The basic way to answer a call
When someone calls your Samsung phone, the screen shows their name or number and two large buttons — one to answer, one to decline. To answer the call, swipe the green button to the right, or on some Samsung models, tap the green phone icon. The call connects when ready and you can start talking.
If your phone is locked when the call comes in, the answer button still appears on the lock screen. You do not need to unlock your phone first. Just swipe or tap the green button from wherever your phone is.
On newer Samsung phones running Android 10 or later, you may see a full-screen caller interface with larger buttons. The answer button is still green and positioned at the bottom of the screen — swipe it upward or tap it to connect.
Key Takeaways
- Swipe the green button to the right or tap the green phone icon to answer a call on any Samsung phone.
- You can answer calls from the lock screen without unlocking your phone first.
- If you do not answer within a few seconds, the call goes to voicemail automatically.
- Declining a call sends it straight to voicemail; the caller hears a message that you did not pick up.
- During a call, you can mute your microphone, switch to speaker, or add another person to the conversation using the buttons on screen.
What happens if you do not answer in time
If you do not tap or swipe the answer button before the ringing stops, the call goes to your voicemail. The caller hears a recorded message — usually your name or a generic greeting — and can leave a message for you to listen to later.
How long the phone rings before sending a call to voicemail depends on your carrier and your settings. Most carriers ring for about 15 to 20 seconds. You can change this timing by contacting your carrier, though the option is not available in the Samsung phone settings itself.
Declining a call on purpose
If you see a call you do not want to answer, swipe the red button to the left or tap the red phone icon with a line through it. This sends the call directly to voicemail without the caller knowing you saw it — they just hear that you did not pick up.
Some Samsung phones also let you decline a call and send an automatic text message at the same time. When the call comes in, look for a "Message" or "Decline with message" option. Tap it and choose a pre-written response like "I will call you back later" or write your own.
Answering a call when your phone is in your pocket or bag
If your Samsung phone is in your pocket or bag when it rings, you can answer without taking it out. Press the volume up button once to answer the call. This works even if your screen is off or locked.
Pressing the volume down button will decline the call instead. This is useful if you are driving or your hands are full and you do not want to fumble for your phone.
Not all Samsung models support answering with the volume buttons — this feature is more common on newer phones. If it does not work on yours, you will need to take the phone out and use the on-screen button.
Switching between speaker, mute, and adding people mid-call
Once you are on a call, the screen shows several buttons at the bottom. The speaker button (usually a speaker icon) turns on speaker mode so you do not have to hold the phone to your ear. Tap it again to switch back to normal mode.
The mute button (usually a microphone with a line through it) stops the other person from hearing you, but you can still hear them. This is useful if you need to talk to someone else in the room without the caller hearing. Tap it again to unmute.
If you want to add another person to the call, look for a button labeled "Add call" or a plus sign. Tap it, dial the second person's number, and once they answer, tap "Merge calls" to put everyone on the same conversation.
Answering calls from specific contacts differently
You can set up your Samsung phone to ring louder, vibrate differently, or use a custom ringtone for people you call often. Open your Contacts app, find the person, tap the three dots at the top right, and select "Set ringtone" or "Notifications".
You can also block a number so calls from that person go straight to voicemail without your phone ringing at all. In the Phone app, find the number in your call history, press and hold it, and tap "Block number".
Troubleshooting when you cannot answer calls
If your Samsung phone is not ringing when people call, check that Do Not Disturb mode is off. Swipe down from the top of your screen twice to open Quick Settings, and look for "Do Not Disturb". If it is on, tap it to turn it off.
Also check that your phone is not in Silent mode. Look for the mute switch on the left side of your phone — if it is pushed down, your phone will not ring. Push it up so the orange indicator is not showing.
If calls are still not coming through, restart your phone by holding the power button for 10 seconds until the power menu appears, then tap "Restart". This fixes most connection problems with your carrier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I answer a call without looking at my phone?
Yes. Press the volume up button to answer, or press volume down to decline. This works even if your phone is in your pocket or your screen is off. Not all Samsung models support this, but most phones made in the last five years do.
What is the difference between declining a call and blocking a number?
Declining a call sends that one call to voicemail. Blocking a number means all future calls from that person go straight to voicemail without your phone ringing. You can unblock a number anytime in your Phone app settings.
Why does my phone sometimes not ring even though I have service?
Check that Do Not Disturb is off and your phone is not in Silent mode. Also check that the person calling is not blocked. If none of that is the problem, restart your phone or contact your carrier to make sure they are routing calls to you correctly.
Can I answer a call on my Samsung watch instead of my phone?
If you have a Samsung Galaxy Watch paired to your phone, calls will ring on both devices. You can answer on your watch by tapping the green button, and the call will use your phone's connection even though you are speaking through the watch.
What happens if I accidentally decline a call?
The call goes to voicemail. You can call the person back, or if they left a voicemail, listen to it first. There is no way to retrieve a call that has already been declined, but you can always reach out to them afterward.