Enabling Call Screener requires a Premium subscription. See How to set up Call Screener on iPhone or How to set up Call Screener on Android.
Call Screener works in the US and Canada on supported carriers.
Android devices must have a single active SIM to use Call Screener.
Call Screener answers calls you don't pick up and asks the caller who they are and why they're calling, so you can decide what to do – instead of the call going straight to voicemail or ringing endlessly.
Here are a few things to expect so it behaves the way that works best for you:
Call Screener screens the callers you choose. It’s not a silent spam filter — for automatic blocking of scam and nuisance calls, use the Blocking settings. See Get the most out of Hiya Spam Blocker.
By default, Call Screener screens calls from people not saved in your contacts.
Saved contacts will ring straight through to your phone and won’t be screened.
Because it answers on your behalf, Call Screener changes how unanswered calls reach your voicemail. That’s expected, and this guide explains how to control it.
Call Screener’s behavior varies based on which type of device you use.
Open Spam Blocker’s Call Screening & Visual Voicemail settings.
Make sure Screen my calls is on.
Tap Screen calls from and choose an option:
Unknown callers only: screens people who aren’t in your contacts. Best for most people.
All callers: screens every call, including saved contacts. Use this only if you want maximum screening.
Contacts only: screens just your saved contacts.
Call Screener screens unknown, declined, and unanswered calls, and never screens your saved contacts. If a call was screened from someone you know, typically they are not saved in your Contacts, or are calling from a number that is different from their saved phone number.
Usually this means Spam Blocker doesn’t recognize the caller as a saved contact or your screening scope is too wide.
On Android:
Set Screen calls from to Unknown callers only so contacts ring through.
Make sure the contact is saved with the full number, including country code, exactly as it appears when they call.
If you block by area code or prefix, turn on Allow contacts through on your block list so a matching contact isn’t screened. See Add, remove, or import numbers on your block list.
On iPhone:
Saved contacts are never screened, so check that the caller is actually in your Contacts and saved with the exact number they’re calling from (including country code). See How to allow calls from your contacts.
Call Screener works by forwarding the calls you don’t answer to the Spam Blocker app. If Hiya Spam Blocker was removed, or screening was turned off without deactivating call forwarding, that call forwarding can stay active on your phone’s line — so calls keep being sent to voicemail or callers can’t reach your phone.
Open Call Screener settings in the Spam Blocker app and tap Deactivate so Spam Blocker removes the call forwarding from your line.
On iPhone, you may choose to turn Live Voicemail back on after deactivating the Call Screener.
If calls are still forwarded after deactivating, you can clear the forwarding yourself — get detailed instructions in Call forwarding and accessing voicemails.
Call Screener and In Call Protection use your microphone, and your audio is never stored.
Call Screener uses the microphone to answer a screened call for you and to record a custom greeting.
In Call Protection monitors during active calls to warn you in real time if it detects fraud or an AI voice.
Your audio is securely analyzed but never stored, and Spam Blocker will never record you without your consent. You can decline microphone access in your device settings, but Call Screener cannot be used without it.
Screening seems stuck (a call shows "screening" for a long time): if you snoozed it, tap End now; otherwise turn Screen my calls off and back on, restart your phone, and make sure you’re on the latest version.
Call Screener isn’t available: confirm you have a Premium subscription, a supported US/Canada carrier, and — on Android — a single active SIM.
To pause screening for a limited time: snooze screening instead of deactivating.
Test call fails or Call Screener stops working (iPhone): Open Settings → Phone and check that Live Voicemail is off — if it was re-enabled, it will intercept calls before they can reach Hiya. Also confirm Silence Unknown Callers is on (toggling Live Voicemail can reset this). See How to use Call Screener on iPhone for steps.
