Apple’s long-awaited iOS 26 update is here, introducing a plethora of new features to your iPhone, including the controversial Liquid Glass UI.
Among the new tools are useful updates to the Phone app, which not only includes a new unified layout but also the addition of Call Screening.
Similar to the Call Screen tool found in the best Android phones, Call Screening promises to eliminate unwanted interruptions and ensure you only pick up the phone to trusted callers. But how does it work?
We explain everything you need to know about the upcoming Call Screening tool, including which iPhones are compatible with the feature.
What is Call Screening?
Call Screening helps iPhone users avoid answering spam and nuisance calls.
Building upon Live Voicemail, which allows you to read a real-time transcription of a voicemail someone is leaving you, Call Screening gathers information from the caller and gives users the key details of why they’re calling. Users can then decide whether to pick up the call.
How does Call Screening work?
Call Screening automatically answers calls from unknown numbers “silently, in the background”. Once the caller shares their name and reason for calling, your iPhone will then ring, and you can read their response and either answer the call or ignore it accordingly.
When will Call Screening be available?
Call Screen is an iOS 26 feature, which you can now download on your iPhone 11 or later. Crucially, it doesn’t require a recent iPhone with Apple Intelligence to function.
Call Screening will also work in over twenty countries and territories, including:
- China mainland
- Hong Kong
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Australia
- Canada
- India
- Ireland
- New Zealand
- Puerto Rico
- Singapore
- South Africa
- France
- Germany
- Japan
- Korea
- Spain
- Mexico
- Brazil
- Macao
