How to Call France on Your Phone: Quick Instructions

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If you want to call France from the US, just dial the international access code (011), then the country code for France (33), drop the leading zero, and add the rest of the number. Many people in the USA forget to dial the exit code or leave in the zero.

• For calling France from the US, always check the number.
• Calling France from the USA works for both landlines and mobiles.
• When you call France from USA, use +33 or 011 33, then the number without the zero.
• If you ask how to call France, remember: skip the first zero after the country code for France.

Key Takeaways

• Dial 011 or + before 33, then enter the French number without the first zero to call France from the USA.
• Skip the zero after the country code to avoid call failures; this applies to both landline and mobile numbers.
• Use apps or VoIP services to save money and check time differences to call at a convenient hour in France.

How to Call France

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Calling France from the US

If you want to call France from the US, you need to follow a specific dialing sequence. This process works for both landlines and mobile phones. Here’s how you do it:

1. Dial the international access code. In the USA, this is 011. On a mobile phone, you can use the plus sign (+) instead.
2. Enter the country code for France, which is 33.
3. Type in the area code or mobile prefix, but leave out the leading zero. For example, Paris uses 1 instead of 01.
4. Finish by dialing the rest of the local number.

Tip: Always double-check the number. If you leave in the zero after the country code, your call may not go through.

Let’s look at a quick example. Suppose you want to call a Paris landline with the number 01 22 22 22 22. You would dial:

011 33 1 22 22 22 22

If you use a mobile phone, you can replace 011 with +, like this:

+33 1 22 22 22 22

This same pattern works for all French numbers. Just remember to drop the zero after the country code.

Calling France from USA: Landline vs Mobile

When you call France from the US, you need to know if you are calling a landline or a mobile number. The dialing steps are almost the same, but the prefixes are different.

• Landline numbers in France start with area codes like 01, 02, 03, 04, or 05. These codes show the region. After the area code, you dial the local number.
• Mobile numbers in France start with 06 or 07. These numbers are not tied to a region.

Here’s a quick guide:

Note: Both landline and mobile numbers in France have 10 digits. When you call France from the US, always skip the first zero.

If you use a mobile phone in the USA, you can dial +33 instead of 011. For example, to call a French mobile number 06 12 34 56 78, you would dial:

+33 6 12 34 56 78

This makes calling France from the US easy, whether you use a landline or a mobile.

Area Codes in France

France uses area codes to show different regions. Each area code covers a large part of the country. When you call France from USA, you need to know the right area code and remember to leave out the zero.

Here is a table of the main area codes in France:

Since October 2016, France has implemented the “National Unified Numbering Plan”, under which both fixed - line and mobile phone numbers use 10 - digit numbers. For the original fixed - line numbers starting with 01 - 05, the leading 0 is no longer retained, and they become 8 - digit local numbers starting with 1 - 5. Numbers related to 09 (non - geographical numbers, once used for VoIP, Internet services, etc.) and 20 (once used for Corsica and overseas territories) are also integrated into this 10 - digit unified system. When making an international call, simply use France’s country code 33 followed by the 10 - digit number. There is no need to remove the leading 0 separately for 01 - 05, simplifying the dialing logic.

Many people in the USA make mistakes with the dialing format. The most common problem is leaving in the zero after the country code for France. This can cause your call to fail. Always check your number before you call France from USA.

If you run into problems, check your phone’s settings. Make sure you have international calling enabled. Some carriers in the USA require you to activate international access. If your call does not go through, try restarting your phone or checking your network settings.

Calling France does not have to be hard. Once you know the steps, you can call France from the US quickly and easily. Just remember the sequence: international access code, country code for France, area code without zero, and the local number.

Costs, Time Zones, and Alternatives

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Call Costs to France

When you make international calls from the usa to France, you might notice the cost to call france can add up quickly. Most usa carriers charge per minute for international calls, unless you have a special plan. Here’s a quick look at some popular options:

Traditional carriers in the usa often charge more for international calls to France, especially if you do not have a plan. VoIP services like RingCentral offer rates as low as $0.039 per minute for landlines and about $0.17 per minute for mobiles. Apps like Viber Out and BOSS Revolution also give you affordable rates and sometimes free calls between users.

Tip: Always check your carrier’s international calls rates before you dial from the usa. Using an app or VoIP can save you money.

Best Time for Calling France

France is usually six hours ahead of the usa East Coast and nine hours ahead of the West Coast. If you want to avoid waking someone up, try calling between 8:00 AM and 10:00 PM in France. That means late night or early morning in the usa is not the best time for international calls. Use a world clock app to double-check the time difference before you call.

Alternative Ways to Call France

You have lots of choices for making international calls from the usa to France. Here are some popular options:

• VoIP services like Vonage and Magic Jack let you call France over the internet from your phone or computer. These services often have lower rates than traditional carriers in the usa.
• Apps such as Skype, WhatsApp, and Viber Out allow you to make international calls. If both you and the person in France use the same app, your call might even be free.
• Calling cards give you prepaid minutes for international calls, but they can be tricky to use and may not offer the best rates.
• Wi-Fi calling uses your internet connection instead of the phone network. This works well if you have a strong Wi-Fi signal in the usa.

VoIP calls usually have clear sound and connect fast, as long as your internet is strong. Many people in the usa now use these apps for international calls because they are easy and reliable.

Note: When you use apps for international calls, always think about privacy. Some people in France care a lot about data security, so pick apps that protect your information.

To call France from the usa, just follow these steps:

1. Dial 011, the usa exit code.
2. Enter 33, the country code for France.
3. Add the French number without the leading zero.

Always skip the zero after 33. This helps your call from the usa connect without issues.

Try calling from the usa using apps or Wi-Fi to save money. Check rates before you call from the usa. You can use messaging apps from the usa as well. Calls from the usa work best when you plan for the time difference. Bookmark this guide so you can call France from the usa anytime. If you call France often from the usa, look for special plans. Many people in the usa use VoIP for better rates. You can always reach friends or family in France from the usa with these tips.

FAQ

How do you call France from the usa if you only have a cell phone?

You just dial +33, then the French number without the zero. You can do this from any cell phone in the usa.

Can you call France from the usa using Wi-Fi?

Yes! Many apps let you call France over Wi-Fi. You just need a good internet connection in the usa and the right app.

What if your call to France from the usa does not go through?

Check if your usa phone plan allows international calls. Make sure you left out the zero after 33. Try restarting your phone.

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