WhatsApp may soon talk to unknown callers on your behalf: What you should know

HIGHLIGHTS

WhatsApp may let users screen unknown calls by asking callers the reason for calling soon.

The feature may use on-device language packs to generate call transcripts in the preferred language of a user.

The iPhone-like call screening feature is under development and is not yet available to beta testers yet.

Meta’s instant messaging platform tests and rolls out new features across Android, iOS, web and other experiences at regular intervals. In a series of improvements, the Meta app is reportedly developing a feature that will enable enhanced call filtering on Android. The upcoming feature will let WhatsApp speak to a caller on a user’s behalf and ask the reason for calling. A transcript of the conversation may be available to users, which they can read and decide whether to take over the conversation or not.

According to WABetaInfo, the feature is “under development” and is not rolling out to beta testers yet. The “Ask reason for calling” feature will build on the company’s silence unknown calls feature and the company may revamp the “call filtering” menu within the privacy screen. The first option, “Never”, will disable the feature completely. All calls will ring normally. The third choice, “Silence”, calls from unknown callers will be available. Despite silencing calls, the record will be displayed in the Calls tab and notifications.

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WhatsApp to screen calls on Android soon?

The third call-filtering option, “Ask reason for calling”, will ask unknown callers the reason why they are calling before the phone rings. Based on the conversation, a user may choose to accept ot decline the call. A transcript of the conversation will be generated to simplify the user’s decision.

WhatsApp is developing a call filtering feature for the Android app! WhatsApp is working on improving the silence unknown callers feature with new tools. https://t.co/GTJiF0WWIF https://t.co/6YEZqXZoJO

— WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) October 19, 2026

Similar to message translations and voice note transcriptions, the WhatsApp tracker noted that the Meta app will not reroute calls to its servers for transcription. WhatsApp will rely on the on-device language packs and secure them using end-to-end encryption. Users may be able to choose the desired language of the transcription.

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The upcoming WhatsApp feature is expected to be similar to the call screening of Google on Pixel devices and Apple on iPhones. Meanwhile, the feature was spotted by the WhatsApp tracker in the app’s version “2.26.41.4” on Android on the Google Play Store. However, the feature is not rolling out to beta testers yet. It is expected to be available in the testing build in the coming weeks.

Vikas Yadav

Vikas, a Copy Editor at Digit, writes to express his interest in technology. He covers consumer-centric tech news while hunting the day's most "VFM" smartphone deal. Plus, this curious geek enjoys digging into the last-mile intricacies of latest gadgets. Before Digit, he reported for Jagran English. Off work, you'll find him emotionally attached to historical sites or lost in tales of India's past. Simply put, tech is his 9-to-5, the rest is history.