A quick and easy guide to setting up auto-reply texts on iOS and Android

Everyone misses calls. You might be driving, at a dinner with your loved ones or watching a movie. While missing calls is natural, what’s important is to let the caller know that you respect their call or message and will get back to them. Setting up auto-reply text for iPhone or text auto-reply for Android is the solution.

Why auto-reply texts are important

Along with knowing how to write a business plan and launching a startup, it’s also important to know how business communication usually happens. For example, unless it’s a formal proposal, people don’t email. They call first.

It could be a potential client, customer, investor or business partner. While you might be busy, with an auto-text reply, you can tell them how to reach others in the team.

It could also be an irate customer or vendor. An auto-reply text can tell them to contact the customer support team or the online chat support. Without an auto-reply response, the caller may air their grievance online and that will hurt your brand’s reputation.

It is clear that auto-reply texts are important whether you’re business-to-consumer or business-to-business. Here’s how to set up the feature:

Setting up auto-reply text for iPhone

For messages

1. Go to Settings

2. Click on Control Centre

3. Click on Do Not Disturb While Driving and add it to the Control Centre

This enables you to turn Do Not Disturb While Driving quickly. Now you need to set up auto-reply.

4. Go to Settings
5. Click on Do Not Disturb
6. Now you can decide whether to activate it Automatically, When Connected to Car Bluetooth, or Manually
7. From Auto-Reply To, select No One, Favourites, Recents, or All Contacts
8. Now you can compose your reply

For calls

1. Go to Settings

2. Click on Phone

3. Click on Respond with Text

4. Compose your text message

5. When you get a call, click on the appropriate message

Setting up auto-reply text for Android

1. Open the Phone app

2. Go to Settings

3. Click on Respond with Text

4. Customise your text message

5. When you get a call, click on the appropriate message from the options

6. You can also compose a message as the call comes in

While the auto-response messages are limited, you can always install a third-party app to get more functionalities if you use an Android phone.

Seek better alternatives

While you can use it when driving, auto-reply texts shouldn’t be overused. For callers, this can suggest that your business isn’t professional because:

1. You don’t have enough staff

2. The business doesn’t have specific departments

3. You’re always too busy for your clients

4. You lack organisational skills

5. There’s no one they can reach when it’s urgent

A dedicated number for your business is an effective solution to the problem of getting too many calls on the same number. With a second line app, other than auto-reply, you also get extra features such as voicemail and call routing.

In short

No one will blame you if occasionally you’re busy and respond with auto-reply text through either iPhone or Android. But ensure that you have a system in place to accommodate business calls and messages to show that you value the call and respect the callers’ efforts to get in touch with you.