How to screen calls on an Android phone

I’m guessing I’m not alone in getting extra rip-off and spam calls than ever earlier than. Because of this, Google and the opposite Android cellphone makers have regularly added a spread of built-in options to detect and cope with undesirable callers. These embrace having suspicious numbers flagged earlier than you reply, having the ability to block nuisance callers, and even getting AI to reply incoming requires you. Placing these protections in place ought to go a good distance towards coping with undesirable calls.

As common on Android, completely different fashions supply completely different options. The information under was written utilizing a Google Pixel cellphone with Android 15 and a Samsung Galaxy cellphone with One UI 6.1. Different Android-based telephones might differ barely, however it’s best to discover a comparable set of instruments out there.

When a name is available in that isn’t from a quantity in your contacts, the Google Phone app preinstalled on Pixel telephones can ship it to Google for checking. (When you’re not on a Pixel cellphone, you may nonetheless install the app on different Android telephones.) Google says it “gathers numerous alerts in regards to the name” through the test — which I presume means cross-referencing it in opposition to a database of numbers which have been reported as spam.

On most telephones, the function can be enabled by default. To test its standing from the Cellphone app:

• Faucet the three dots (prime proper).
• Select Settings.
• Faucet Caller ID & spam.
• If See caller and spam ID is off, toggle it on.
• Activate Filter spam calls if you wish to ship suspected spam calls straight to voicemail with out disturbing you. (According to Google, in case your cellphone has the automated Name Display function, you received’t see this selection. I clarify extra about Name Display under.)

When you’re on a Samsung cellphone and would reasonably persist with the built-in Samsung Cellphone app, there’s an analogous function referred to as Sensible Name. From the Cellphone app:

• Open the Keypad tab.
• Faucet the three dots (prime proper).
• Select Settings.
• Choose Caller ID and spam safety.
• Activate the toggle change on the prime of the following display.

That may warn you about rip-off or fraud calls as they arrive in (in partnership with Hiya). The second toggle change, Block spam and rip-off calls, offers you the choice of robotically sending them to voicemail so that you don’t get the decision notification or the warning. You’ll be able to allow this for all suspected spam and rip-off calls or solely those labeled as high-risk within the Hiya database.

Moreover the caller identification options talked about above, you too can manually block numbers. Meaning calls from that quantity can be despatched straight to voicemail, and not using a notification in your cellphone.

• Open the Recents tab.
• Faucet on a quantity.
• Choose Block numbers.
• Examine Report as spam if you wish to.

To seek out the checklist of blocked numbers (and unblock any of them, if needed), faucet the three dots within the top-right nook, then Settings and Blocked numbers. The subsequent display allows you to see blocked numbers, unblock numbers, or block calls from unidentified callers.

• Open the Recents tab.
• Faucet the knowledge (“i”) button subsequent to a quantity.
• Select Block.

To seek out blocked numbers within the Samsung Cellphone app, open the Keypad tab. Faucet the three dots (prime proper), then Settings > Block numbers. The subsequent display allows you to see blocked numbers, add or unblock numbers, or block calls from unidentified callers.

Some of the helpful AI-related options that Google has dropped at its telephones is Name Display, which solutions your requires you.

Within the US, Name Display can work robotically:

• In your Cellphone app, faucet the three dots (prime proper), then Settings and Name Display.
• Activate the Mechanically display calls toggle change.
• You’ll be able to then select between three safety ranges: Most (all unknown numbers are screened and spam is declined); Medium (suspicious numbers are screened and spam is declined); and Primary (solely recognized spam is declined).
• Allow Save Name Display audio in order for you recordings of screened calls to be saved (transcribed textual content is saved robotically).
• Allow Mechanically delete older recordings and transcripts to have these recordsdata deleted after 30 days.

Outdoors of the US, you solely get the Save Name Display audio and Mechanically delete older recordings and transcripts toggle switches.

When you’ve enabled computerized display calling, the AI assistant kicks in with out you having to do something. If not, or if the decision falls exterior the automated safety stage settings, you’ll see a Display name button when a name is available in, together with buttons to just accept or decline the decision. 

When a name is being screened, you get proven a transcript of what’s being stated. Utilizing the buttons on the backside, you may finish or decide up the decision at any level or present easy sensible replies (like saying you’ll name again). You will discover transcripts of screened calls on the Latest tab of the Cellphone app.

Samsung Galaxy telephones have one thing comparable referred to as Bixby Textual content Name. Your cellphone will reply calls in your behalf and transcribe what’s being stated onscreen for you. From the Samsung Cellphone app:

• Faucet the three dots (prime proper).
• Select Settings.
• Choose Textual content name.
• Activate the toggle change on the prime.
• Faucet Language to decide on which language you converse. (You will have to obtain a language pack.)
• On that web page, beneath Language, it’s best to see a variety referred to as Voice. Faucet on that to pick out a voice, or choose Create customized voice. (You’ll need to obtain Bixby Customized Voice Creator.)
• Faucet Fast responses to see the short snippets you will get Bixby to say (like “Name you later”) and to arrange your personal.

With the function enabled, you’ll see a Textual content name button on incoming name notifications. Faucet this, and Bixby takes over; you’ll see the decision play out as a textual content dialog onscreen. You should utilize the buttons on the prime and backside to hitch the decision, finish the decision, or ship one in every of your fast responses.

To learn transcripts from earlier calls, head to the Recents tab within the Cellphone app. Faucet the speech bubble icon on the appropriate of any earlier name to see the textual content.