Back in April, we spotted a new feature in development for the Google Phone app called "Flip to Silence." This feature is supposed to let users silence the ringtone from an incoming phone call by flipping the phone over. When we examined the code for this feature, we determined that the setting will only show up on devices that don't support Digital Wellbeing's "Flip to Shhh" feature. That means it can only show up on non-Pixel devices with the Google Phone app installed. Today, the setting started to show up for many users, but the feature doesn't seem to actually work just yet.

We were first tipped off by Twitter user @TheTweetofVidd about the "Flip to Silence" setting showing up. The user spotted the setting on their Redmi Note 5 Pro running the Pixel Experience custom ROM. On Twitter, users with the Essential Phone, Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, iQOO 3, Redmi Note 5A, ASUS ZenFone 6, and POCO F1 spotted the setting in the Google Phone app. I also noticed it on my own OnePlus Nord review unit, though sadly, the feature didn't work when I actually tried it.

The "Flip to Silence" setting can be found in the new Settings > Advanced submenu. Screenshot credits: @TheTweetofVidd

Earlier this month, Google made the Phone app installable on basically any non-Pixel device. Before then, it only came pre-installed on Pixel phones, Android One phones, and certain devices like the OnePlus Nord. Once the new "Flip to Silence" feature actually starts working, users who don't have Digital Wellbeing's "Flip to Shhh" feature, which is only available on the Pixel 2, Pixel 3, Pixel 3a, Pixel 4, and Pixel 4a, can turn their phone over to silence incoming phone calls. Some OEMs have this feature baked into their custom Android skins, but it's nice to see Google add it to their dialer app for anyone to enjoy.