Here’s how to turn on Clear Calling on your Google Pixel phone

The Clear Calling function on Google Pixel phones is a handy tool that can help you hear the person on the other end of the phone better, especially if they are in a noisy environment. But if you’ve been wondering why you’ve not been noticing any of this AI magic during your calls, then blame Google. For some odd reason, Clear Calling is disabled by default. Nevertheless, here’s what you need to know about this feature and how to use it.

By default, Clear Calling is not enabled on your Pixel phone. You need to turn it on manually in your settings. Here’s how:

• Open the Settings app on your Pixel phone.
• Tap Sound & vibration.
• Tap Clear Calling.
• Turn on the toggle next to Use Clear Calling.

Once you enable Clear Calling, it will automatically work whenever you make or receive a phone call with someone who has a lot of background noise. You will see a notification on your screen that says “Clear Calling is on” when it is active. You can also turn it off anytime by tapping the notification or going back to the settings.

Note: At the time of publishing, the feature is available for the Pixel 7, Pixel 7a, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 8, and Pixel 8 Pro.

Clear Calling is a feature that uses artificial intelligence to filter out background noise and enhance the voice of the caller on the other end of the phone. So unlike your average noise reduction feature you find on most phones, Clear Calling plays the Uno Reverse card and improves the audio from the caller’s end. It works by analyzing the audio signal and separating the voice from the noise, then applying noise reduction and voice enhancement algorithms to improve the sound quality.

Clear Calling works on both Wi-Fi and mobile data connections. It also requires a Pixel 7 or newer device running Android 13 or higher. The feature is currently only available in English and in select countries, such as the US, Canada, Australia, UK, France, Germany, Japan, and others. Geolocation-based feature restrictions is something that’s become the norm for Pixel phones, including the Pixel 8 series.

Clear Calling can make a big difference in your phone conversations, especially if you often call people who are in busy places like airports, cafes, or streets. It can help you hear them more clearly and avoid misunderstandings or frustrations. It can also save you time and money by reducing the need to repeat yourself or call back later.

Clear Calling can also improve your privacy and security by preventing eavesdroppers from hearing your conversations. Google also claims that it processes the audio locally on your device. So you needn’t worry about it sending any of your audio or phone conversations to Google or third-party companies. But there’s an option to share your audio and transcript anonymously with Google after each call to help improve the feature.

Clear Calling is not the only feature that can enhance your phone calls on Pixel phones. There are also other features that use Google Assistant to help you deal with spam calls, hold music, and more. Here are some of them:

Call Screen: This feature lets you use Google Assistant to screen incoming calls from unknown numbers and see a live transcript of what they say before you answer or hang up. You can also set it up to screen calls automatically from spam or possibly faked numbers.

Hold for Me: It lets you use Google Assistant to wait on hold for you when you call a business and notify you when someone is ready to talk to you. You can also see a live transcript of what’s happening on the line while you do other things.

Verified Calls: This feature lets you see the name, logo, reason, and verification badge of businesses that call you through Google’s Phone app. This can help you avoid scams and phishing attempts by verifying the identity of the caller. This, in my opinion, is a game changer.

To use these features, you need to have the latest version of the Phone app on your Pixel phone and enable them in your settings. You can find them under Settings > Spam and Call Screen or Call Screen in the Phone app.

Clear Calling is a useful feature that can improve your voice calls on Pixel phones by reducing background noise and enhancing voice quality. It works on both Wi-Fi and mobile data connections and does not compromise your privacy or security. You can enable it in your settings and enjoy clearer conversations with anyone who has a lot of background noise.

You can also use other features like Call Screen, Hold for Me, and Verified Calls to make your phone calls more convenient, safe, and productive. These features use Google Assistant to screen calls, wait on hold, and verify callers for you. You can find them in the Phone app settings as well.

If you have a Pixel phone, you should try these features and see how they can make your phone calls better. They are easy to use and can save you time, money, and hassle. But as I pointed out above, your mileage with these features may vary based on your location and the language you have set on your Pixel device.