A disconcerting glitch is surfacing for some Pixel phone users, potentially exposing private moments during voicemail. Reports indicate the “Take a Message” feature, designed to transcribe voicemails in real-time, is inadvertently broadcasting background audio to callers while they’re leaving a message.
The “Take a Message” function activates when you can’t or don’t answer a call, playing a standard unavailable message to the caller. It then offers you, the recipient, a live transcript of the voicemail as it’s being recorded, with the option to jump in and answer the call mid-message. However, recent accounts suggest a disturbing flaw: callers are hearing *more* than just silence after the tone.
Several Pixel owners have discovered that the feature has activated and, instead of a simple recording, allowed callers to overhear ambient sounds from their surroundings. Imagine a private conversation unintentionally shared, or sensitive background noise unexpectedly transmitted. While not widespread, the issue is causing concern.
Interestingly, many of the reported instances stem from older Pixel devices no longer receiving operating system updates. This suggests a potential link between software maintenance and the bug’s occurrence, though Google is currently investigating all reports. The company has acknowledged the issue and is working to understand the root cause.
If privacy is a paramount concern, especially with calls from unknown numbers, disabling “Take a Message” is a simple precaution. Within the Phone app settings, navigate to the “Call Assist” section and toggle the feature off. This will revert to a standard voicemail experience.
To disable the feature, open the Phone app and tap the settings icon in the top-left corner. Then, select “Take a Message” under the “Call Assist” section and switch the toggle to the “off” position. This ensures a standard voicemail experience, safeguarding your privacy until a fix is implemented.
