Set up call screening on iPhone and Android.

Decide what a quieter phone should do

If you regularly hear from new clients, delivery drivers or medical offices, try screening or caller warnings first. Sending every unfamiliar caller to voicemail may be too restrictive for your day.

A screening transcript can help you recognize an expected call. It cannot prove the speaker works for your bank. Someone running a scam can give a name and a plausible reason for calling too.

• Want a little context? Use screening where available.
• Want fewer interruptions? Consider silencing unknown callers and checking voicemail.
• Want warnings about suspected spam? Start with your phone or carrier’s caller ID settings.

Sources: Apple Support · Google Phone Help · Federal Trade Commission

iPhone: ask unknown callers why they’re calling

Call Screening is available on supported iPhones running iOS 26 or later, in supported languages and regions. An update alone does not make every feature available everywhere. Apple’s availability page lists the supported combinations.

1. Open the Phone settings.

   In Settings, choose Apps, then Phone. Find Screen Unknown Callers.

2. Choose Ask Reason for Calling.

   The phone asks an unsaved caller for information before ringing you. Read the response and decide whether to answer.

3. Change the setting when you need to.

   Choose Never to turn screening off. Choose Silence to send calls from unsaved numbers to voicemail without the screening conversation.

Sources: Apple Support · Apple

iPhone: understand the other switches

Live Voicemail displays a message as the caller speaks, so you can decide to answer partway through. Find it under Settings → Apps → Phone → Live Voicemail. It depends on supported software, language, region and carrier features.

On older iOS versions, look for Silence Unknown Callers under Phone settings; Phone may appear directly in Settings. Turn it off if expected calls are going straight to voicemail. Its handling of known callers can include contacts, recent outgoing calls and Siri Suggestions.

On iOS 26, the separate Unknown Callers filter organizes call history. The Spam filter silences calls your carrier identifies as potential spam or fraud. You can review these lists from the filter button in the Phone app. Filtering the list and screening the caller do different jobs.

Sources: Apple iPhone User Guide · Apple iPhone User Guide · Apple iPhone User Guide

Pixel and supported Android: use Google Call Screen

Google currently lists automatic screening for Pixel phones in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the UK and US. Manual screening is available in more countries and on selected other Android devices in the US and Canada. Device, SIM country and app support matter.

1. Update and open Phone by Google.

   Open its menu, choose Settings, then look for Spam and Call Screen or Call Screen.

2. Select the available protection setting.

   Newer Pixels offer protection levels or an Automatically screen calls switch. Older models may let you choose caller categories under Unknown call settings. Read the descriptions on your device before choosing.

3. Try manual screening if it is offered.

   When a call arrives, tap Screen call and review the conversation. To stop automatic screening, return to Call Screen settings and turn it off or change the affected categories to Ring phone.

Sources: Google Phone Help

Other Android phones: start with spam protection

In Phone by Google, open Settings → Caller ID and spam and enable caller and spam identification. Some versions group this under Spam and Call Screen. If Filter spam calls is available, it adds filtering; devices with automatic Call Screen handle that protection there instead.

Google notes that filtered calls can appear in history without a missed-call or voicemail notification. Check those areas while you learn what the setting catches.

1. For Samsung’s Phone app, open Settings.

   Tap the three-dot menu, then Settings → Caller ID and spam protection. Turn it on if your model and carrier offer Smart Call.

2. Choose how much to block.

   After reviewing the service terms, inspect Block spam and scam calls. Supported models offer options such as blocking only high-risk calls. Use the same screen to relax or disable protection.

Sources: Google Phone Help · Samsung Support

Give the setup a short trial

No filter catches every scam or recognizes every legitimate caller. Keep the setting that fits your life, and independently verify urgent requests involving money, passwords or account access.

1. Prepare for expected calls.

   Save numbers you know, and tell important contacts they can leave a message. If you are waiting for a call from an unknown number, temporarily relax the setting.

2. Check the places calls can land.

   Review voicemail, call history and any Unknown Callers or Spam list. If a familiar number was blocked or mislabeled, correct that setting.

3. Change one thing at a time.

   If you keep missing calls, review Focus or Do Not Disturb, blocked contacts and carrier settings as well. A silent phone is not necessarily a screening problem.

Sources: Apple Support · Google Phone Help · Federal Trade Commission