How To Decline A Call On iPhone When Locked
August 1, 2023To decline a call on an iPhone when it’s locked, you simply need to press the side button or the volume button (either up or down) twice quickly. This action will send the incoming call to voicemail immediately. This process is universally applicable across all iPhone models.
Steps to Decline a Call on a Locked iPhone
- When your iPhone rings, wake the screen if it’s not already awake.
- Locate the side button (Sleep/Wake button).
- Press the button twice in quick succession.
Note: “The side button is located on the right side of your iPhone (on iPhone 6 and later), or on the top (on iPhone 5 and earlier). The volume buttons are located on the left side of the device.”
| iPhone Model | Button to Press |
|---|---|
| iPhone 6 and later | Side Button |
| iPhone 5 and earlier | Top Button |
The important fact to remember is that pressing these buttons once will ignore the call, stop vibrating, and mute/silence the ringer, but the call will remain active on the screen. Pressing twice will decline the call outright, sending it directly to voicemail.
If your phone is unlocked when the call comes in, you can decline the call by tapping the red phone icon on the screen.
Important Notes:
- The caller will not know that you’ve declined the call. The call will simply appear as if it’s gone to voicemail naturally.
- Be sure to press the button twice quickly. A slow press might only silence the call without declining it.
How To Use The Volume Buttons To Mute The Ringer
To use the volume buttons to mute the ringer on an iPhone, you can follow these steps:
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Tap Sounds and Haptics.
- Toggle Change with Buttons to the on position.
- Press the volume down button until the ringer volume is at its lowest level.
By default, the buttons on the side of your iPhone control the volume of your device. This volume is used for things like playing music and videos. However, if you turn on the “Change with Buttons” option, you can also use these buttons to adjust the volume of incoming calls. If you press the volume down button until the volume is at its lowest level, the incoming call sound will be muted. It’s important to note that if you have set the slider for incoming call sounds to zero in the Settings > Sounds & Haptics menu, the volume buttons will only change the incoming call volume. So, make sure you don’t set the slider to zero if you want to use the buttons to mute incoming calls.
Understanding iPhone’s Call Interface
The iPhone’s call interface is the screen that you see when you make or receive a phone call on your iPhone. This screen contains various buttons and indicators, which serve different functions to aid in your communication. The interface is designed to be simple and intuitive, making it easy for anyone, including a 6th grader, to understand and use it.
Below is a brief description of some key components found on the iPhone’s call interface:
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Green Call Button | This is used to start a call after typing in a number or choosing a contact. |
| End Call Button | This red button is used to end a call. |
| Keypad | The keypad allows you to input phone numbers or respond to automated systems. |
| Mute Button | This button silences your microphone so the other person can’t hear you. |
| Speaker Button | This button turns on the speakerphone, making the call audible without the need for headphones or holding the phone to your ear. |
| Add Call Button | This allows you to add a third person to the call, creating a 3-way conversation. |
| Contacts Button | This gives you access to your saved contacts during a call. |
| FaceTime Button | This button lets you switch from a regular call to a FaceTime video call. |
Please note that the iPhone’s call interface might slightly differ depending on the model of the iPhone and the version of the operating system (iOS) it is running.
Important Note: Always be sure you’re familiar with the functions of the call interface. Accidental pressing of buttons during a call, like the ‘End Call’ or ‘Mute’ button, can interrupt your conversations.
To answer a call, you simply swipe the green button on the screen. To reject a call, you swipe the red button. If your iPhone is locked, you’ll have to slide the button across the screen.
Here’s a quick list of things you can do on your iPhone’s call interface:
- Dial a number.
- End a call.
- Put a caller on speakerphone.
- Mute your side of the call.
- Add another person to the call.
- Access your contacts list.
- Switch to a FaceTime video call.
iPhone’s call interface is a user-friendly tool that allows you to control your call settings effectively. With this guide, even a 6th grader should be able to use it easily and efficiently.
Locked vs Unlocked Screen Call Interface on iPhone
The main difference between a locked and unlocked screen call interface on an iPhone lies in the accessibility of features and information. An unlocked screen gives you a full set of call options, whereas a locked screen is more restrictive, allowing only a limited set of functions for privacy and security reasons.
Here’s a simple table that summarizes the differences:
| Locked Screen | Unlocked Screen | |
|---|---|---|
| Answer Call | Slide to Answer | Tap Answer button |
| Decline Call | Press side button or Power button twice | Tap Decline button |
| Message Response | Swipe up on the Message icon | Select Message option |
| Remind Me Later | Swipe up on the Remind Me icon | Select Remind Me option |
| Accessibility to Phone Features | Limited | Full |
Detailed Explanation
When you receive a call on your iPhone, if the screen is locked, you’ll need to “Slide to Answer.” This helps to prevent accidental call answering if the phone is in your pocket or bag. If you wish to decline the call, you can press the side button or the power button twice. Additionally, you can swipe up on the Message or Remind Me icons to send a quick reply or set a reminder to call back later. However, you don’t have full access to other phone features.
