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Door staff@engadget.com (Novak Božović) - 31 Aug 2026
Android Auto compatibility and Call Screen availability are separate things, and it helps to think of them in two layers. First, Android Auto itself has its own requirements. It works over USB on phones running Android 9 or newer, while wireless Android Auto generally needs Android 11 or later plus 5 GHz Wi-Fi support. Meeting those requirements only means your phone can run Android Auto; it doesn't guarantee access to Call Screen.
Second, Call Screen depends on your phone model and region. Google offers automatic Call Screen on Pixel phones in the US. Manual screening is available on Pixel devices in countries including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Spain, the UK and the US. Some selected Android devices in the US and Canada can also use manual screening, but Google doesn't publish a full list of supported models.
In other words, there's no Android version that guarantees Call Screen. Support depends on the phone and region as well.
It's also worth noting that not all "call screening" features are the same. Samsung, for example, includes its own call screening feature on some Galaxy devices, but it's separate from Google's Call Screen and only works through Samsung's Phone app. Samsung doesn't currently document its version as being available through Android Auto, while Google doesn't clearly list which Samsung models, if any, support Google's own Call Screen.
Finally, there are a few practical limitations. Automatic Call Screen may not work on some phones when Bluetooth is connected, and it doesn't work while roaming. These behaviors aren't fully documented by model, so real-world performance can vary.
Second, Call Screen depends on your phone model and region. Google offers automatic Call Screen on Pixel phones in the US. Manual screening is available on Pixel devices in countries including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Spain, the UK and the US. Some selected Android devices in the US and Canada can also use manual screening, but Google doesn't publish a full list of supported models.
In other words, there's no Android version that guarantees Call Screen. Support depends on the phone and region as well.
It's also worth noting that not all "call screening" features are the same. Samsung, for example, includes its own call screening feature on some Galaxy devices, but it's separate from Google's Call Screen and only works through Samsung's Phone app. Samsung doesn't currently document its version as being available through Android Auto, while Google doesn't clearly list which Samsung models, if any, support Google's own Call Screen.
Finally, there are a few practical limitations. Automatic Call Screen may not work on some phones when Bluetooth is connected, and it doesn't work while roaming. These behaviors aren't fully documented by model, so real-world performance can vary.