Can I tell Android not to learn phone numbers?
October 8, 2024 7:17 AM
Android helpfully learns every number you dial. Today, for work-related reasons, I have to make several dozen outgoing calls to various people. I do not want my phone to memorize all of these numbers. Is there a way I can tell it not to, temporarily or permanently?
If it matters, it's a Galaxy S9 running Android 10.
If it matters, it's a Galaxy S9 running Android 10.
What do you mean by learn/memorize? What is the use case where this memorization creates a problem?
posted by seemoorglass at 10:24 AM on October 8
posted by seemoorglass at 10:24 AM on October 8
I am running Android 15 beta so this may not be applicable to Android 10. One, possibility is to turn off "At a Glance".. (The link is to a Google help page explaining AAG and how to use it. Another possibility is to set up a second or another profile on the phone. Create a new profile (may need to create a new Google account) and switch to that for the phone calls. It should be a blank profile. Some apps will be there, but no app data from your original profile.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:48 AM on October 8
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:48 AM on October 8
One use case might be that you want to make a confidential call and don't want someone else to know that you made a call - like if you're calling a therapist or an escort or whatever. (I'm *not* implying that's what this question is about! Only responding to seemoorglass's question)
You can delete calls from your call history, though that seems to be a one number at a time thing, so it could be tedious if you've made a lot of such calls. Also, I would imagine those calls would still show up on your cellphone bill.
You might also consider getting another number, like a Google voice number. I don't think those show up on my regular number's call history. Though obviously, Google voice is not confidential. Likely there are other apps that offer more confidentiality. If you're searching for such things I'd search for HIPAA compliant apps, as confidentiality is key for health care related calls.
posted by jasper411 at 10:53 AM on October 8
You can delete calls from your call history, though that seems to be a one number at a time thing, so it could be tedious if you've made a lot of such calls. Also, I would imagine those calls would still show up on your cellphone bill.
You might also consider getting another number, like a Google voice number. I don't think those show up on my regular number's call history. Though obviously, Google voice is not confidential. Likely there are other apps that offer more confidentiality. If you're searching for such things I'd search for HIPAA compliant apps, as confidentiality is key for health care related calls.
posted by jasper411 at 10:53 AM on October 8
Just to keep you from wasting time with it: If you set up Google Voice on your android phone, it will show calls in the call history just like calls from your regular number. You'd need to use it from an entirely separate device without installing or using the Voice app on your phone (e.g. from a computer, via voice.google.com) in order for that to be a reasonable solution.
posted by Aleyn at 11:23 AM on October 8
posted by Aleyn at 11:23 AM on October 8
I've never tried it but I think you might be able to do this by installing and using a different dialer/phone app for just these calls. (If you try this, make sure you find a trustworthy app - replicating or providing very basic functions seems to be an area that attracts a lot of sketchy apps.)
Or you could just delete these numbers from your history. On my Samsung phone, that means going into the "Recent" menu in the phone app, long-tapping one number to enter "Select" mode, quickly tapping all the other numbers I want to delete, and then pressing the trashcan icon at the bottom of the screen. In other words, not very time consuming.
posted by trig at 12:22 PM on October 8
Or you could just delete these numbers from your history. On my Samsung phone, that means going into the "Recent" menu in the phone app, long-tapping one number to enter "Select" mode, quickly tapping all the other numbers I want to delete, and then pressing the trashcan icon at the bottom of the screen. In other words, not very time consuming.
posted by trig at 12:22 PM on October 8
I'm confused about your concern? Is it that they're in your call log at all or are they somehow being associated with contacts in your address book/contacts?
The former is as designed. The latter, not so much, they should only be showing up as recents, even if you're using the Google dialer and it automagically associated a name with the number through its Internet-based magic.
posted by wierdo at 2:55 PM on October 8
The former is as designed. The latter, not so much, they should only be showing up as recents, even if you're using the Google dialer and it automagically associated a name with the number through its Internet-based magic.
posted by wierdo at 2:55 PM on October 8
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posted by pipeski at 7:28 AM on October 8