Google is adding a new Phone app feature that could make you answer calls you’d normally ignore

Google is rolling out a new feature called “Expressive Calling” to beta users of the Phone by Google app. This feature lets callers mark their calls as urgent, which could change how people use Do Not Disturb mode. It makes it easier to figure out if an incoming call is worth answering or not.

If you’ve ever ignored a call and later found out it was an emergency from an unknown number, this feature might help. The idea is simple. According to Android Police, when someone makes a call, the app asks if the reason is urgent. If they say yes, the person receiving the call sees a large “It’s urgent!” message with a red siren emoji.

This clear warning means users won’t have to guess whether the caller is a telemarketer or someone who actually needs help right away. Depending on the phone’s settings, urgent calls can either ring loudly through Do Not Disturb or show up quietly but still marked as important. Even if someone misses the call, the urgent label stays in the call log.

This feature solves a major problem with contact exceptions

The system fixes a big issue with how Do Not Disturb exceptions work. Normally, you need to add specific contacts to your exception list if you want them to reach you during DND. That works fine for family, but what if a doctor or school calls from a random number during an emergency? You’d probably miss it. Expressive Calling removes that worry since anyone can mark their call as urgent without being on your contact list.

However, there’s a clear risk of people abusing this feature. Everyone thinks their own call is important, so some users might constantly mark normal calls as urgent. If too many people flag everything as urgent, the whole system becomes useless. This is probably why Google is keeping Expressive Calling in testing for now. Google has been working on how its systems understand user needs in recent updates.

Google has good reason to improve the Phone app. It’s one of the most popular calling apps on Android, with over a billion downloads on the Google Play Store. The company has also been creating realistic avatar features recently, though availability varies by device. To try this feature, you need to join the beta program. The feature is rolling out now, but it only works if both the caller and receiver have it enabled.

If you’re already in the beta, check for access by opening Phone settings, then General, then Expressive Calling. To join the beta program, go to Settings on your Android device, then Google services and preferences, then All services, and finally Privacy & Security and System services. If your device qualifies, you’ll see a Join beta option there.