Google Phone: Tap/Swipe to Answer Calls
- The Google Phone app is experimenting with a redesigned incoming call screen,offering users a choice between a "Single tap" or "Horizontal swipe" to answer calls.
- Google previously tested "Decline" and "Answer" buttons, similar to the Wear OS interface.
- The latest Phone by Google 177, currently in beta, includes settings for "Incoming call gesture" with the options:
Google Phone app users are about to get a major upgrade in how they handle incoming calls. The latest beta version of the app is testing a new incoming call screen, offering users the exciting choice between a “Single tap” or a “Horizontal swipe” gesture to answer their calls. This marks a meaningful shift from the current “Swipe up to answer” system and the previously tested button interfaces. Expect customization options within Phone Settings to tailor your experience. The addition allows for greater personalization and accessibility. this might be a part of a broader Material 3 redesign. News Directory 3 keeps you posted on the latest Google Phone updates. Discover what’s next regarding this exciting shift.
Google Phone App Tests New Call Screen Gestures
Updated May 30,2025
The Google Phone app is experimenting with a redesigned incoming call screen,offering users a choice between a “Single tap” or “Horizontal swipe” to answer calls. This new feature provides enhanced customization and accessibility for users of the popular dialer app.
Currently, the app uses a “Swipe up to answer” gesture. Google previously tested “Decline” and “Answer” buttons, similar to the Wear OS interface. more recently, a pill-shaped UI was tested, requiring users to swipe left to decline and right to answer. This feature,enabled in March with version 166,has yet to be released widely.
The latest Phone by Google 177, currently in beta, includes settings for “Incoming call gesture” with the options:
- Horizontal swipe
- Single tap
the single tap option aligns with earlier tests, while the horizontal swipe corresponds to the pill-shaped approach. Allowing users to select their preferred method is a welcome move toward greater personalization and improved accessibility. The new incoming call gesture options are expected to appear in Phone Settings, possibly coinciding with a broader Material 3 Expressive redesign of the app, enhancing the user experience and providing more intuitive controls for managing incoming calls.
What’s next
The customizable gesture controls are anticipated to roll out in a future update, pending broader beta testing and user feedback. Google is expected to announce further details regarding the Material 3 redesign in the coming months.