The basic way to answer a call
When someone calls your Samsung Galaxy phone, the screen shows their name or number and 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 once, depending on your phone model. 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 two buttons on top of the lock screen. Swipe or tap the green icon the same way. You do not need to unlock your phone first.
Once you answer, the call screen shows the caller's name or number, how long you have been talking, and buttons to mute your microphone, turn on speaker, add another call, or end the call. The large red button at the bottom ends the call when you are done.
Key Takeaways
- Swipe or tap the green phone icon upward when a call comes in; the exact motion depends on whether your phone is locked and which Android version you have.
- You can answer a call without unlocking your phone — the answer button appears on the lock screen itself.
- Once connected, use the mute button to silence your microphone without hanging up, or the speaker button to switch to hands-free mode.
- If you do not want to answer, swipe or tap the red icon to decline, and the caller hears your voicemail greeting instead.
Answering when your phone is in your pocket or bag
If your Samsung Galaxy is face-down or in your pocket when a call comes in, you may feel vibration and hear a ringtone, but you cannot see the screen. Press the volume button on the side of the phone to silence the ring without answering. This gives you time to get the phone out and look at who is calling.
Once you can see the screen, swipe the green icon upward to answer. If you wait too long, the call goes to voicemail, and the caller can leave a message. You can call them back later by opening the Phone app and tapping their name in the recent calls list.
Declining a call you do not want to take
Swipe or tap the red phone icon to decline. The caller hears your voicemail greeting, and you can listen to their message later if they leave one. Declining does not send them a text message or any notification that you refused — they only know you did not answer.
If the same number keeps calling and you do not want to hear from them, you can block it. Open the Phone app, press and hold the number in your recent calls list, and tap "Block number." After that, calls from that number go straight to voicemail and do not ring or vibrate.
Answering with speaker or headphones
If you want to answer on speaker from the start, some Samsung models let you tap a speaker icon on the incoming call screen before you answer. On other models, answer the call first, then tap the speaker button once you are connected. The speaker button usually shows a small speaker icon and is located near the mute button on the call screen.
If you have wireless headphones or earbuds paired to your phone, they may answer automatically when you tap the answer button, routing the call through the headphones instead of the phone speaker. You can switch back to the phone speaker by tapping the speaker button on the call screen.
What to do if the answer button does not appear
If a call comes in but you see no answer button, your phone may be set to "Do Not Disturb" mode. Swipe down from the top of the screen twice to open Quick Settings, look for "Do Not Disturb," and tap it to turn it off. After that, incoming calls will ring and show the answer button normally.
If calls still do not show an answer button, restart your phone. Press and hold the power button until you see "Power off" on the screen, tap it, wait a few seconds, then press the power button again to turn the phone back on. This fixes most software glitches that prevent the call screen from appearing.
Answering a call while using another app
When a call comes in while you are using another app — texting, browsing, or playing a game — the incoming call screen appears on top. You can answer without closing the app you were using. The app pauses in the background and resumes when you end the call.
If you want to switch between the call and the app you were using, tap the app name at the top of the call screen. This brings the app back to the front while keeping the call active. Tap the phone icon to return to the call screen.
Answering calls from unknown numbers
When an unknown number calls, the screen shows "Unknown" or "No Caller ID" instead of a name. You can still answer the same way — swipe or tap the green icon. If you are not sure whether you want to talk to them, decline the call instead. They can leave a voicemail, and you can decide whether to call back.
If you receive many calls from unknown numbers and want to block them automatically, open Settings, go to "Apps," then "Phone," and look for "Spam protection" or "Call screening." Turn this on, and your phone will filter suspected spam calls and send them to voicemail without ringing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my phone vibrate but not ring when someone calls?
Your phone is likely in vibration mode. Press the volume button on the side of the phone and look at the top of the screen — if you see a vibration icon instead of a speaker icon, tap the speaker icon to turn the ringer back on. You can also swipe down from the top twice and tap "Sound" in Quick Settings to change it.
Can I answer a call by voice command?
Yes, if you have Google Assistant set up. Say "Hey Google, answer the call" when someone is calling. This works best if your phone is unlocked or if you have set up voice unlock. If voice commands do not work, open Settings, go to "Apps," then "Google Assistant," and make sure it is turned on.
What happens if I accidentally tap decline instead of answer?
The call goes to voicemail and the caller hears your greeting. You can call them back by opening the Phone app and tapping their name in the recent calls list at the top. There is no penalty for declining — the caller does not receive a notification that you refused.
How do I answer a call if my screen is cracked?
If the screen is cracked but still responsive, swipe or tap the green icon as usual. If the screen does not respond to touch, you can use your headphones: plug in wired headphones with a microphone, and press the button on the cord to answer. Wireless headphones with a button also work the same way.
Can I answer a call without the caller hearing background noise?
Yes — answer the call, then when ready tap the mute button (usually a microphone icon with a line through it). The caller cannot hear you, but you can still hear them. Tap the mute button again to unmute when you are ready to speak.