How to minimize calls in Messenger chat bubbles (call heads)

February 15, 2021, by Santiago Comment

The chat bubbles the “chat heads” (in English) usually allow minimize conversations from Messenger and other applications to a small floating shortcut on screen, so you can continue using other apps without losing sight of a chat. However, it is also possible minimize a call in this way, so that you can continue talking on the phone while using other apps («call heads«).

Android certainly already allows you to exit the full screen of a call and minimize it to the notification bar when you press the start button or multitask during the call. However, with the call bubble you will have shortcuts to mute, activate the loudspeaker or hang up the call, as you will see later.

Google chat bubbles

The application Google Phone available on the Play Store to install on any Android device incorporates the function of bubbles for calls, although it must first be activated as I will explain later.

Initially the call will appear in full screen or in the conventional way, but you can minimize pressing the home button, back or multitasking. You can switch to another app and the bubble or ‘chat head»Will remain visible. In addition, by tapping on that “bomb” or circle you have shortcuts mute the call, activate loudspeaker O hang.

Google phone bubbles don’t appear in app settings. In order to activate them You must go to the Android system settings, Applications, Google Phone. There look for the option «Show on top of other apps»And flip the switch. If you want to deactivate, you must do the opposite.

A shortcut to enter this configuration is to touch on the notification that appears when you hang up a call, which will take you directly to the “Draw on top of other applications” screen.

Old cell phones

Call Popout

Previously it also recommended the app Call Popout, which unlike Google’s phone, incoming calls no longer appeared in full screen but were displayed directly as a bubble or discreet incoming call alert. That is, you no longer had to manually minimize them as in the previous case.

The bubble that this app showed indicated the name of the caller, within any other application that you are, so that you could continue working with the call in progress. From the call bubble it could be dragged to answer, reject, silence or send to voicemail.

Unfortunately this app has not been updated since 2014. I tested it on my Samsung Galaxy S3 mini with Android 4.1 and it worked fine, but I can’t say the same on my Huawei Y5 with Android 9.

L-Call

Another alternative that I also tried on my Samsung Galaxy S3 mini running Android 4.1 is L-Call. This is an APK that, although it does not generate a bubble, displays the calls in the form of a floating notification, in the style introduced in Android 5 or Lollipop. From the on-screen notification the call can be rejected, answered or silenced.

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