Tested on: Galaxy S23+, One UI 9.0
Open Phone, tap More options, choose Settings, then tap Call display while using apps to change the Samsung incoming call pop-up. You get three layouts, and the right one depends on whether you want fewer interruptions or fewer missed calls. The sections below show what each layout does and which one suits you.
What the Samsung Incoming Call Pop-up Setting Controls
The Call display while using apps setting decides how a call appears when another app is open. Samsung's call settings guide lists three choices: Full screen, Pop-up, and Mini pop-up.
Full screen replaces the app you are using. Pop-up and Mini pop-up float over the app, and Mini pop-up is the smaller of the two.
Change it when calls cover your game, video, or map, or when small banners make you miss calls.
A second option, Keep calls in pop-up, applies after you answer. Samsung describes it as keeping answered calls in the pop-up.
Requirements Before You Start
- Your Galaxy needs Samsung's Phone app as its default dialer.
- Samsung tells owners to update software first, under Settings, then Software update.
- Samsung's support pages name no minimum One UI version.
Galaxy S23 owners waiting on One UI 9.0 can check regional status in our Galaxy S23 One UI 9 rollout report. Other models are covered in our One UI 9 update tracker.
Step-by-Step Instructions to Change the Call Display While Using Apps
Step 1. Open the Phone app.
Tap the Phone icon on your Home screen or in the Apps screen.
Step 2. Tap More options, the three vertical dots.
The icon sits in the top-right corner of the Phone app.
Step 3. Tap Settings.
This page also holds blocking, ringtone, and answering options.
Step 4. Tap Call display while using apps.
The page lists the layouts and the Keep calls in pop-up toggle.
Step 5. Select Full screen, Pop-up, or Mini pop-up.
Pick the layout that matches how you use your phone.
Step 6. Switch Keep calls in pop-up on or off.
Turn it on if you want answered calls to stay in the pop-up.
Step 7. Ask a friend to call while you use your busiest app.
Confirm the layout behaves as you expect before you rely on it.
Menu Paths by One UI Version
Samsung does not document this menu for each One UI release, so the table shows where each path is confirmed.
| One UI version | Path | Where it is confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung support pages, last updated 2023 | Phone > More options > Settings > Call display while using apps | Samsung India support page |
| One UI 3.1 | Phone > three dots > Settings > Call display while using apps | Samsung Community reply on a Galaxy S20 FE thread |
| One UI 8 | Phone > three dots > Settings > Call display while using apps | Samsung Community thread from a Galaxy S24 owner |
| One UI 8.5 | We have not tested this path on One UI 8.5. | No Samsung page found |
| One UI 9.0 | Phone > More options > Settings > Call display while using apps | Tested on a Galaxy S23+. No Samsung page found for this version |
Which Call Display Setting Fits Your Habits
Choose Mini pop-up if interruptions bother you, and Full screen if missed calls bother you.
| Your situation | Setting | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| You play games or watch video | Mini pop-up | It is the smallest layout, so it covers the least of the app. |
| You want a bigger call window than Mini | Pop-up | It is the larger of the two floating layouts. |
| You miss calls that arrive as banners | Full screen | The call replaces the app, so you cannot overlook it. |
| You talk while using a map or notes app | Pop-up or Mini pop-up with Keep calls in pop-up on | Samsung says the toggle keeps answered calls in the pop-up. |
Which app interrupts you most? Test the layout in that app first, because a setting that suits your browser can still cover a game's controls.
PRO TIP: Switch layouts for a week if you cannot decide. Your missed call count will tell you which one to keep.
Why Game Booster Will Not Hide Incoming Calls
Game Booster mutes most alerts during play, but calls get through. Samsung's Game Launcher support page says the No alerts during game option hides alerts and still shows incoming calls.
Samsung's troubleshooting page for game alerts adds that some notifications cannot be blocked at all.
A call banner over your game is designed behavior, not a bug. Set Mini pop-up in the Phone app and leave Game Booster's alert blocking on for everything else.
Have you turned on Block during game and still watched a call land mid-match? That is the reason.
Common Samsung Incoming Call Pop-up Problems and How to Fix Them
Problem: The layout stays on Mini pop-up whatever you choose.
Cause: Samsung has published no cause. A Galaxy S24 owner reported this after updating to One UI 8 in a Samsung Community thread. Replies pointed to floating notification settings and a stale Phone app cache, and clearing the cache fixed some apps but not others.
Fix:
- Open Settings, tap Notifications, tap Advanced settings, and check Floating notifications.
- Open Settings, tap Apps, tap Phone, tap Storage, then tap Clear cache.
- Restart your phone and test again.
- If one app still ignores your choice, send an error report through the Samsung Members app.
Problem: Call display while using apps is missing from Phone settings.
Cause: Samsung notes that available screens and settings vary by software version and phone model. A different dialer set as your default also means you are not in Samsung's Phone menu.
Fix:
- Open Settings, tap Apps, then tap Choose default apps.
- Tap Phone app and select Samsung's Phone app.
- Reopen Phone, tap More options, then tap Settings.
- If the entry is still missing, send your model and One UI version to Samsung through the Samsung Members app.
Problem: The phone rings, but no pop-up or call screen appears over your app.
Cause: The Phone app needs its incoming call notification on and permission to appear over other apps. A reply in a Samsung Community thread lists both checks for a Galaxy A owner who lost the call screen after an update.
Fix:
- Open Settings, tap Apps, tap Phone, tap Notifications, and confirm incoming calls are on.
- Return to Apps, tap the three dots, tap Special access, then tap Appear on top.
- Allow Phone, then set Call display while using apps to Full screen as a test.
- Restart your phone.
Per-app notification toggles moved between One UI releases. Our guide to changing the notification sound for each Samsung app shows where One UI 8 keeps them.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Samsung Incoming Call Pop-up
Q: Does this setting change how calls look on the lock screen?
A: Samsung's menu name limits it to calls that arrive while you use other apps. We found no Samsung page that describes lock screen behavior. Call the phone once while it is locked and see what appears.
Q: Can I hide an incoming call completely?
A: Samsung's support pages list three layouts, and none hides the call. Mini pop-up is the smallest. Silencing calls is a separate job for a Do not disturb mode.
Q: Does the setting apply to WhatsApp and other calling apps?
A: Samsung documents it only inside the Phone app's settings. We found no Samsung page that extends it to WhatsApp or other calling apps. Check each app's notification settings under Settings, then Notifications.
Q: Did One UI 9 change the Phone app settings?
A: Android Authority reported that One UI 9 adds an Other call settings section for call history from other apps. Its writer confirmed the option on a Galaxy S26 running One UI 9 Beta 2. Scroll the whole Settings page on your phone instead of expecting the older list.
Q: Why does my Samsung page call it Small pop-up?
A: Samsung's India support page labels the middle option Small pop-up, and other regional pages say Pop-up. Both names sit between Full screen and Mini pop-up in Samsung's lists.
Test Your New Call Layout With One Real Call
Ask a friend to ring you while your busiest app is open, then adjust the Samsung incoming call pop-up if it covers what you need. Once calls behave, our Samsung Routines guide shows how to automate other phone settings around your day.
Which Galaxy model and One UI version are you on, and which layout did you settle on?
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