The basic way to answer a call
When someone calls your Samsung Galaxy phone, the screen shows their number or name and displays two large buttons: a green phone icon to answer and a red phone icon to decline. Swipe the green phone icon upward or tap it directly to answer the call. The call connects when ready and you can start talking.
If your phone is locked when a call comes in, the same answer and decline buttons appear on the lock screen. You do not need to unlock your phone first—just swipe or tap the green button from the lock screen itself.
Once you answer, the call screen shows the caller's name or number, how long you have been talking, and buttons to mute the microphone, turn on the speaker, add another call, or end the call. Tap the red phone icon at the bottom to hang up when you are done.
Key Takeaways
- Swipe the green phone icon upward or tap it to answer an incoming call on your Samsung Galaxy phone.
- You can answer calls directly from the lock screen without unlocking your phone first.
- During a call, use the mute button to silence your microphone and the speaker button to switch to hands-free mode.
- If you cannot reach the phone in time, the call goes to voicemail and you can listen to the message later in the Phone app.
Answering with your voice or gestures
Samsung Galaxy phones include a feature called Voice Call or Answer with voice that lets you say "Answer" or "Accept" to pick up a call without touching the screen. This feature is turned off by default. To turn it on, open the Phone app, tap the three-dot menu icon, select Settings, then look for "Answer and end calls" or "Voice control" and toggle it on.
Some Samsung Galaxy models also support answering by raising the phone to your ear. When a call comes in, straightforward lift the phone toward your face and it answers automatically. This setting is usually found in the Phone app settings under "Answer and end calls" or "Motions and gestures." Not all models have this feature, so check your phone's settings to see if it is available.
You can also decline a call by swiping the red phone icon downward or tapping it. If you want to send a quick text message instead of answering, some Samsung phones show a "Message" button on the incoming call screen—tap it to send a preset reply without answering.
What to do if you miss a call
If you do not answer in time, the call goes to voicemail and a notification appears on your lock screen and in the notification panel at the top of your screen. Open the Phone app and tap the Voicemail tab (usually at the bottom) to see a list of missed calls and voicemail messages.
Tap any voicemail message to listen to it. You can also call the person back directly from the voicemail list by tapping their name or number. If you want to delete a voicemail, press and hold it, then tap Delete. Samsung phones keep voicemail messages until you remove them, though your carrier may have its own storage limits.
Answering calls during other activities
If you are using another app when a call comes in, a banner or popup appears at the top of your screen showing the caller's name or number. Tap the banner to switch to the call screen and answer, or swipe it away to decline. The call continues to ring in the background if you ignore it.
When you are on a call and another call comes in, you hear a notification sound and see a popup. Tap "Answer" to switch to the new call (the first call is put on hold), or tap "Decline" to send the second caller to voicemail. You can switch between the two calls by tapping the "Swap" button on the call screen.
Answering calls with a Bluetooth device
If your Samsung Galaxy phone is connected to a Bluetooth headset, car speaker, or smartwatch, incoming calls route through that device first. You can answer using the button or voice command on the Bluetooth device itself—usually a single tap or press of a button on the headset or a tap on your smartwatch screen.
To answer on your phone instead, tap the green phone icon on your phone's screen. The call switches from the Bluetooth device to your phone's speaker and microphone. You can switch back to the Bluetooth device during the call by tapping the speaker icon on the call screen and selecting the Bluetooth device from the list.
Controlling who can reach you
If you do not want to answer calls from certain numbers, you can block them. Open the Phone app, find the number you want to block in your call history, press and hold it, then tap "Block number" or "Add to reject list." Blocked callers go straight to voicemail and you do not see a notification.
You can also set up Do Not Disturb mode to silence calls and notifications during specific times. Swipe down from the top of your screen twice to open the Quick Settings panel, then tap "Do Not Disturb" to turn it on. You can customize which contacts are allowed to reach you even when Do Not Disturb is active by going to Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb and selecting "Allowed contacts."
Troubleshooting answer problems
If the answer button does not appear or you cannot tap it, restart your phone by holding the power button and selecting "Restart." If calls still do not come through, check that your phone is not in Airplane Mode (swipe down from the top and look for the airplane icon) and that you have a cellular signal.
If you are not hearing the ringtone when calls come in, open Settings > Sound and vibration and make sure the volume is turned up and the ringtone is set to something other than "None." You can also check that your phone is not muted by looking for the mute switch on the side of your device (on some models) or checking the volume buttons.
If a specific contact's calls are not coming through, check that they are not blocked. Open the Phone app, tap the three-dot menu, select Settings, then look for "Blocked numbers" or "Reject list" to see if they are listed there. If they are, tap their name and select "Unblock."
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I answer a call without swiping?
Yes. You can tap the green phone icon directly instead of swiping, or enable Voice Call in your Phone app settings to answer by saying "Answer." Some models also let you answer by raising the phone to your ear if you turn on that gesture in settings.
What happens if I decline a call?
The caller hears that you declined and the call goes to voicemail if you have it set up. You can call them back later from your call history or voicemail list. The caller does not receive a notification that you declined—they only know the call did not go through.
Can I answer a call while my phone is locked?
Yes. The answer and decline buttons appear on your lock screen. Swipe or tap the green phone icon to answer without unlocking your phone. You can talk normally, and your phone stays locked during the call.
How do I answer a call on my smartwatch if my phone is nearby?
If your Samsung smartwatch is connected to your phone via Bluetooth, tap the answer button on your watch screen when a call comes in. The call connects through your watch's speaker and microphone. You can switch to your phone's speaker by tapping the speaker icon on your watch.
Why is my phone not ringing when people call?
Check that Do Not Disturb is not turned on, that your ringtone volume is up, and that the ringtone is not set to "None" in Sound and vibration settings. Also verify the caller is not blocked in your reject list and that you have cellular signal or are connected to Wi-Fi calling.