😀 Introduction
I am a big fan of the Google Pixel series, one of the things that make me fall in love with the Pixel is its deep integration with Google’s AI, which makes our phones so much more capable. Unfortunately, not all AI features can be enabled, and Google is restricting some features in unsupported countries, preventing features designed to benefit users from being fully utilised.
I am currently living in the UK, and one of the features that I absolutely love is called Call Screening. It helps me a lot to avoid spam or scam calls, and to summarise the call’s purpose before I speak to someone.
Unfortunately, it’s not being utilized to its fullest potential - only a handful of countries can support Automatic Call Screening, but the UK is not one of them. Over the past few days, I explored technical solutions to enable Auto Call Screening in unsupported regions like the UK.
After researching, I discovered that third-party tools, combined with root access, could unlock this powerful feature on Android 15. However, existing guides were outdated, and lack support for the latest system updates and features. This inspired me to write this tutorial, offering a clear, step-by-step guide to help you enable these helpful features.
💼 Prerequisites
- Google Pixel device: This guide is tailored for Pixel devices (e.g., Pixel 9a) running Android 15.
- Root access: The device must be rooted to modify system settings. Familiarity with rooting methods like Magisk or KernelSU is required.
- LSPosed Framework (Optional): For installing modules like CorePatch to allow forced downgrades of the Google Play Service if the preloaded version is too high.
[!danger] Disclaimer: Your warranty is now void!
Rooting your device and following this tutorial carries significant risks, including potential data loss or device malfunction. This guide requires a solid understanding of Android system modifications, command-line tools, and rooting processes. The third-party tools used here are not endorsed or supported by Google, and their use may void your device warranty.
Always back up your data before proceeding and avoid performing these operations on your primary or only device. This tutorial is provided for educational and reference purposes only. Proceed at your own risk.
🔨 Steps
Install GMS Flags
GMS Flags is an application for changing the parameters of flag values in Google Play services, which allows you to take control of the Google apps on your device. It’s the key to making changes to force-enable Automatic Call Screening on your device.
Instead of the GitHub version, use the beta version for newer Google Play Services (post-2024) to support the updated database schema. You can download the latest beta version in their official Telegram Channel.
Fix “Unsupported Schema” Error
The “Unsupported Schema” error in GMS Flags occurs due to a recent Google Play Services database update. Below are the key steps to resolve this issue:
- Update GMS Flags: Ensure you’re using the latest beta version from the GMS Flags Telegram channel.
- Download Compatible Google Play Services:
- For Android 12–15: Use version 24.38.63.
- For Android 11: Use version 24.38.34. Check your Google Play Services version code in app info to download the correct variant from APKMirror.
- Install App Manager: Download App Manager to downgrade Google Play Services.
- Downgrade Google Play Services: Use App Manager to install the downloaded version. Be patient, as this may take time.
- Handle Post-Downgrade:
- For Android 14 and below: Clear Google Play Services data and follow the “Add an account to backup” prompt.
- For Android 15: Restart your device if prompted (clear data only if necessary).
- Disable New Schema:
- Open GMS Flags, search for
com.google.android.gms.phenotype. - Set the flag
Database__enable_phixit_schema_versiontofalse,to disable the database schema migration - Force stop Google Play Services and restart your phone.
- Open GMS Flags, search for
Important: Downgrading may reset Google Wallet cards and Wear OS connections. Back up your data before proceeding. The fix is temporary, and Google Play Services may revert to the new schema after updates, requiring a 2–3 day wait to restore access.
For detailed instructions, refer to the official guide: Temporary Fix for GMS Flags/Google Play Services “Unsupported Schema” Error.
Optional: Fix Version Downgrade Error (if applicable)
If your device’s pre-installed Google Play Services version is greater than 24.38.63, you may encounter this error when downgrading with App Manager:
Invalid APK files selected INSTALL_FAILED_VERSION_DOWNGRADE: System app: com.google.android.gms cannot be downgraded to older than its preloaded version on the system image.
To resolve this, install the CorePatch module
- Download and install CorePatch via LSPosed manager or Github
- Enable the module for System Framework
- Reboot your device.
- Retry downgrading Google Play Services using App Manager. Now it works!
Flags for Auto Call Screening
Through analyzing the Phone by Google app, I’ve identified several flags that can bypass region restrictions and force-enable advanced features like Auto Call Screening on devices running Android 15, even in unsupported countries like the UK.
