Who ya gonna call? (When ghosts call your phone!) 👻

Halloween’s here, and so are the ghosts. Not the sheet-covered kind, but the ones haunting our phones: the mysterious ghost calls and butt dials that leave voicemails full of static or silence.

Most of the time, these aren’t real spirits, just a phone in a pocket or purse deciding to make social plans on its own. But sometimes, Bluetooth gremlins are the culprits. For example, if your phone is connected to a Bluetooth speaker for music, then rings, it may route the call’s audio through that speaker, even if you’ve walked to another room. You’ll hear nothing but silence while your caller shouts, “Hello?” into the void.

A few tricks to keep your phone ghost-free:

• Check your Recent Calls list to confirm whether someone really tried to reach you

• Disconnect or power off Bluetooth devices (speakers, car systems, earbuds) before answering a call, or switch the audio source back to your phone . . . I can show you how

• Lock your screen before pocketing your phone to avoid accidental “butt dials”

If your phone still seems possessed, don’t worry, I perform excellent tech exorcisms.