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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Google’s Take a Message is available for the Pixel 4 and newer.
- The feature essentially replaces voicemail.
- You can see why someone is calling and answer a call you declined.
Google has quietly dropped a pretty cool call screening feature, and most Pixel phones from the past six years are getting it.
When the Pixel 10 debuted last week, among its new features was something called Take a Message. A companion to Call Screen (my favorite Pixel feature ever and the reason I’ve bought Google phones for the past nine years), Take a Message responds to calls you either miss or decline and gives you a transcript.
Also: Considering the Pixel 10 Pro? I recommend buying these 5 phones instead – here’s why
Since Google advertised this feature with the Pixel 10, most people assumed it was exclusive to the new flagship phone. That’s not the case, as Google has confirmed that it’s available for every Pixel phone since the Pixel 4 that came out in 2019.
If you don’t see the feature yet, you should over the next few weeks. My wife had the feature on her Pixel 9, but it wasn’t there on an old Pixel 6 I have sitting around.
How Take a Message works
Take a Message functions a lot like your traditional voicemail. When you either miss or decline a call, the caller will hear a message that says, “The person you have called is not available. Please leave a message.” When they leave a message, you’ll see a transcript in your call history and a play button to hear the actual audio if the transcription misses something (which it did when I tried the feature for myself).
You can read the transcription in real-time as the caller is talking and even answer the call if you want.
Also: I’m a diehard Google Pixel fan – here’s why I’m not upgrading to the latest model
The biggest advantage over voicemail is that you can find out why someone called if you’re not able to listen to a voicemail. If you recorded a custom voicemail greeting with your carrier through the Phone by Google app, Google said, Take a Message will use that recording instead. Otherwise, they’ll hear the standard recording.
Google warns that Take a Message may not work when your phone is roaming, when your phone is off or out of network, or when you decline the call while using a Bluetooth headset.
How to use Take a Message on a Pixel phone
To enable Take a Message, head to the settings in your Phone app (not your phone’s settings in general, but specifically the Phone app’s settings). Scroll down until you see Take a Message. Tap it, and you’ll see the toggle to turn on the feature.
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