When you receive a call from a number you don’t recognize, what do you do? Answer it? Ignore it? Send it to voicemail? If you own a Pixel phone, there’s another option: Android call screening.
What Is the Android Call Screening Feature on Pixel Phones?
The Android call screening feature on Pixel devices is called Call Screen. Call Screen leverages Google Assistant to ask a caller “what they are calling about,” literally. Google Assistant then provides you with a real-time transcript of their reply, allowing you to decide if you should answer or decline the call.
As of September 2023, Call Screen is available in:
How to Turn On Android Call Screening on Pixel
To activate Call Screen, first, update Google’sPhone appif you need to.
Once updated, open the Phone app. Go toMore > Settings > Spam and Call Screen. You’ll see the optionSee caller and spam ID. Turn it on if it’s not already.
On the same screen, you’ll also see theCall Screenoption. Tap it to set up and activate Android call screening on your Pixel phone.
How to Activate the Pixel’s Android Call Screening Feature
WithCall Screentapped, look at the sectionUnknown call settings. Here, you will see four different call types that Google Assistant can screen for:
Notice a Google Assistant icon besideSpamandPossibly faked numbers. Tap either, and choose between one of three options:
If you chooseAutomatically screen. Decline robocalls., your phone will display a “Screen an unknown call” notification, and Google Assistant will immediately answer the call. If it detects that the call is a robocall or spam-related, Google Assistant immediately hangs up on the caller.
Go back to theCall Screenscreen and tapFirst-time callers, then thePrivate & hidden numbersoption. Choose eitherRing phone (default)orAutomatically screen. Decline robocalls.
Finally, if you want to save the audio from calls answered by Google Assistant, activate the slider next toSave Call Screen audio. This will record the audio of the response from callers screened by Google Assistant, playable in your call log.
How to Use Android Call Screening on Pixel When Receiving a Call
Call Screen isn’t just for first-time callers or spammers. Anytime you get a call, in most cases, you can manually screen the call by tappingScreen call. Google Assistant will ask the caller who they are and why they are calling, and show you a real-time transcript of the caller’s response. You can either hang up the phone or answer the call.
Alternatively, you’re able to choose from one of Google Assistant’s suggested responses such asReport as spam, which tells the caller to remove your number from their lists, orI can’t understandif you can’t understand the caller. They’re useful for when you want to chat with the caller, but you’re unable to do so. Call screening is also agood way to block scam calls.
Voice Chat With the Callers You Actually Like Thanks to Call Screen on Pixel
Call Screen on Pixel devices acts as a buffer between unknown/unwanted callers and you. The feature adds more flexibility than merely sending callers to voicemail, or outright hanging up on them. Add some context to callers thanks to Call Screen, powered by Google Assistant, and always know who they are and why they’re ringing!
