Why does iPhone sometimes try to make you answer calls?

Have you ever gotten a call from someone you didn't want to talk to at the moment, stared at the screen and wondered why the Decline button always disappeared at the worst possible moment? Don't worry, your iPhone isn't biased or forcing you to answer a call you've been avoiding!

iPhone has two ways to answer a call

While there are always memes joking about how Apple sometimes lets you decline calls and sometimes forces you to talk, Apple intentionally designed two different interfaces for the iPhone's incoming call screen.

When you get a call on your iPhone (or even iPad), you’ll see Decline and Accept buttons or a slider to answer. On the first screen, you can press any button to perform the desired action. When you see the slider, just drag it to the right to accept the call.

Many people think that the slider is Apple's way of forcing you to answer a call you want to ignore, but that's not the case. The screen you get when you receive a call depends on whether your iPhone is locked or unlocked.

It's easy to accidentally press the Accept or Decline button, especially if your iPhone is in your back pocket! So to avoid accidentally picking up or declining a call, you'll only see the slide to answer screen when your device is locked.

Why does iPhone sometimes try to make you answer calls?
Slide to reply slider on iPhone

Even if you have Touch ID or Face ID enabled on your iPhone, as long as you're on the lock screen, you'll see the slider until you unlock your device and start using it. This makes it nearly impossible to accidentally accept or decline an incoming call.

On the other hand, when you're using your iPhone, you'll see options to accept or decline the call. Depending on the options you've set in Settings > Apps > Phone > Incoming Calls , you'll either see a Banner or the call will take up the entire screen ( Full Screen ).

With the former option, incoming calls will initially appear as a small notification at the top of the screen, with a red X and a blue check mark. When you tap on the call notification, it will expand to a full-screen page, where you'll see Accept and Decline buttons .

Why does iPhone sometimes try to make you answer calls?
WhatsApp Calls on iPhone

​​​​​You can still reject any call!

As we’ve seen, the slide-to-answer interface that appears when your iPhone is locked isn’t meant to force you to answer; it’s intentionally designed to prevent accidental answer or decline of calls. Since this screen only shows the slide to accept the call, many people assume there’s no way to decline the call and let the phone ring until it stops automatically.

Luckily, you can mute or decline an incoming call even in this situation. To mute the call, just press the side button or either volume button on your iPhone. To decline the call, quickly press the side button twice. That’s it! Depending on where you are, declining the call will either send it straight to voicemail or disconnect it immediately.

Even if you've been a long-time Apple ecosystem user, it can be frustrating at times when you can't easily decline a call, especially when someone calls while you're sound asleep! Although not receiving incoming calls on your iPhone can be even worse.

Sign up and earn $1000 a day ⋙

Leave a Comment

Why should you use both an iPhone and an Android phone at the same time?

Why should you use both an iPhone and an Android phone at the same time?

An iPhone and an Android phone combined offer advantages that make carrying both worth it.

IPhone turns into heater when using Apple Intelligence

IPhone turns into heater when using Apple Intelligence

According to reports from some iPhone owners, the new iOS update has given them a solution to keep their hands warm during these cold winter days.

How to update iPhone to the latest iOS version

How to update iPhone to the latest iOS version

Updating your iPhone software (iOS) is a good idea. Updates are available for free from Apple. They apply the latest features and security fixes to your iPhone. Here's how to update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS.

How to Organize Photos on iPhone

How to Organize Photos on iPhone

Organizing your own photos makes it easier to find and relive those special memories. So what's the best way to organize photos on your iPhone?

7 iPhone Camera Settings to Adjust for Better Video

7 iPhone Camera Settings to Adjust for Better Video

While your iPhone can shoot great videos right out of the box, you can get better results by tweaking some camera settings.

How to clean up iPhone junk, delete junk files to free up iPhone storage

How to clean up iPhone junk, delete junk files to free up iPhone storage

After a period of use, you will notice that your iPhone or iPad is getting slower and slower, and the remaining free space is too little. It's time to clean up your iPhone or iPad by deleting unnecessary junk files to free up the occupied free space.

How to fix Liquid Detected in USB-C Connector warning on iPhone

How to fix Liquid Detected in USB-C Connector warning on iPhone

Are you trying to charge your iPhone but seeing a warning telling you that liquid has been detected in the connector? Check out the troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve the Liquid Detected warning and get your iPhone charging normally again.

Here is the list of iPhones and iPads that support iOS 16 and iPadOS 16

Here is the list of iPhones and iPads that support iOS 16 and iPadOS 16

After countless rumors and leaks, Apple finally officially announced iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 on stage at WWDC 2022

How to Use AirDrop on iPhone

How to Use AirDrop on iPhone

AirDrop is the easiest way to transfer files between your Apple devices. Whether you want to send or receive photos, videos, documents, etc. on your iPhone, you can follow Quantrimang.com's guide to quickly learn how to use AirDrop.

