Take a Message is designed to handle your missed or declined calls by transcribing the caller’s message. You can view the transcription in real time and even join the call mid-message. Privacy-conscious users prefer it over traditional voicemail because the entire process happens natively on your device; it’s completely separate from your phone carrier. Even if you have one of the most reliable phone carriers, there’s no reason to leave them with more call data than necessary.
You can set up Take a message on your Google Pixel phone by opening the Phone app, tapping the three-dot menu, then going to Settings > Take a message. You can also enable this feature on a Pixel Watch 2 or higher by pairing it with a Pixel 6 or higher phone. There is an option to personalize the greeting callers hear by setting up your own greeting, making it virtually indistinguishable from a regular voice message from the other end.
Taking a message could soon come to other Android phones
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Phone experts at Android Authority have observed evidence suggesting that Google is preparing to release Take a Message for more Android phones. A snippet of code was spotted in the Google Pixel Phone app stating “enabledBeeslyV2NonPixel.” “Beesly” is known as the codename for the Take Message feature, and the “NonPixel” segment clearly suggests the feature is intended to be functional on other devices.
Google is speaking out about how its AI features attempt to improve the smartphone experience. If some of these handy features extend beyond the Pixel line, would now be a good time to move away from the Google-branded environment? Recently, Samsung added new features to One UI 8.5 for Galaxy phones, including an AI-based call screening feature that could pair well with Take a Message if the latter arrives in the Galaxy ecosystem. On the other hand, there’s still a lot to enjoy as a loyal Pixel fan. In fact, if it’s been a while since you’ve upgraded, the Google Pixel 9 is still worth buying in 2026 at the right price.
