How to Use Google's Android Call Screening Feature

Tired of annoying robocalls and unknown callers disrupting your day? Android's integrated call screening capability makes it easy to find out who's calling before you pick up. Available on Google's Pixel smartphones, this feature lets you screen calls with customizable protection levels, view live transcripts of screening conversations, and provide options to accept, deny, or report calls - directly from the filtering screen. In this post, we dive into exactly how to use Google's Android call screening feature.

What Is the Android Call Screening Feature on Pixel Phones?

The call screening feature on Pixel phones powered by Android is a way to filter and manage incoming calls. When enabled, it will automatically screen calls from numbers not saved in your contacts by asking the caller to state their name and reason for calling. As the caller responds to the automated screening questions, you will see a live transcript on your phone's display. This allows you to preview who is calling and why before you answer.

Based on the call screening conversation, you can choose to answer, decline with a message, or mark the call as spam right from the screening screen. You can set your call filter aggressiveness with three protection levels - maximum screens all unknown callers, medium screens suspicious numbers, and basic only filters identified spam. Call screening puts the tools in your hands to minimize disruptions and unwanted calls. And by screening calls through an automated system, you avoid having direct conversations with persistent telemarketers or robocalls. This feature works seamlessly on Google's Pixel smartphones to give you more control over your incoming calls.

As of November 2023, Call Screen is available in:

• Australia

• Canada

• France

• Germany

• Ireland

• Italy

• Japan

• Spain

• United Kingdom

• United States

How to Use Google's Android Call Screening Feature

1. On your Android phone, open the Phone app. This is the default app for making calls and viewing recent calls/voicemails.

2. At the top right, tap the three-dot icon to open the menu. In this drop-down menu, tap "Settings."

3. In Settings, tap "Call Screen."

4. Here you can toggle on "Automatically screen calls" to enable call screening.

Setting Your Protection Level

You can choose from three protection levels:

Maximum Protection

Screens all calls from numbers not saved in your contacts list. Gives you the most screening coverage.

Medium Protection

Will screen calls that seem suspicious, like numbers reported as spam by other users.

Basic

Only screens and declines known spam phone numbers.

Options During Screening

When screening a call, you'll see a live transcript of the conversation between Google Assistant and the caller. This allows you to glance and determine if you want to pick up.

While a call is being screened, you have several options:

Pick Up Call

If you want to answer the call, tap the green phone icon at the bottom.

Hang Up

To disconnect without answering, tap the red phone icon to hang up.

Additional Actions

You can also report a call as spam, ask for more information from the caller, or prompt the caller to leave a voicemail instead of continuing to ring.

Conclusion

Call screening gives you control over inconvenient and unwanted calls. By leveraging Pixel's built-in screening features, you can filter out disruptions and gain insight into who is contacting you and why before answering. With adjustable protection levels and helpful options, while screening, you can minimize robocalls and telemarketers taking up your time. Feel empowered to manage your incoming calls with Android's simple yet powerful functionality. Give call screening a try for more focused time on Pixel.

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