These flags, adjustable via the GMS Flags app, unlock powerful call management capabilities. Please follow the instructions below.
All these flags are located in Secondary package com.google.android.dialer.directboot#com.google.android.dialer
Enable Settings Interface
Enable this flag to activate the Auto Call Screening options in the Phone by Google settings.
- Flag:
45624401 - Type: Boolean
- Value:
true - Code reference:
enableModeSupportsAutoAndManualScreeningInUs
Modify User Country
These flags trick the app into assuming the user is in a supported country. You have to choose to “reside” in the United States.
- Flag:
45628184 - Type: Boolean
- Value:
true - Code reference:
isUserInUs
OR in Canada
- Flag:
45645737 - Type: Boolean
- Value:
true - Code reference:
isUserInCa
Language & Voice Model Selection
Finally, depending on your language of use, select the speech and language model you want to enable. These flags must be used together to enable Auto Call Screening fully. Only English & Japanese are supported. My recommendation is to turn on all relevant models (which take up about 300 MB of storage after downloading locally)
| Flag | Type | Value | Description | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
45628195 | Bool | true | enableV33InUsUk | English (US&UK) |
45633871 | Bool | true | enableV34InUk | English (US) |
45633875 | Bool | true | enableV35InJp | 日本語 |
45633888 | Bool | true | enableV36InUs | English (US) |
45633893 | Bool | true | enableV37InUk | English (US&UK) |
45633924 | Bool | true | enableV38InJp | 日本語 |
45638502 | Bool | true | enableV40InJp | 日本語 |
45643639 | Bool | true | enableV41InUs | English (US) |
45646805 | Bool | true | enableV42InJp | 日本語 |
45646481 | Bool | true | enableV43InUs | English (US) |
45646716 | Bool | true | enableV44InUk | English (UK) |
45650908 | Bool | true | enableV43InEnSplat | English |
45651704 | Bool | true | enableV45InUk | English (UK) |
45657932 | Bool | true | enableV46InEnSplat | English |
45664879 | Bool | true | enableV47InEnSplat | English |
45668838 | Bool | true | enableV48InEnSplat | English |
45679945 | Bool | true | enableV49InEnSplat | English |
[!info] It’s important to correctly enabling these flags!
Otherwise, you may encounter issues such as missing machine-generated voice during Auto Call Screening or the screening process being skipped, forcing the user to answer directly.
Apply Flags & Clean cache
Since the GMS Flags application does not anticipate the above flags, use the Add a multiple flags function to quickly add these flags.
Separate the flags with spaces and tick the Activate added flags checkbox. Below are the flags I used for your reference.
45624401 45628184 45628195 45633871 45633888 45633893 45643639 45646481 45646716 45650908 45651704 45657932 45664879 45668838 45679945
Once you have applied these flags, open your device’s Settings > Apps > Phone and clear the cache of Phone by Google app. Force stop it and re-open the Phone app.
In the Phone app, tap the three dots (⋮) in the top-right corner and select Settings. Look for the Call Screen option (now visible due to the flags).
Tap Call Screen to enter the sub-menu, toggle on the Automatically screen calls switch and select your preferred protection level.
After enabling the switch, a prompt will appear stating “Downloading model”. Wait a few moments for the download to complete. Once finished, Auto Call Screening is successfully enabled!
💬 FAQ
Below are answers to common questions about enabling Auto Call Screening on your Android 15 device in unsupported regions. These should help clarify doubts and troubleshoot issues.
Q: Does this method still work after Google Play Services or Phone by Google updates? A: Yes, the settings remain effective even after Google updates the database schema. However, if you need to modify flags later, you may need to repeat the steps in the “Fix Unsupported Schema Error” section to regain access to GMS Flags.
Q: What if the Call Screen option doesn’t appear in the Phone app settings? A: Ensure all flags in the “Flags for Auto Call Screening” section are correctly set and activated in GMS Flags. Restart the Phone app or your device, and clear the cache again.
Q: Can I use this method on non-Pixel devices? A: This guide is tailored for Pixel devices (e.g., Pixel 9a) running Android 15. Other Android devices may work, but compatibility isn’t guaranteed due to differences in the Phone by Google app or system configurations. Test carefully and back up your device.
Q: Will enabling these flags affect other Google apps or features? A: Modifying flags or downgrading Google Play Services may reset Google Wallet cards or Wear OS connections. Some notifications may also experience delays. Always back up your data before proceeding!