What is Google’s new audio emoji? How to use it spice up your calls
Google has begun to roll out the ‘Audio Emoji’ feature in its Phone app, bringing a playful twist to phone calls for Android users.
Google has released a new feature for Android users that adds a playful element to phone calls. The company has begun to roll out the “Audio Emoji” feature in its Google Phone app, which enables users to send sound effects during calls. This feature aims to improve audio conversations by adding a layer of fun and personalization, allowing users to express themselves without using words.
According to 9to5Google, the Audio Emoji feature is currently in beta testing for users who have enrolled in the Google Phone app beta program. These users can use the Audio Emoji feature, which allows them to send one of six different sound effects during a call: sad, applause, celebrate, laugh, drumroll, and poop. The feature was discovered in development last year and is now available in the most recent beta version (version 128) of the Google Phone app.
How to Use Audio Emoji on Google Phone App
To enable Audio Emoji in the Google Phone app, follow the steps below:
- Make sure you’re enrolled in the Google Phone app beta program
- During a call, you should see an “Audio Emoji” button appear, either in the overflow menu (three dots) or directly on the call screen
- Tap the button and choose your emoji. A short animation will play, and the sound effect will ring out on both ends of the line
Keep in Mind
- Audio Emoji is a lighthearted feature, and reactions to it have been mixed
- You can’t customise the sounds or add new emoji (yet)
- There’s a short delay between using emojis to prevent excessive sound effect wars
- You can disable Audio Emoji altogether in the Google Phone app settings
Notably, the Audio Emoji feature only works when the user’s phone is set to speaker mode. There is also a brief delay between audio emoji sounds to prevent overuse and keep the conversation flowing smoothly.
Wider rollout expected
Currently, the Audio Emoji feature is only available to beta testers. However, Google intends to expand access to this feature to more users in the coming weeks. The expanded rollout will allow more Android users to enjoy this fun addition to their phone conversations.
The announcement of Audio Emojis comes after Google’s recent updates aimed at improving the user experience. For example, Android users can now download and install multiple apps from the Google Play Store at once, streamlining the process and increasing efficiency. However, this functionality does not include updating existing applications.
The update removes the Play Store’s queue system, allowing for simultaneous downloads and installations. This speeds up the process, especially when setting up a new device. The feature appears to be widely available on Android 14 devices running the Play Store version 40.6.31.
Users can now download and install two apps at the same time, which makes it easier to set up new devices or access recently installed apps. Larger applications, such as Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, can be downloaded simultaneously, eliminating the need to wait for one download to complete before beginning another. Users can track the download progress in the Play Store or on their home screen.
