on both Android and iOS. However, the platform-specific APIs mentioned above are specific to their respective platforms.

Table: Comparison of Methods

Example: Opening a Phone Call

Here’s a complete example showcasing how to open a phone call using the “tel:” URL scheme:

import React, { useState } from 'react';
import { View, Text, TouchableOpacity, Linking } from 'react-native';

const App = () => {
  const [phoneNumber, setPhoneNumber] = useState('+15551234567');

  const handleCall = async () => {
    try {
      const supported = await Linking.canOpenURL(`tel:${phoneNumber}`);
      if (supported) {
        await Linking.openURL(`tel:${phoneNumber}`);
      } else {
        console.warn('Phone call not supported on this device');
      }
    } catch (error) {
      console.error(error);
    }
  };

  return (
    
      Phone Number: {phoneNumber}
      
        Call Now
      
    
  );
};

export default App;

This code renders a button that, when pressed, will attempt to open a phone call to the specified phone number. It includes error handling to display a message if the call cannot be initiated.