How To Auto-Reply to Texts on the iPhone

If you’re driving and don’t want people to think you’re ignoring your texts, you might want to consider setting up the auto-reply feature on your iPhone. This feature makes it possible to reply to texts without endangering yourself or others by texting while driving.

In this article, we’ll show you how to set up auto-reply while driving and related features, such as how to turn off text alerts while driving.

How to Set Up Auto-Reply on iPhone

You need to set up an auto-reply in advance, so it doesn’t disturb you when you’re otherwise occupied. The function is built into iOS, so it takes less than a minute to configure auto-reply while driving on your iPhone.Follow these steps to do so:

1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
2. Tap Focus.
   
3. Select Driving(it should be there by default).
   
4. Choose Auto-Reply.
   
5. Then set Auto-reply To to All Contacts, Recents, Favorites, or No One.
   
6. You can customize your Auto-reply message or leave the default auto-reply:  “I’m driving with Focus turned on. I’ll see your message when I get where I’m going.”
   

While these steps configure your iPhone to auto-reply while driving, you may want to set more specific parameters, such as setting your iPhone to only send auto-reply texts to people in your contacts, not people you don’t know, so change the AUTO-REPLY TO setting to whatever you prefer.

Once configured, all you need to do is turn on Focus whenever you get in the car.

Auto-Reply to Calls on Your iPhone

Did you know you can also auto-reply to calls on your iPhone?

It works in a very similar way to replying to messages. If you don’t want to let the phone ring or send the caller to voicemail, an auto-reply is a great option. It isn’t exactly automatic, as you need to select Message during the incoming call, but it’s better than having to type it.

Let’s set it up first:

1. Open Settings on your iPhone
2. Tap the Phone app
   
3. Tap Respond with Text
   

Of course, you can keep the default responses for Respond With Text, or you can write your own.

Then, when a call comes in, select Message above the Accept button on your iPhone to reply with the canned response you just configured. Just select the message in the popup window and confirm.

Stop iPhone Calls or Text Alerts When Driving or Busy

If you’re trying to navigate busy city streets, the last thing you want is to be disturbed by an incoming call or text.

The same Focus function we have already used can help here. The iPhone has a specific setting for Driving Focus, and we can use it here.

Next time you’re driving, swipe down from the top-right corner to bring up the Control Center. Press and hold the Crescent Moon button that says Focus. A pop-up will appear showing your different Focus versions; select the car icon to initiate the Driving Focus. When you’re in motion, the phone should detect it and stop pestering you with phone call alerts or text alerts.

Setting up an auto-reply to texts on iPhone is useful if you travel a lot or are often in situations when you don’t want, or cannot, answer a text or call.