Google Phone app Archives

AppWizard

March 6, 2026

Google just made my favorite Phone app feature even better. Here’s how to use it

The Google Phone app introduced a feature called Calling Cards in August, allowing users to create a personalized screen with a photo and custom text that appears when a contact calls. As of March 3, an update enables these Calling Cards to be visible to the people being called, rather than just the creator. Users can create their Calling Cards by accessing the settings in the app, selecting a photo, customizing text with various fonts and colors, and adjusting sharing preferences. The rollout of this feature may be staggered across devices, and users should ensure their app is updated to the latest version to access it.

AppWizard

January 20, 2026

Google’s Phone app keeps turning sideways, and users are confused again

The Google Phone app has introduced support for a landscape user interface that activates with the system-wide auto-rotate setting enabled. Users have reported confusion and frustration due to the intermittent availability of this feature in stable updates. In September 2025, many users mistakenly believed the unexpected rotation during calls was a glitch, not realizing it was an intended feature. Google has since provided a toggle to lock the UI in portrait mode, but this option is only available in beta releases. Users can temporarily disable the system-wide auto-rotate feature to keep the app in portrait mode, but the landscape UI remains inconsistent.

AppWizard

November 21, 2025

Google Phone app may soon make your urgent calls hard to ignore

Google is exploring an upgrade to its Phone app that may allow Android users to label calls as “urgent” through a feature called Expressive Calling. This feature would enable users to select a specific “call reason” while dialing, such as “It’s urgent!” or “Quick question.” The urgent tag could potentially bypass Do Not Disturb settings for saved contacts, reducing the risk of spam calls. Recipients may receive notifications like “Missed an Urgent Call” to ensure important messages are noticed. Both parties may need compatible apps or settings for the feature to work properly. The rollout timeline is uncertain, and early versions are not yet available, but the feature may launch first on Pixel devices before expanding to other Android smartphones.

AppWizard

September 18, 2025

Users are annoyed by this Google Phone change, but it may be working as intended

The Google Phone app has begun to occasionally transition into landscape mode during calls, a feature that has surprised users, particularly in the Reddit Pixel community. This behavior varies across devices; some allow landscape use during calls based on auto-rotate settings, while others restrict it to portrait mode. Historically, Google has used a portrait-only interface for in-call experiences, leading to speculation about whether this change is intentional or a glitch. There are suggestions that the feature may be linked to server-side account settings managed by Google, but the conditions for its activation remain unclear.

AppWizard

August 28, 2025

Google Phone app rolling out custom ‘calling cards’ on Android

The Google Phone app is rolling out a feature that allows users to create personalized calling cards, enhancing the user experience when receiving calls. Users will see a promotional message in the Home tab about customizing how contacts appear during calls. The feature can be accessed through a dedicated "Calling card" page in the app's Settings menu, where users can modify contact images and names. Customization options include taking a new photo, selecting an image from the gallery, and adjusting the image's framing and text styles. The images will be displayed on incoming call and in-call screens, but users cannot control how these appear to others. This feature is available in version 188 of the Google Phone app, coinciding with the launch of the Pixel 10 and the Material 3 Expressive update with Android 16 QPR1.

AppWizard

August 25, 2025

How to get the old Google dialer (Phone app) on Android

Google introduced the Material 3 Expressive update to its dialer app, changing the layout, design, and functionality of the Phone app for Android users. The home page now combines the ‘Favourites’ and ‘Recents’ sections, and the dialer icon has been moved to the bottom menu. Users must use the search bar or the ‘View contacts’ option to access saved contacts. The method for accepting calls has changed from a tap to a sliding gesture, which has upset many users. There is no straightforward option to revert to the old design, but users can uninstall the update or enable a single-tap option in settings. To uninstall, users can go to the Google Play Store, search for Phone by Google, disable auto-update, and then uninstall the app. To change the incoming call gesture back to a tap, users can access Settings in the Phone app and select ‘Single tap’ under Incoming call gesture.

AppWizard

August 15, 2025

Google’s Calling Cards are rolling out now, and this is our first proper look!

Google has launched its Calling Cards feature in the Contacts and Phone apps, allowing users to create personalized profiles for their contacts. This feature, similar to Apple's Contact Posters, enables users to customize how their contacts appear to them rather than just self-customization. The Calling Cards feature is accessible in the Google Contacts app (version 4.61.28.792249534) without additional configuration and is being rolled out to select users. Users can create a Calling Card by selecting an image and choosing a font style and color for the contact's name. All Calling Cards sync across devices linked to the same Google account. The feature is also integrated into the Google Phone app (version 188.0.793710089-publicbeta-pixel2024) and is currently in beta testing, with plans for wider accessibility in the future.

AppWizard

July 24, 2025

Google’s Phone app could make resuming on-hold calls easier (APK teardown)

Google is developing a new feature for its Phone app that includes an "Unhold" shortcut in call notifications. This button will replace the existing "Mute" option when a call is placed on hold, allowing users to resume calls directly from the notification shade without returning to the main call screen. The feature is part of a Material 3 Expressive redesign and is currently available in beta version v184.0, although it has not yet been released to the public.

AppWizard

July 17, 2025

Google Phone app’s simpler layout is now hitting more devices

Google has updated its Phone app, removing the Favorites tab and integrating favorite contacts into a row at the top of the Recents tab. The new version, 182.0.779772896-publicbeta, condenses the layout to display call history and favorites together. The "Frequents" list has also been eliminated, limiting access to frequently called contacts. The interface now features a single, scrollable list, with the user's profile picture, name, and email address visible while scrolling. This redesign is being rolled out on devices like the OnePlus 13, Google Pixel, and Samsung smartphones running Android 16 and 16 QPR1, with Google Play services updated to version 25.25.33.

AppWizard

July 10, 2025

Google Phone app starts removing the ‘Favorites’ tab on Android

Google is redesigning the Phone by Google app under the Material 3 Expressive framework, phasing out the Favorites tab in favor of a "Favorites bar" at the top of the Recents feed, now rebranded as "Home." This new bar will feature a carousel of favorites with larger profile avatars and an "Add" shortcut. The app's navigation will be simplified into three main sections: Recents, Contacts, and Voicemail, along with a floating action button for quick access to the number pad. The latest beta version, 182, has been rolled out, but some users may not see the changes immediately due to server-side components. The redesign will also affect both Pixel and non-Google phones, with a streamlined bottom navigation bar consisting of Home, Keypad, and Voicemail.