What Is Call Screening and Call Filtering?

We all know the feeling — your phone rings and you see an unknown phone number you can’t put a name to, leaving you guessing whether it’s a friend, co-worker, or a spam call.

Luckily, call screening and filtering tools can help you manage these unwelcome distractions and protect you from picking up for spam callers — and these features are available on both Apple iPhone and Android devices.

But what exactly does call screening and filtering do? Is there a difference between call screening and filtering? And how can you put these handy tools to work for you? We break it down here.

What Is Call Screening?

Simply put, call screening works as a way to review who’s calling before you pick up the phone. Modern smartphones have a collection of advanced tools to assess callers as they come in, like Apple's Live Voicemail and Google's Call Screen features, which we’ll discuss in further detail below. 

The most well-known call screening feature is Caller ID, which displays the incoming caller’s name or number on screen. If you don’t recognize the name or number, you can send the caller straight to voicemail and go about your day. But there's a bit more to call screening on your cell phone than just Caller ID which will get into more below.

What Is Call Filtering?

Instead of quickly reviewing incoming calls and choosing whether you’d like to speak to the person on the other line, call filtering is a feature that keeps certain phone numbers from ever ringing on your device. This feature can stop spam or robocalls in their tracks and take the guesswork out of your hands. 

iPhones and Android phones also have call filtering tools that block telemarketing and spam calls to minimize distractions — think of it as automatic call screening that stops numbers suspected of being spam. 

Call filtering can also be considered a more advanced version of normal call blocking. Where call blocking stops specific numbers from calling you, call filtering attempts to block a range of numbers that fall under certain criteria. 

How to Turn on Call Screening Features

As we mentioned, call screening starts with Caller ID, which displays the caller’s name and number. A version of this is usually on by default for most modern phones and works in conjunction with the numbers you already have stored in your contact list. 

But some features give you even more power to control who you speak to over the phone. 

Starting with iOS 17, iPhone call screening features include a tool called “Live Voicemail.” This feature allows you to see a live transcription of a voicemail left by the caller, and while they’re speaking, you can decide whether or not to pick up the call. 

How to Turn on Live Voicemail for iPhone:

• Go to Settings > Apps.
• Select Phone.
• Open the Live Voicemail option and toggle it on.

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For Android devices, Google’s “Call Screening” feature analyzes the contacts you have stored on your phone to decide whether a call should be screened for spam. 

Screened callers will be asked who they are and why they're calling, and from there, you can choose to pick up the call. 

You can have your device ask them additional questions, such as whether the call is urgent, which makes this one of the best Android call screening options.

How to Turn on Call Screen for Android Phones:

• Open the Phone app.
• Tap the three dots (More) in the top right corner, then go to Settings > Spam and Call Screen (or just Call Screen, depending on your phone).
• Tap Call Screen
• Choose your call protection level:
  • For Pixel 6 and earlier:
    Under “Unknown call settings,” choose which types of callers you want to screen.
  • For Pixel 7 and newer:
    Toggle Automatically screen calls on or off. You can customize for:
  • Spam calls
  • Possibly faked numbers
  • First-time callers

With iPhones and Android phones, you can also review a voicemail transcription after it's left and choose to call the person back at your convenience. Some smartphones and apps also use spam detection systems to flag unwanted calls. 

How to Turn On Call Filtering Features

On iPhones, you can turn on the “Silence Unknown Callers” feature to silence the ringer whenever someone not on your contacts list rings your phone. 

How to Turn on Silence Unknown Callers on iPhone:

• Go to Settings > Apps > Phone.
• Scroll down and tap Silence Unknown Callers.
• Toggle the feature on.

Once it’s on, your phone won’t ring for callers who are not in your contacts, and unknown calls will be sent to voicemail unless you respond to notification that a call is coming in. However, important calls from unsaved numbers might also get filtered out, so keep your contacts updated.

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Android devices also offer call filtering features, and most Android phones, especially Google Pixel devices, have built-in tools that stop spam and provide real-time information about who’s calling.

How to Turn On Call Filtering Features on Android:

• Open the Phone app.
• Tap More (three dots), then Settings.
• Tap Caller ID & Spam, and turn on See Caller ID & Spam.
• Then, enable Filter Spam Calls to stop unwanted numbers automatically.

One thing to note is that iPhone and Android phones also allow you to add specific numbers to a block list. 

If your phone does not have any of these call filtering and screening options, it might be time for an upgrade. Check out our running list of the best iPhone 16 deals, Galaxy S24 deals, and Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro deals across carriers, updated the moment we detect a change. 

We also recommend trying our free unbiased Phone Deal Finder to quickly find the iPhone and Android deals you qualify for based on your trade-in device and other preferences.

Benefits of Call Screening and Filtering

Call screening and filtering offer plenty of benefits. Here are a few reasons why you might want to give them a try, regardless of your phone system:

1. Save Time 

Call screening lets you quickly decide whether a call is worth answering. If it's not, you can send it straight to voicemail or block it entirely. This is especially useful if you receive many unknown calls. Sending a call straight to voicemail will save you valuable time that may have been spent trying to get off the phone with someone trying to sell you their product.

2. Reduce Spam and Minimize Distractions 

With call screening and filtering, your phone can automatically detect spam and stops it before it reaches you, allowing you to stay focused on the task at hand. 

3. Improve Security

Spam calls aren’t just annoying — some calls may be scams targeting your financial information. Call screening and filtering can help protect you from these would-be scammers. Still, it’s important to remember that some spam calls may still get through, so you should know what to look out for when answering an unknown call. 

Call Screening Features to Look For

If you’re looking for the best call screening and filtering tools, here are a few features to consider:

• Caller ID: Essential for identifying who’s calling before you pick up.
• Spam Detection: Flags known spam numbers and alerts you before you answer.
• Real-time or Live Voicemail: Listen to a voicemail as it’s being recorded and decide if you want to answer.
• Do Not Disturb or Silence Mode: Temporarily stops all calls except those from specific numbers, usually ones already added to your contacts list. 

The Bottom Line

Call screening and filtering are powerful tools that make managing your phone calls easier, helping you stop annoying robocalls and minimize interruptions from other unwanted callers. If you're looking for more ways to cut down on distractions, focus on iPhone can help, too.

To sum it up, call screening and call filtering let you focus on the calls that matter—and let the rest go unanswered.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is call screening the same as call blocking?

Call screening is not the same as call blocking. Screening allows you to review a caller's information as it comes in to decide whether or not you should answer it.

Is call filtering the same as call blocking?

Not exactly. Call filtering is a more intelligent form of call blocking that stops calls based on certain criteria, such as spam or telemarketing. Call blocking stops specific numbers from ringing your phone.

What is Verizon Call Filter?

Verizon's Call Filter app has a basic and paid version. The basic version offers spam detection and number blocking, while its paid subscription offers additional blocking features and a spam risk meter.