The basic way to answer a call
When someone calls your Samsung phone, the screen lights up and shows their name or number. A large green circle with a phone icon appears at the bottom. Tap that green circle, and the call connects — you can now hear them and they can hear you.
The call stays active until you end it. To hang up, tap the red circle that appears during the call. Your Samsung phone returns to its home screen, and the call ends.
If you miss a call, it goes to voicemail (if your carrier supports it) and a notification stays on your screen. You can call the person back by tapping their name in the notification or by opening the Phone app and finding their number in your recent calls.
Key Takeaways
- Tap the green circle when your phone rings to answer the call when ready.
- Tap the red circle during a call to hang up and end the conversation.
- If you cannot answer right away, you can call the person back later using your recent calls list.
- You can silence an incoming call by pressing the volume button without answering, which sends it to voicemail.
- Some Samsung phones let you swipe up or down to answer or reject, depending on your phone model and settings.
Answering when your phone is locked
If your Samsung phone is locked when a call comes in, the incoming call screen still appears on top of the lock screen. The green answer circle is still visible and tappable. You do not need to unlock your phone first — just tap the green circle to answer.
After you answer, you can use the call normally. If you want to access other apps or information during the call, you can unlock your phone and switch between the call and other screens. The call continues in the background.
Answering with gestures instead of tapping
Newer Samsung phones (Galaxy S20 and later) sometimes use swipe gestures instead of tapping the green circle. When a call comes in, you can swipe up from the bottom of the screen to answer, or swipe down to reject the call and send it to voicemail.
If your phone uses this gesture system and you prefer tapping instead, you can change it. Open Settings, go to Apps, then Phone, then tap Advanced Settings. Look for an option called "Answer and end calls" or "Answering and ending calls" and toggle it to use the circle buttons instead of gestures.
Not all Samsung models have this setting. If you cannot find it, your phone likely uses the tap method only, or your carrier has disabled gesture answering.
Rejecting a call without answering
If you do not want to answer a call, tap the red circle (or swipe down on newer models). The call stops ringing and goes to voicemail. The caller hears either a voicemail greeting or a message that you are unavailable.
You can also reject a call by pressing the volume button on the side of your phone. This silences the ringing without answering, and the call goes to voicemail. This is useful if you are in a meeting or cannot talk right away.
Rejecting a call does not delete it — the caller's number stays in your recent calls list, and you can call them back later.
Answering calls with your earbuds or car
If you have wireless earbuds or a car with Bluetooth connected to your Samsung phone, you can answer calls through them instead of holding the phone to your ear. When a call comes in, tap the answer button on your earbuds or car display. The audio routes through the earbuds or car speakers automatically.
To switch back to the phone speaker during a call, look for a speaker icon on your call screen and tap it. This lets you hear the caller through the phone's built-in speaker instead of the earbuds or car system.
What to do if the answer button does not appear
Sometimes the green answer circle does not show up, or the call screen appears frozen. This usually means your phone is having a temporary software issue. Try restarting your phone by holding the power button for 10 seconds until it shuts down, then turn it back on.
If calls still do not show the answer button, check that your Phone app is up to date. Open the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon in the top right, go to Manage apps and device, then Updates. If the Phone app has an update available, tap Update.
If the problem continues after restarting and updating, contact your carrier — they can check whether your account or SIM card is causing the issue.
Answering calls from unknown numbers
When an unknown number calls, your Samsung phone shows "Unknown" or "No Caller ID" instead of a name. You can still tap the green circle to answer, or tap the red circle to reject. Rejecting does not block the number — it just sends that call to voicemail.
If you want to block a number permanently, reject the call, then open your recent calls list in the Phone app. Press and hold the unknown number, then tap Block number. Future calls from that number will go straight to voicemail and will not ring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I answer a call without touching my phone?
Yes, if you have earbuds or a car connected via Bluetooth, you can answer by tapping the button on the earbuds or car display. Some Samsung phones also support voice commands — you can say "Answer" to pick up a call, though this feature varies by model and must be enabled in settings.
What happens if I accidentally tap the red circle instead of green?
The call goes to voicemail and the caller hears your voicemail greeting. You can call them back when ready using your recent calls list, and they will know you rejected the call (though they will not receive a notification saying so).
Can I answer a call while using another app?
Yes. When a call comes in, a notification appears at the top of your screen. Tap it to answer, and the call runs in the background. You can keep using your app, or swipe down from the top and tap the call notification to bring the call screen to the front.
Why does my phone not ring when someone calls?
Check that your phone is not in silent mode — look for a mute switch on the left side of your phone, or check your volume settings. Also check that Do Not Disturb is not turned on in your quick settings (swipe down twice from the top). If both are off and you still hear nothing, restart your phone.
Can I answer a call on my Samsung watch instead of my phone?
Yes, if you have a Samsung Galaxy Watch connected to your phone via Bluetooth. When a call comes in, you can tap the answer button on your watch, and the call audio routes through the watch speaker or your connected earbuds. You can also reject the call from your watch.