The voice notification function about an incoming call is not just a convenience, but sometimes a necessity for many users Android. Imagine a situation where the phone is on the table in another room, and you are busy with something important. Instead of running to the machine, trying to make out the caller's name, you hear the clear voice of the announcer. This allows you to make a decision: answer the call or continue working without interruption.
However, many smartphone owners do not even suspect that this feature is built into the system by default. Manufacturers often hide this setting deep in the menu or implement it through proprietary shells, such as MIUI, One UI or ColorOS. In this article, we will look in detail at how to activate the “Who's Calling” feature on different versions of the operating system and from different brands.
In addition, we will discuss alternative methods if the built-in option does not suit you. Using third-party applications or specific settings Accessibility features can give more flexible control over exactly how your phone will notify you about incoming calls.
Standard setting via Google Phone
On most modern smartphones with “clean” Android or a shell close to the stock one, this function is controlled directly through the dialing application. This is the simplest and most reliable method that does not require the installation of additional software. You will need to go to the settings of the application itself, and not the general system settings.
First, open the standard application Phone (usually the icon with a green tube). Find three vertical dots in the upper right corner - this is a menu of additional options. By clicking on them, select item Settings. This is where the switch we need is hidden.
In the menu that opens, look for a section that may have different names depending on the firmware version. Most often this is item "Incoming calls" or "Additional settings". Inside you will see an option Say the caller's name. Activate it by dragging the slider to the right.
- 📱 Option "Always" - the phone will call the name at any volume level.
- 🔇 The option "Only in headphones" is useful so as not to confuse others with voice prompts.
- 🔊 The option "Only when the phone is not in Silent mode" is a reasonable compromise.
⚠️ Attention: On some smartphone models, this function may not be available if the application “Phone” was updated to the latest version, but the manufacturer blocked it in its shell.
Features of Samsung and Xiaomi interfaces
Owners of devices from leading Asian brands are often faced with the fact that the path to settings differs from the stock one Android. The company Samsung in its shell One UI has placed this function in a separate menu related to application management. To enable it, go to Settings the application itself Phone, and then select Answer and end calls. This is where the switch is located Say the caller's name.
Situation with Xiaomi (shell MIUI or HyperOS) is a little more complicated. Here the operating logic may depend on the firmware region. In global versions, the path is usually as follows: Settings -> System applications -> Phone -> Incoming calls. If you do not find this item, try going to the general settings of your phone and use the search for the word “voice” or “name”.
Interestingly, on devices Xiaomi this function sometimes conflicts with the proprietary assistant Google Assistant. If the voice notification does not work, check whether it is disabled in the settings of the assistant itself. Sometimes the system will prioritize one sound source over another, resulting in silence instead of the expected announcement.
☑️ Checking settings on Samsung
Use special features (TalkBack and Select to Speak)
If standard methods do not give results or you want more detailed control, you can contact to section Accessibility. These tools were originally created for people with visual impairments, but are also great for ordinary users for voicing interface events.
In the smartphone settings, find the section Special Features. Here you may be interested in the TalkBackfunction, but it is too aggressive, as it sounds every time you touch the screen. A softer option is the service Reading Selection (Select to Speak). It allows you to highlight text on the screen for reading, but it can also be configured to automatically read call notifications.
Also in this section there is often an item Notifications about reading aloud or similar. By activating it, you will allow the system to read the contents of pop-up notifications, including information about the caller. This is a universal method that works on almost any device with version Android 8.0 and higher.
Settings → Accessibility → Notifications → Allow reading aloud⚠️ Attention: Enabling accessibility features can significantly increase battery consumption, since services run in the background and constantly monitor the screen.
Third-party applications for voicing calls
When the built-in smartphone tools are not flexible enough or are completely absent, applications from the store come to the rescue. Google Play. Developers have created many utilities that specialize specifically in voice announcement of name and number. Such apps often offer richer functionality: choice of speaker voice, speech speed, and even language packs.
One of the popular solutions is the application Call Voice Announcer. It intercepts the incoming call event and uses a speech synthesis engine Google TTS to speak the data. The main advantage of such applications is their independence from the manufacturer’s shell. They will work the same on Sony, and Huawei, and Moto.
When choosing an application, pay attention to the permissions it requests. For correct operation, the app needs access to contacts (to know the name) and phone status (to understand that there is a call). Without these rights, the application will simply remain silent or read a random set of numbers.
| Application name | Interface language | Presence of advertising | Flexibility of settings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Call Voice Announcer | Russian | Yes (in the free version) | High |
| Who is Calling | English | No | Average |
| Voice Announce - Call & SMS | Multilingual | Yes | Very high |
Why may the application not work?
If the application is installed but is silent, check if the system is blocking it energy saving. Go to Settings → Applications → Your application → Battery and select the “Unlimited” mode. This will prevent the app from “putting to sleep” in the background.
Setting up the speech synthesis engine (TTS)
The quality of voice acting directly depends on which speech synthesis engine (Text-to-Speech) is selected in the system. By default, Android uses a service from Google, which sounds quite natural. However, you can replace it with a third-party one, for example, from Samsung or Ivonaif you do not like the current voice of the robot.
To change the settings, go to the section Special features and find the item Speech synthesis (or TTS). Here you will see a field Preferred mechanism. By clicking on it, you can select the installed engine. In addition, this menu has a gear button that allows you to adjust speech speed and pitch.
Be sure to press the button Listen to an exampleto evaluate the result. If the voice sounds too fast or unclear, reduce the speed. This is especially true for names with complex pronunciation, which the synthesizer can distort at high reading speeds.
For better voice quality, download additional language packs in the Google TTS settings. Offline packages often sound better and work faster than streaming synthesis.
Problem solving: why is the phone silent?
It happens that all the settings are turned on, but the smartphone stubbornly refuses to call the names of callers. The first reason is often the regime "Do not disturb". In this mode, the system blocks not only vibration sounds, but also voice notifications. Check if this mode is activated in the notification shade.
The second common reason is a conflict with connected devices. If a Bluetooth headphones or car headset is connected to the phone, the alert sound may be routed there rather than to the smartphone speaker. You may not notice this if the headset is in a bag or car.
It is also worth checking the volume level of the media channel. Announcing the caller's name often uses the channel Media or Systemrather than the call channel. Make sure that these sliders are not turned to zero in the volume menu.
⚠️ Attention: After updating the operating system, speech synthesis settings may be reset. If the function stops working after the update, check the TTS preferences again.
If the built-in function does not work, installing a third-party application from Google Play is the fastest way to return the voice notification without complex manipulations with the system.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to set voiceover only for selected people contacts?
With standard means Android this is difficult to do, usually the function works for all incoming calls. However, some third-party applications allow you to create a “white list” of contacts for whom the name will be spoken, ignoring the rest.
Will the phone speak the name if the screen is off?
Yes, in most cases the function works even when the screen is locked and the display is off. The system reads the call data before you unlock the device.
Why does the phone read the name in English, although the system is in Russian?
This happens if in the speech synthesis settings (TTS) English is selected for names, or if the contact name is written in Latin. Check the language settings of the speech engine.
Does this function affect the call time?
No, voice acting occurs only at the moment of an incoming call, before you pick up the phone. During the conversation itself, the announcer is silent and does not waste resources on speech.
How to disable the function if it begins to irritate?
Simply return to the application settings Phone or to the section Special features and turn the switch to the “Off” position. changes will take effect instantly.