Samsung recently rolled out the much-anticipated Android Pie update with its own customized skin based on Android 9.0 Pie called One UI for the Galaxy S8/S8+ and Note 8 in the U.S. Although the update brings with it many new features and improvements, it reportedly stalled an existing functionality as well.
Galaxy S8/S8+ and Note 8 caller ID issue
Since the roll-out of the Android 9 Pie update a couple of weeks ago, many users have taken to social media platforms and Samsung’s product forums to complain about an issue with the Galaxy S8/S8+ and Note 8 caller ID. Users specifically say that after the update, the Galaxy S8/S8+ and Note 8 caller ID is broken or not working as intended.
Affected users say the caller ID is not showing contact information for incoming calls any more, including for saved contacts. The issue with the Galaxy S8/S8+ and Note 8 caller ID was first highlighted by tech site PiunikaWeb.
“When I am receiving a phone call and I have a contact in my contacts, I only see the area code and phone number when the phone is ringing. The contact name does not appear, yet afterwards, it does show the proper contact name int the ‘recent’ tab of phone,” one affected user said.
Some affected users say Android Pie is causing issues not just with the caller ID but also with spam protection as well. Users say both features are being disabled randomly.
“Since Pie came down, the built in Caller ID and S.p.a.m. Protection keeps turning off. And yes, I have looked at the other solutions. I’m not certain that they will work for me,” one user said.
Although the majority of the complaints are from Galaxy S8/S8+ and Note 8 users, some Galaxy S8 Active users have raised the same issue. Most of the complaints are also from AT&T users, but the problem is not carrier-specific because some Verizon users have reported it as well.
A simple trick to fix the issue
Affected users say they checked every setting, but nothing seems to be working. For instance, some said they synced all their contacts, cleared the cache on their contacts and more, but the issue with the Galaxy S8/S8+ and Note 8 caller ID and spam protection isn’t going away. Even factory-resetting the device did not help, one user said.
As of now, there is no comment about it from Samsung. The company has yet to acknowledge the issue. Samsung forum moderators are asking affected users to check with their carriers.
However, some users were able to fix the Galaxy S8/S8+ and Note 8 caller ID issue with a simple trick. The trick involves disabling AT&T Call Protect. Many users say this simple trick fixed the issue for them.
To uninstall the app, go to the Play Store and search for the pre installed app Call Protect. Once you locate it, tap “uninstall” to delete the update causing the issue. You must also disable automatic updates for that app. Samsung support also started recommending the same trick to affected users.
“I touched base with our Samsung rep who advised of disabling the app. We’ve confirmed that disabling the AT&T Call Protect app has been fixing the issue on all phones tested so far,” one user said.
If you are also facing the Galaxy S8/S8+ and Note 8 caller ID issue, all you need to do is to uninstall the Call Protect app. Samsung will hopefully come up with a permanent fix soon.
For those unaware, Caller ID and spam protection are part of Samsung’s Smart Call feature, which lets users know who is calling even if that number is not in their contact list.
Samsung takes back Galaxy Fold review units
Meanwhile, Samsung continues to grapple with a much bigger issue with its Galaxy Fold device. The Korean firm is having a rough time after several initial reviews claimed the device broke after just a day or two of use.
Samsung has already postponed the launch of the Galaxy Fold. The handset was scheduled to launch in the U.S. on Friday, but that has now been postponed indefinitely. Now there are reports that the company is taking back the Galaxy Fold review units from tech writers and videographers.