On the other hand, if your iPhone screen is unlocked when the call comes in, you can simply tap the Answer or Decline buttons to accept or reject the call. The Message and Remind Me options are also available, but they are accessible through button selections rather than swipes. Most importantly, you have full access to other phone features during the call, like checking your notes or using other apps.
Important Note: Regardless of whether your screen is locked or unlocked, you can always end a call by pressing the red “End Call” button on the call interface.
A locked screen call interface is designed to prevent accidental interactions and maintain privacy, while an unlocked screen call interface provides full access to phone features during a call.
Additional Options for Managing Calls on a Locked iPhone
If you’ve ever wondered, “Can I manage my calls even when my iPhone is locked?” the answer is yes, you can! There are several additional options to manage calls without needing to unlock your iPhone. Here’s an easy-to-understand breakdown of these features.
The “Do Not Disturb” feature on an iPhone is like your own personal gatekeeper that helps you manage your incoming calls, messages, and notifications. When you turn this feature on, it silences all the calls, alerts, and notifications that you get while your device is locked. It’s super useful when you’re studying, sleeping, or just want some peace and quiet. But don’t worry, your iPhone still collects all these notifications, and you can check them later when you’re ready.
Important Note:
“While Do Not Disturb is on, it will silence calls and notifications only while your device is locked. It won’t stop you from getting calls, texts, or other notifications while you’re using your device.”
How to Enable “Do Not Disturb” Mode
- Swipe down from the top right corner of your phone to access the Control Center.
- Look for the ‘Do Not Disturb’ or ‘Focus’ option under the auto-lock and screen rotation controls.
- Click on the ‘Focus’ or ‘Do Not Disturb’ option.
Note: Since iOS 15, the ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode has been incorporated into the ‘Focus’ feature.
How “Do Not Disturb” helps manage incoming calls
The “Do Not Disturb” feature can be a big help when you need to focus. If you’re doing homework, reading a book, or trying to fall asleep, and you don’t want to be disturbed by any incoming calls, just switch on the “Do Not Disturb” feature and your iPhone will stay quiet.
Remember, even with “Do Not Disturb” on, you can set certain people as exceptions. This means you can still get calls from your mom, dad, or anyone else you choose, even when “Do Not Disturb” is on. To do this, you need to go into the “Allow Calls From” section in the Do Not Disturb settings.
Important Note:
“Even with Do Not Disturb on, you can still set ‘Favourites’ or specific contacts to bypass Do Not Disturb. You won’t miss calls or texts from these selected contacts.”
Auto Decline Calls When Your iPhone Is Locked with “Silence Unknown Callers” Feature
The “Silence Unknown Callers” feature on your iPhone helps you to control who can reach you. When you turn on this feature, your iPhone will automatically decline calls from numbers that are not saved in your contacts, not recent outgoing calls, and not from Siri Suggestions. It’s very useful when you want to avoid calls from strangers, telemarketers, or robocalls.
Here is how you can turn on the “Silence Unknown Callers” feature:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap on ‘Phone’.
- Look for ‘Silence Unknown Callers’ and toggle the switch to turn it ON.
The following table explains what happens when this feature is ON:
| Contact Type | Call Behavior |
|---|---|
| Saved Contacts | Calls will ring normally |
| Recent Outgoing Calls | Calls will ring normally |
| Siri Suggestions | Calls will ring normally |
| Unknown Callers | Calls will be silenced, sent to voicemail, and displayed on the Recents list |
Important Note: Emergency numbers programmed into your phone will never be silenced.
When “Silence Unknown Callers” is turned ON, all unknown calls will be sent straight to voicemail and they will appear in your recent calls list. So, you won’t miss out on any important calls that you need to return.
Remember: It’s always a good idea to regularly check your voicemail and recent list to make sure you didn’t miss any crucial calls.
Auto-Answer Calls When Your iPhone Is Locked
The Auto-Answer Calls feature on your iPhone allows your phone to automatically pick up incoming calls when your device is locked. This feature can be beneficial for individuals who want to ensure they don’t miss important calls. It is quite easy to enable and customize this feature according to your needs. Here is a simple step-by-step guide to help you get started:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap on “Accessibility“.
- Next, scroll to the “Touch” option and tap on it.
- Find the “Call Audio Routing” option and tap on it.
- Tap on “Auto-Answer Calls“.
- Turn on the “Auto-Answer Calls” feature.
- Set the duration of time before the call is automatically answered by tapping on the desired time interval.
Once this feature is enabled, your iPhone will automatically answer incoming calls after the specified duration of time. This can be useful in situations where you are unable to physically answer the call, such as when your hands are occupied or when you are using a Bluetooth headset.
Managing calls on an iPhone, whether it’s locked or unlocked, is straightforward and can be done with a few simple steps. By familiarizing yourself with the call interface and understanding the different functions of the buttons, you can easily answer, decline, and manage calls on your device.
