Samsung Smart Call: What is it and how does it work?

For whatever reason, spam calls and robocalls have been running rampant as of late. Nobody likes them — at least nobody we’ve ever met — and we’re all looking for a way to get them out of our lives. Luckily, Samsung has a way to get the job done, and it’s known as Samsung Smart Call. Here’s everything you need to know about the service.

Samsung isn’t the only OEM striving to make your life easier, as Google offers a similar service in its Phone by Google app. We’ll take you through everything that Smart Call does, and then we’ll show you how to make sure it’s active on your phone. Ready to get started?

What is Samsung Smart Call?

Smart Call is a joint effort between Samsung and Hiya to keep fraudulent calls and spammers off your Galaxy device. It relies on Hiya’s automated detection technology to classify calls as soon as your phone begins to ring. Your phone will split all incoming calls into one of four categories: Caller ID, Not suspected as spam, Suspected spam, and Potential fraud.

You can technically answer calls from any of the four categories if you really want to talk to a scammer. If you’d rather keep life simple, Samsung offers a button at the bottom of your screen to block and report numbers easily.

However, Smart Call goes even further than keeping unwanted calls at bay and offering caller ID. Your phone can utilize the same technology to identify those wanted calls and, in some cases, provide a reason for the call. For example, if you’re getting some work done on your car, Smart Call can determine when the garage calls and let you know what to expect.

You can also use Smart Call to dial your favorite restaurants. It packs a clever search feature that lets you look up local spots and takes you right to the contact information if you need a reservation.

How does it work?

As we mentioned, Smart Call results from a partnership between Samsung and Hiya. The two companies have forged a partnership that runs through 2025, so we can expect to see Smart Call on plenty of upcoming devices. Hiya brings robust automated detection services to the mix while Samsung provides the hardware.

To an extent, the feature relies on other users reporting and blocking numbers. After all, a spammer has to start somewhere. In many cases, Smart Call can keep calls from ever reaching your phone in the first place.

How do you enable Samsung Smart Call?

Enabling Smart Call on your Samsung Galaxy device couldn’t be easier, and there are multiple ways to get it done. It’s just up to you whether you would instead activate it via notifications or in your phone app. Here’s how to use both methods:

Via notifications

1. Swipe down from your home screen to open the notification shade.
2. Locate the Caller ID and spam protection notification.
3. Tap on it to activate the setting.

Via your phone app

1. Open your dialer app.
2. Head to the Call settings menu.
3. Find the Caller ID and spam protection option.
4. Toggle it to On.

While you’re in the phone app, here’s what you have to do if you want the local search feature to work:

1. Locate the Other call settings option.
2. Open the submenu and find Search for places nearby.
3. Toggle it to On.

You can also activate the local search feature by opening the Places tab in your dialer app.

Which phones can you use it on?

Now that you know pretty much all there is about Samsung Smart Call, you might be itching to get started. The good news is that Samsung Smart Call with Hiya has been on all new devices since the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series. That means that you already have it onboard any Galaxy S23 series device fresh out of the box.

If you’re not fortunate enough to have one of the latest Galaxy devices, fear not. Smart Call is also available on older Galaxy phones, including the S8, S9, and more. You can also set it up on more affordable Galaxy A series devices, but you’ll have to make sure your software is up to date.

Samsung doesn’t offer an official list of supported devices, so your best bet may be to check your phone’s dialer app and head to the settings menu as described above.