5 ways to keep your iPhone home screen tidy

5 ways to keep your iPhone home screen tidy

Considering how often you interact with your iPhone home screen, it's essential to keep it neat and tidy.

5 iPhone Features That Help Minimize Distractions at Work

5 iPhone Features That Help Minimize Distractions at Work

Do you often find yourself scrolling through social media or jumping into group chats to read new messages and memes while you work? There are a variety of features on your iPhone that can help reduce distractions while you work.

How to Fix “iMessage is Signed Out” Error on iPhone

How to Fix “iMessage is Signed Out” Error on iPhone

Are you getting the iMessage is Signed Out pop-up whenever you open a thread in the Messages app on your iPhone?

Why should you replace your iPhones default keyboard with Gboard?

Why should you replace your iPhones default keyboard with Gboard?

While the stock iOS keyboard has improved over the years, it's still not perfect, especially when compared to some third-party options. That's why many people are replacing it with Gboard on their iPhones!

7 magical features on iPhone

7 magical features on iPhone

Your iPhone is packed with powerful tools that can make your everyday interactions easier. Some are so useful you'll wonder why it took you so long to start using them.

How to download photos from iCloud

How to download photos from iCloud

With iCloud Photos, you can view your entire photo library from any device. But you need to download photos from iCloud if you want to edit or do anything else. There are several ways to download photos from iCloud to devices like iPhone, Mac, and even Windows PC.

The easiest way to take a screenshot on iPhone, for all iPhone models

The easiest way to take a screenshot on iPhone, for all iPhone models

How to take a screenshot on iPhone on all versions from iPhone 5, 5s, 6, 6s, 7, 7 Plus, 8/8 Plus to iPhone X, Xr, Xs, iPhone 11, iPhone 12.

How to use Gemini on iPhone

How to use Gemini on iPhone

Google Gemini is officially available on iPhone for users to download and experience. The interface and features of Gemini on iPhone are similar to the Gemini version on Android.

5 Android Features for Seamless Multitasking

5 Android Features for Seamless Multitasking

Juggling multiple apps on your phone to get things done can sometimes feel overwhelming. Luckily, Android offers a variety of features that make multitasking a breeze.

How to update Android to the latest version

How to update Android to the latest version

Updating Android to the latest version will help your phone experience new features of the operating system, especially system security upgrades.

Instructions for 4 ways to hide contacts on iPhone

Instructions for 4 ways to hide contacts on iPhone

To protect your personal information and privacy, you can also hide contacts on iPhone whenever you need.

How to Stop iMessage from Filling Up iPhone and iCloud Storage

How to Stop iMessage from Filling Up iPhone and iCloud Storage

Over time, iMessage becomes the app that takes up the most of your storage.

Download the wallpaper set to turn your iPhone into a classic iPod

Download the wallpaper set to turn your iPhone into a classic iPod

If you want to go back to the years when the iPod took the music market by storm, you can turn your iPhone into a classic iPod with the wallpaper set in the article below.

How to Open Recent Files from iPhone Home Screen

How to Open Recent Files from iPhone Home Screen

You can add more files to open right from the iPhone home screen, such as opening recent files from the iPhone home screen.

How to Use Google Drive with Android File Manager

How to Use Google Drive with Android File Manager

Google Drive is a great choice for anyone looking for a highly reliable cloud storage solution, especially for Android users.

Why is the iPhone battery icon yellow, how to fix it?

Why is the iPhone battery icon yellow, how to fix it?

The yellow battery color displayed on the iPhone screen is actually due to a new feature called Low Power Mode by Apple. This feature will not be automatically activated without the user's permission. If you accidentally allowed the mode to be activated while using it and now do not know how to turn off the yellow iPhone battery icon, please refer to the following instructions.

8 Best Lock Screen Apps for Android

8 Best Lock Screen Apps for Android

The lock screen on your Android device is not just for aesthetics, it is also an important navigation screen that you can use to access your most used features directly. Check out the list of Android lock screen apps and widgets below if you want to unlock your phone more interestingly and effectively.

How to turn off key vibration effect on Android

How to turn off key vibration effect on Android

Most virtual keyboard apps include a vibration feedback feature — also known as “haptic feedback” — to make typing on a touchscreen more realistic.

Opera stops supporting many older iPhone models

Opera stops supporting many older iPhone models

If you're using an iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, or older iPhone models, you won't be able to get new versions of Opera on your device.

Why should you use both an iPhone and an Android phone at the same time?

Why should you use both an iPhone and an Android phone at the same time?

An iPhone and an Android phone combined offer advantages that make carrying both worth it.

How to search for content in voice recording files on iPhone

How to search for content in voice recording files on iPhone

Starting with iOS 18, the Voice Memos app has added voice transcription and search features for content in recording files and special terms.