# How can I stop butt dialing the world? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 5, 2024, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-stop-butt-dialing-the-world/999894 "2024-04-05T17:36:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2024, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-stop-butt-dialing-the-world/999894/61 "2024-04-09T21:37:05Z")
I haven’t used a swipe pattern for unlocking for at least three phones, since then I’ve always had phones with a fingerprint sensor, and I have it trained to both my index fingers. Every few days, I have to type my PIN, for security reasons and to keep that up as an alternative login method. That’s enough security for me. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2024, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-stop-butt-dialing-the-world/999894/62 "2024-04-09T23:42:07Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > Then why have a phone at all? I seem to have missed this point in my responses. I don’t have a phone. I have a super computer with Internet access in my pocket. It just so happens to be able to make/receive phone calls. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-stop-butt-dialing-the-world/999894/63 "2024-04-10T11:54:57Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > I’ve always had phones with a fingerprint sensor My phone has facial recognition, which is cool. It sometimes requires me to remove my sunglasses if they’re polarized, which is so not cool. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-stop-butt-dialing-the-world/999894/64 "2024-04-10T15:48:16Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > Has anyone had this problem and found a way to disable this kind of auto-dialing? Yes, I’ve blocked you… 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-stop-butt-dialing-the-world/999894/65 "2024-04-12T17:04:11Z")
I didn’t know this was a problem any more. Enabling the lock screen should solve it; require PIN, pattern, facial recognition, fingerprint, something to unlock the phone. A lock screen is also a good idea in case you lose your phone. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-stop-butt-dialing-the-world/999894/66 "2024-04-12T17:56:58Z")
As mentioned earlier, getting in the habit of locking the screen before all the handling that causes inadvertent dialing is the hard part. Like seat belts and condoms, it’s a good answer unless you can never get in the habit of using it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-stop-butt-dialing-the-world/999894.md?page=3)