How do I decline a phone call with a custom text on Android?

Being able to decline incoming calls on Android phones with custom text messages offers users more options when handling phone calls. Rather than just sending calls to voicemail or outright rejecting them, custom text responses allow you to politely let the caller know you can’t pick up right now. This can be especially useful in situations where you’re busy, in a meeting, driving, or simply don’t want to engage in a call at the moment. With custom text messages, you can provide context for why you missed a call without having to call back right away.
On Android devices, users can enable call decline with text and create their own preset messages to send when rejecting calls. Many smartphones like Samsung Galaxy models have this feature built-in, while some additional configuration may be required on other Android phones. Overall, declining calls with custom texts provides a convenient way to gracefully handle incoming calls on your schedule.
Prerequisites
To decline incoming calls with a custom text message on Android, there are a few prerequisites:
You need an Android phone running Android 9.0 or higher. The call decline with text feature was introduced in Android 9.0 Pie. Older versions of Android do not have built-in support for this feature. Some manufacturers may add support in custom skins, but it is not guaranteed (Source).
Your phone app and Android system should be updated to the latest version available. The call decline options are sometimes expanded in updates. Having the latest version ensures you have full access to features like quick decline messages (Source).
Lastly, your cellular plan needs to support sending text messages. Most standard plans today include text messaging, but it’s worth double checking if you have an older or limited plan.
Enable Call Decline with Text
To enable the ability to decline calls with a text message on Android, you first need to open the Phone app settings. Here are the steps:
1. Open the Phone app on your Android device.
2. Tap on the three dot menu icon in the top right corner.
3. Select “Settings” from the menu.
4. Scroll down and tap on “Quick decline messages.”
5. Toggle on the switch next to “Decline with message” to enable it. [1]
Once you have enabled the “Decline with message” option in your Phone app settings, you will be able to send a text message to automatically decline incoming calls.
Create Custom Text Messages
You can add your own custom text messages to use when declining calls on Android. Here’s how:
Open the Phone app and tap the three dot menu icon in the top right corner. Select Settings, then tap Quick decline messages (DigitalCitizen.life, 2022).
This will open the Call Decline Messages settings. Tap on any existing message to edit it, or tap Add message to create a new custom text (TechRepublic, 2022).
Type your custom message into the text field. You can create as many custom call decline messages as you want. When finished, tap OK to save your new message (DigitalCitizen.life, 2022).
Now when you decline a call by tapping the decline button, you’ll have the option to quickly insert any of your saved text messages.
Decline an Incoming Call
When you receive an incoming call on your Android phone, you can decline it and send a custom text message to the caller with just a few taps:
1. When the incoming call screen appears, tap the Decline button instead of answering or ignoring the call.
2. This will bring up a list of quick response messages. Scroll and select the custom text message you want to send to the caller.
3. The call will be declined and your chosen text message will be instantly sent to the caller. They will receive it as a text message from you.
That’s all there is to it! With just a tap on Decline and selecting a preset message, you can easily and quickly decline a call and notify the caller why you couldn’t answer.
Customize Default Messages
One of the key benefits of declining calls with custom text messages on Android is the ability to edit or delete the default decline messages. When you first enable call declining with text, Android provides a few preset text messages like “I’m busy, I’ll call you later” or “I’m driving, I’ll get back to you.” However, you can customize these default messages to be more personal or match your own communication style.
To edit or delete the default decline messages, open the Phone app and tap the menu button (three dots icon) in the top right corner. Then go to Settings > Quick decline messages. Here you will see the preset text options. Tap on any of them to edit or delete the message. You can also use the plus icon to add new custom text messages from scratch.
Customizing these quick decline texts allows you to tailor your call rejecting experience. For example, you may want to change “I’m busy, I’ll call you later” to “In a meeting, I’ll call you back in an hour.” With Android’s flexibility, you can create declines that perfectly match your needs.
Third-party Apps
While Android’s built-in call decline features are limited, third-party apps provide more options for customizing and automating call declining.
One popular app is Truecaller, which lets you block unwanted calls, identify unknown callers, and auto-decline calls using SMS or pre-set messages. Truecaller has an extensive database of known spam numbers and scammers, allowing it to automatically block robocalls.
You can customize Truecaller’s auto-decline feature to send a text like “I’m busy, please message me” or “Driving, will call you back.” The app is free for basic features, with paid subscriptions adding more call management tools.
Other apps like Hiya and Should I Answer? also let you auto-decline and customize decline messages.
Troubleshooting
If you are having issues with declining calls and sending custom text messages, here are some troubleshooting tips:
First, check the app permissions for your phone app and any messaging apps you are using. Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > App permissions and make sure the apps have permissions enabled for the Phone and SMS. If permissions were disabled, enable them and try declining a call again.
You can also try resetting the app defaults. Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > Default apps > Phone app and select your desired phone app. This will reset the default handler for phone calls and may resolve any issues.
Additionally, check for any software updates for your phone app, messaging app or Android OS that may address declining calls. Keep apps updated to ensure you have the latest fixes and optimizations.
If issues persist, you may need to uninstall any problematic messaging apps completely, then reinstall a fresh version. This can eliminate any corrupted files or settings.
As a last resort, you can try backing up your data and performing a factory reset on your device. This will erase any problems and give you a clean slate.
With some troubleshooting steps, you should be able to resolve any issues declining calls and sending custom text messages on Android.
Limitations
There are some limitations to be aware of when declining a call with text on Android:
First, the recipient needs to have RCS (Rich Communication Services) enabled on their device in order to receive the text message. RCS is the evolution of traditional SMS text messaging and allows for advanced features like declining a call with text. If the recipient doesn’t have RCS, they won’t receive the text.
Additionally, the ability to decline a call with text may not be available in all regions. Google has been gradually rolling out RCS support on Android devices, but coverage is still inconsistent globally. So even if you and the recipient have RCS phones, if you’re located in an area without RCS coverage, you won’t be able to send call decline texts.
Overall, the availability of declining an incoming call with a custom text message depends on you and the recipient both having RCS-enabled devices as well as having network coverage in your location. The feature may not be universally supported across all Android devices and regions currently. But RCS availability continues to expand over time.
Conclusion
Declining calls with custom text messages on Android provides a polite and convenient way to handle calls when you’re busy or unable to talk. By enabling the Decline with message feature in your phone settings, creating custom text templates, and selecting a message to send when declining a call, you can quickly let callers know why you missed their call and when you’ll get back to them.
The key steps are:
- Go to Settings > Call settings > Decline with message and enable it
- Under Text message templates, create custom texts like “Can’t talk now, call you later”
- When declining a call, tap one of your custom texts to send it to the caller
With some customization of the default text options and a bit of practice, declining calls while communicating the reason can become second nature. This thoughtful approach helps maintain positive relationships even when you can’t pick up the phone.