Understanding Your Allow List (Trusted Contacts)

Your Allow List is a list of phone numbers you trust completely. When someone on your Allow List calls, the call rings through directly to you - no screening needed.

What Is the Allow List?

Think of the Allow List as your VIP list. These are callers who:

  • Are important to you
  • You always want to hear from
  • Don't need to be screened

When someone on this list calls, your phone rings normally, just like it did before you had Gini.

Who Should Be on Your Allow List?

Consider adding:

  • Family members - Spouse, children, parents, siblings
  • Close friends - People who call you regularly
  • Your doctor's office - So appointment reminders come through
  • Your pharmacy - For prescription notifications
  • Your workplace - Your boss or important colleagues
  • Your bank - But only the official number from their website or your card
  • Emergency contacts - Anyone you'd want to reach you urgently

How Calls from Your Allow List Work

  1. Someone on your Allow List calls you
  2. Gini recognizes their number instantly
  3. The call goes straight to your phone
  4. Your phone rings normally
  5. You answer (or miss the call and it goes to your regular voicemail)

Note: If you miss a call from someone on your Allow List, it goes to your regular voicemail - not to Gini for screening. This is because you've marked them as trusted.

How to Add Someone to Your Allow List

Method 1: From the App

  1. Open Gini Help
  2. Tap Settings at the bottom
  3. Tap Call Protection
  4. Tap Allow List
  5. Tap Add Number
  6. Enter the phone number
  7. Optionally add a name (like "Mom" or "Dr. Smith")
  8. Tap Save

Method 2: After a Screened Call

When Gini screens a call and you get the notification:

  1. Tap the notification to see details
  2. Look for the option to Add to Allow List
  3. Tap it, and that number is now trusted

Method 3: Import Your Contacts

The easiest way to add many trusted people at once:

  1. Go to Settings > Call Protection
  2. Tap Import Contacts
  3. Allow Gini to access your contacts
  4. Select the contacts you want to trust
  5. Tap Import Selected

Now everyone you selected will be on your Allow List.

Viewing Your Allow List

To see who's on your Allow List:

  1. Open Gini Help
  2. Tap Settings
  3. Tap Call Protection
  4. Tap Allow List

You'll see all your trusted numbers with any names you've added.

Removing Someone from Your Allow List

If you no longer want someone to bypass screening:

  1. Go to Settings > Call Protection > Allow List
  2. Find the number you want to remove
  3. Swipe left on the number (iPhone) or tap and hold (Android)
  4. Tap Remove or the trash icon

After removal, calls from that number will be screened by Gini.

Important Things to Know

Allow List vs. Imported Contacts

  • Allow List: Numbers you manually add, always bypasses screening
  • Imported Contacts: Numbers from your phone's contact list, also bypasses screening

Both work the same way - calls ring through without screening.

Be Careful with Unknown Numbers

Only add numbers you're 100% sure about. Scammers sometimes:

  • Pretend to be calling from your bank
  • Fake government agency phone numbers
  • Use numbers that look official

If you're not sure, let Gini screen the call first. You can always add them to the Allow List after.

Businesses with Multiple Numbers

Some businesses call from different numbers. For example, your doctor's office might have:

  • A main number
  • A scheduling line
  • A billing department

You may need to add multiple numbers for the same business to ensure all their calls come through.

Numbers Can Be Faked

Scammers can make their calls appear to come from any number (this is called "spoofing"). If someone calls claiming to be from a trusted organization, but the conversation seems off, be cautious even if the number is on your Allow List.

Tips for Managing Your Allow List

  1. Start with family - Add the people you talk to most often
  2. Add numbers after legitimate calls - When Gini screens a real call, add that number
  3. Review periodically - Remove numbers you no longer need
  4. Use names - Label numbers so you remember who they are

Questions?

For more help, see:

  • How to Add a VIP Contact
  • Understanding Your Block List
  • How to Import Your Contacts