What is Gatekeeper
Gatekeeper screens incoming calls by asking unknown callers to state their name and reason for calling. You see this information before deciding to answer. Benefits:- Know who’s calling before answering
- Filter sales and spam calls
- Control your time
- Professional call screening
How it works
For you
- Call comes in - Your phone rings
- Caller announces themselves - You see their name and reason on screen
- You decide - Answer or decline
- Call connects - If you answer, caller hears nothing about screening
For the caller
- Call connects - Brief pause
- AI asks - “Please state your name and reason for calling”
- Caller responds - Speaks their name
- Waiting - Brief hold while you decide
- Call connects - If you answer, conversation begins normally
Callers hear professional AI voice. They don’t know you’re screening the call.
Setup Gatekeeper
1
Open settings
Go to Settings in Allo app
2
Access "Spam Blocker" menu
Tap “Spam Blocker” option
3
Activate feature
Toggle “Activate Gatekeeper” at the top
4
Customize message
Edit the message callers hear (optional)
5
Configure who to screen
Choose who gets screened:
- All callers
- Unknown numbers only
- Numbers not in contacts
6
Set bypass rules
Choose who can bypass screening:
- All contacts
- Favorites only
Configuration options
- Bypass Rules
- Custom Messages
- Response Handling
Let important contacts skip
Allow certain people to bypass Gatekeeper entirely.All contacts:- Anyone in your Allo contacts
- Ring directly without screening
- Good for known relationships
- Only starred contacts bypass
- Most others still screened
- Best for VIP access
Mark favorites
- Open contact profile
- Tap star icon at top
- Contact now bypasses Gatekeeper
- Business hours restrictions
- IVR menu
- Do Not Disturb (on some setups)
See caller information
During screening
Your screen shows:- Caller’s stated name (transcribed)
- Their reason for calling
- Phone number
- Accept or Decline buttons
After the call
Call log includes:- What they said during screening
- Full recording if you answered
- Transcript if you answered
- Your decision (answered/declined)
Common use cases
Filter sales calls
Scenario:Multiple daily sales calls interrupting work. Setup:
- Enable Gatekeeper for unknown numbers
- Mark important contacts as favorites
- Decline obvious sales pitches
See “This is David calling about your extended car warranty” → Decline
Professional availability
Scenario:Need to know caller urgency before answering. Setup:
- Screen all callers
- Custom message asks for urgency
- Prioritize based on screening
Client emergency → Answer immediately
Routine question → Schedule callback
Focus time protection
Scenario:Deep work sessions, only answer critical calls. Setup:
- Gatekeeper on
- Only favorites bypass
- Decline non-urgent screenings
Maintain focus, catch up on calls later.
Best practices
When to use Gatekeeper
Good for:- High call volume
- Unknown callers
- Work-life boundaries
- Spam prevention
- Priority management
- Customer support lines (use IVR instead)
- Emergency services
- Sales teams (may lose leads)
- When you want all calls
Communication tips
Tell important contacts:- You use call screening
- Ask them to state name clearly
- Reassure it’s professional security
- Add them to favorites if needed
“For security, we screen incoming calls. Please state your name clearly when prompted.”
Combine features
Gatekeeper + Business Hours:- Gatekeeper during business hours
- Voicemail outside hours
- Best of both worlds
- IVR routes known callers
- Gatekeeper screens unknowns
- Professional multi-layer approach
- VIPs always get through
- Others must announce
- Balanced accessibility
Troubleshooting
Callers complain about screening
Callers complain about screening
Solutions:
Turn off Gatekeeper for main business line, keep it on personal line.
- Add frequent contacts to favorites
- Use “unknown numbers only” mode
- Customize message to be friendlier
- Explain it’s professional security
Turn off Gatekeeper for main business line, keep it on personal line.
Can't hear what caller said
Can't hear what caller said
Check:
Caller hangs up before speaking. They may not understand the prompt.Solution:
Use clearer custom message explaining what to do.
- Volume is up
- Transcription is working
- Caller actually spoke
- Not in silent mode
Caller hangs up before speaking. They may not understand the prompt.Solution:
Use clearer custom message explaining what to do.
Favorites still getting screened
Favorites still getting screened
Verify:
- Contact is marked with star (favorite)
- Bypass setting is “Favorites” or “All contacts”
- Contact is saved in Allo (not just phone)
- Using correct phone number
Gatekeeper not activating
Gatekeeper not activating
Check:
- Feature is toggled on
- Not overridden by business hours
- Caller is not a favorite
- Number is configured correctly
Conflicts with IVR
Conflicts with IVR
Important:
You cannot use Gatekeeper and IVR menu at the same time on the same number.Choose one:
Use IVR on main line, Gatekeeper on direct lines.
You cannot use Gatekeeper and IVR menu at the same time on the same number.Choose one:
- IVR for routing known callers
- Gatekeeper for screening unknowns
Use IVR on main line, Gatekeeper on direct lines.
Gatekeeper vs. other features
Gatekeeper vs. IVR
| Feature | Gatekeeper | IVR |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Screen individual calls | Route by department |
| Caller action | Speak name | Press number |
| Best for | Unknown callers | Known routing |
| Can combine | No | - |
Gatekeeper vs. Do Not Disturb
| Feature | Gatekeeper | Do Not Disturb |
|---|---|---|
| Calls ring | Yes | No |
| You decide | Per call | Blocks all |
| Caller knows | No | Possibly |
| Bypass option | Favorites | Favorites |
Gatekeeper vs. Business Hours
| Feature | Gatekeeper | Business Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Active when | Always | Time-based |
| Caller experience | Screen | Auto-route |
| You control | Each call | Schedule |
