The basic way to answer a call
When someone calls your Samsung Galaxy phone, a full-screen notification appears with the caller's name or number and two large buttons: a green phone icon to answer and a red phone icon to decline. Tap the green phone icon to pick up the call. The call connects when ready and you can start talking.
If your phone is locked when the call comes in, you still see the same answer and decline buttons on the lock screen. Tap the green phone icon without unlocking the phone first — the call answers right away. Once you're on the call, you can unlock your phone if you need to use other features during the conversation.
To end the call, tap the red phone icon or the "End" button that appears during the call. The call disconnects and you return to your home screen or lock screen depending on what you were doing before.
Key Takeaways
- Tap the green phone icon on the incoming call screen to answer; you do not need to unlock your phone first.
- If you miss a call, check your Recent or Call Log to see who called and call them back.
- You can answer a call while using another app, and both the call and the app will stay active in the background.
- Swipe down from the top of the screen during a call to access quick settings without disconnecting.
- If your phone is set to Do Not Disturb, calls from your contacts may still come through while others go to voicemail.
Answering when your hands are full
If you're wearing Galaxy Buds or another Bluetooth headset connected to your phone, incoming calls route to your headset automatically. You can answer by pressing the button on the headset itself — usually a single tap or press on the earbud. The call audio plays through the headset and your phone screen shows the active call.
If you have a car with Android Auto or Samsung's SmartThings integration, calls can also route through your car's speakers and controls. Tap the answer button on your car's touchscreen or steering wheel controls to pick up. Your phone stays in your pocket or bag during the entire call.
For hands-free answering without a headset or car system, you can use voice commands. Say "Answer" or "Accept call" if Google Assistant is enabled on your phone. This works even when your phone is in your pocket or across the room, though the microphone must be able to hear you clearly.
What to do if you miss a call
Missed calls appear in your notification panel at the top of your screen as a small alert. Swipe down from the very top of your screen to open the notification panel and see the missed call listed with the caller's name or number and the time they called. Tap the notification to open your call log or dial the number back when ready.
You can also find missed calls in the Phone app. Open the Phone app and tap the "Recents" or "Call Log" tab — the exact name depends on your Galaxy model and Android version. All incoming calls, both answered and missed, appear in this list with timestamps. Tap any entry to call that person back or see more details about the call.
If the caller left a voicemail, you'll see a voicemail notification in your notification panel or in the Phone app. Tap it to listen to the message. You can save, delete, or call back the person who left the voicemail directly from that screen.
Answering calls while using other apps
When a call comes in while you're using another app — texting, browsing, or playing a game — the incoming call notification appears as a banner at the top of your screen or as a full-screen overlay, depending on your settings. Tap the green phone icon to answer. Your current app stays open in the background and you can return to it after the call ends.
During an active call, you can swipe up from the bottom of the screen or use the back button to return to your home screen or another app. The call continues in the background. A small phone icon or call timer appears at the top of your screen to remind you that a call is active. Tap that icon to return to the call screen at any time.
If you need to switch between the call and another app during the conversation — for example, to look up information while on the phone — use the app switcher. Press and hold the back button or swipe up and hold to see all open apps, then tap the one you want. The call stays active and you can hear the other person while you're in the other app.
Controlling what happens when calls come in
Your Galaxy phone has settings that change how calls behave. Open the Phone app, tap the three-line menu icon, and select "Settings." Look for options like "Incoming calls" or "Call settings" to adjust how notifications appear, whether calls ring or vibrate, and which contacts bypass Do Not Disturb.
If you turn on Do Not Disturb, most calls go straight to voicemail. However, you can set exceptions so that calls from your favorite contacts, family members, or repeated callers still ring through. In Settings, find "Do Not Disturb" and tap "Allowed contacts" or "Exceptions" to choose which people can reach you.
You can also set a custom ringtone for specific contacts. Open the Contacts app, find the person's entry, tap "Edit," and look for a ringtone or sound option. Assign a unique ringtone so you know who's calling without looking at the screen. Save the contact when you're done.
Answering calls from unknown numbers
When an unknown number calls, the incoming call screen shows "Unknown" or just a phone number instead of a contact name. You can still tap the green phone icon to answer, or tap the red icon to send it to voicemail. If you answer and realize it's a spam or unwanted call, tap the red phone icon to hang up when ready.
After you hang up on an unwanted call, you can block that number. Open the Phone app, find the number in your call log, press and hold it, and select "Block number" or "Add to reject list." Calls from that number will go straight to voicemail in the future. Some Galaxy phones also let you report the number as spam, which helps Samsung and your carrier identify patterns.
If you receive many unwanted calls, turn on Call Filter or a similar spam-blocking feature in your Phone app settings. This service screens incoming calls and sends likely spam calls to voicemail automatically. You can review them later and decide whether to block the numbers permanently.
Answering calls on a Samsung tablet or watch
If you have a Samsung Galaxy Tab or Galaxy Watch connected to your phone via Bluetooth, incoming calls can ring on those devices too. On a Galaxy Watch, you see the incoming call on your wrist with answer and decline buttons. Tap the green icon to answer and speak through the watch's microphone and speaker, or tap the red icon to send it to voicemail.
On a Galaxy Tab, incoming calls appear as a notification or full-screen alert depending on your settings. Tap the green phone icon to answer. The call audio plays through the tablet's speakers and microphone. This is useful if your tablet is closer to you than your phone, or if you prefer the larger screen during a call.
To manage which devices receive calls, open the Phone app on your main Galaxy phone and check the settings for "Linked devices" or "Connected devices." You can turn off call notifications on your tablet or watch if you want calls to ring only on your phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I accidentally decline a call?
The call goes to voicemail if the caller has set one up. You can call them back by opening the Phone app, finding their number in your call log, and tapping it. The caller will see a missed call notification on their phone, so they'll know you didn't answer.
Can I answer a call without the screen lighting up?
If your phone is in your pocket or bag, the screen may not light up at all — you'll hear the ringtone or feel the vibration. You can still answer by pressing the volume button or a button on your connected headset. Check your Phone app settings to see which buttons are set to answer calls.
Why does my call go to voicemail even though I tapped the answer button?
This usually means the call dropped before your tap registered, or your phone was switching between Wi-Fi and cellular networks. The caller will see a missed call and can try again. If this happens often, restart your phone or check with your carrier about network issues.
Can I answer a call and keep texting at the same time?
Yes. Answer the call, then open your Messages app or any other app. The call stays active in the background and you can see the call timer at the top of your screen. Tap that timer to return to the call screen whenever you need to.
What's the difference between declining and ignoring a call?
Declining a call sends it to voicemail when ready. Ignoring a call by not tapping anything also sends it to voicemail, but it may take longer. Either way, the caller sees a missed call notification. Declining is faster if you know you don't want to take the call.