Overview
Call Screening helps stop robocalls and unwanted spam by requiring unknown callers to complete a simple verification step before your phone rings. With a paid YouMail plan on iPhone or Android, you can enable Call Screening directly in the YouMail app to challenge unknown callers while allowing trusted contacts and known callers through.
Key benefits/use cases
Robocall prevention: Blocks automated spam calls that cannot complete verification
Human verification: Only real callers who enter the correct digits can ring through
No impact on trusted callers: Contacts, known callers, and verified numbers bypass screening
Platform flexibility: Available on both iPhone and Android with a paid plan
How Call Screening works
When Call Screening is enabled, YouMail screens callers who are not:
In your contacts
Known spammers in the YouMail Directory
On your personal blocklist
These callers hear the following message:
“The person you are calling is protected by YouMail. To proceed, press [two-digit number].”
If the caller enters the correct digits, the call rings through.
If the caller enters the wrong digits, the prompt repeats.
If the caller does not enter any digits, the call disconnects.
Each new call attempt repeats the screening process.
Note:
Call Screening only applies to unknown callers. Known callers and contacts are handled normally.
How to enable or disable Call Screening on iPhone
Call Screening on iPhone is managed entirely through the YouMail app and requires additional iOS settings.
To enable or disable Call Screening on iPhone, follow these steps:
Open the YouMail app.
Tap the Shield icon in the bottom navigation bar.
Tap the three dots (…) in the upper-right corner.
Select Protection Settings.
5. Toggle Smart Call Screening on or off.
Optionally, toggle Live Caller Name to require callers to identify themselves and explain the reason for their call before it rings through.
Important:
Call Screening must be enabled in the YouMail app. It cannot be changed on the website, and support agents cannot enable it for you.
Note:
Call Protection can be enabled without Call Screening. However, Call Protection must be enabled for Call Screening to work.
Pro tip:
Enable Live Caller Name along with Call Screening to make unknown calls easier to identify.
Required iOS settings for Call Screening
To ensure Call Screening works correctly on iPhone, update the following iOS settings.
To configure iOS settings, follow these steps:
Open Settings.
Select Apps.
3. Tap Phone.
5. Select Screen Unknown Callers.
6. Choose Silence.
This sends unknown callers to YouMail for verification before your phone rings.
Next, confirm:
Call Filtering is disabled since YouMail manages call handling
Important:
If Call Screening is enabled in YouMail, Silence Unknown Callers must also be enabled in iOS. If you disable Call Screening, return this setting to Never.
Note:
Older versions of iOS may display these settings differently. The key requirement is that unknown callers are silenced at the system level while using YouMail Call Screening.
How to enable or disable Call Screening on Android
Call Screening on Android is controlled entirely through the YouMail app.
To enable Call Screening on Android, follow these steps:
Open the YouMail app.
Tap the Protection icon.
Tap the three dots in the top-right corner
4. Select Protection Settings.
5. Select Silence and Screen
6. Select Get Started
7. Select Done.
To disable Call Screening on Android:
Repeat steps 1–4 above.
Select OFF.
Important:
Call Screening can only be enabled or disabled from the YouMail app. It cannot be updated via the website or by a support agent.
Note:
You may disable Call Screening while keeping Call Protection enabled, or disable Call Protection entirely, which also disables Call Screening.
FAQ
What is Call Screening?
Call Screening is a YouMail feature that helps block robocalls and spam by requiring unknown callers to complete a quick verification step before your phone rings.
Who gets screened?
Only unknown callers are screened. Calls from:
Your contacts
Known callers
Verified numbers ring through normally without any prompts.
What do screened callers hear?
Unknown callers hear this message: “The person you are calling is protected by YouMail. To proceed, press [two-digit number].” If they enter the correct digits, the call rings through.
What happens if a caller doesn’t respond or presses the wrong digits?
Correct digits → the call rings through
Wrong digits → the prompt repeats
No digits entered → the call disconnects
Each new call attempt requires verification again.