Android’s new ‘Call Reason’ flags important calls before you even pick up

Android users will soon have an option to add an “urgent” indicator to their calls, which shows up on the receiver’s incoming call screen and in their call history if they don’t pick up. It’s a new feature in beta testing in the Phone by Google app, Call Reason, that will only work for people who are saved in your Contacts list already, and if you both use Google’s default calling app on Android phones. 

If you often send calls to voicemail (or your friends don’t pick up your calls), this feature allows you to tell each other when you’re calling about something important, or need to talk right away, without sending a separate text. 

Right now, Call Reason is just for marking calls as “urgent,” but it would also be nice to see more options down the line, like a custom message or emoji to show why you’re calling. Since the Call Reason message also shows up in your call history, it could also be a helpful reminder to call someone back about something specific if you can’t pick up in the moment.  

Call Reason is rolling out as a beta feature, and availability will vary by phone manufacturer. You can check for the update on your phone by tapping your profile icon on the Google Play Store, “Manage apps & devices,” and “Check for updates.” You can also double-check that you’re using Phone by Google for your calls by going into your Settings app, then “Apps” and “Default apps.”