We’ve all been there. You’re sitting in a quiet meeting, or maybe you’re just mid-bite into a sandwich you’ve been looking forward to all day, and your pocket starts buzzing like a trapped hornet. It’s a random number. Or maybe it’s that one person you just don’t have the emotional bandwidth to talk to right now. You need to know how to send a call to voicemail iPhone style—and you need to do it without looking like a jerk.
Honestly, the iPhone makes this both incredibly easy and slightly confusing because the "Decline" button doesn't always show up. Why? Because Apple’s interface changes depending on whether your phone is locked or unlocked. It’s a design choice that has frustrated people for over a decade. But once you know the physical button shortcuts, you’ll never be stuck staring at a vibrating screen again.
The Secret of the Side Button
If your iPhone is locked and a call comes in, you won't see a red "Decline" button. You only see that "Slide to Answer" bar. It feels like a trap. But it isn't.
The Side button—or the Power button on older models—is your best friend here. Press it once to silence the ringer or the vibration. The call keeps coming in on your end, but it’s silent. This is great if you want to pretend you just didn't hear the phone. However, if you want to be decisive, press that Side button twice in a row. Boom. The call is instantly diverted to voicemail. To the caller, it just sounds like your phone rang a couple of times and then went to your greeting.
It’s quick. It’s discreet. It works every single time.
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When the Red Button Actually Appears
Now, if you’re actually using your phone—say, scrolling through Reddit or checking an email—the incoming call looks different. You’ll get a banner at the top or a full-screen notification with a very clear red "Decline" button. Tapping that red circle does exactly the same thing as the double-click on the Side button. It cuts the connection and pushes them to your voicemail box immediately.
Customizing Your Rejection with "Respond with Text"
Sometimes, just ghosting a call feels a bit rude. Maybe it’s your mom or a client. You can’t talk, but you don’t want them to think you’re ignoring them on purpose. This is where the "Message" icon above the "Slide to Answer" bar comes in.
If you tap "Message," you’ll see a few canned responses like "Sorry, I can't talk right now" or "I'm on my way." Tapping one of these sends the call to voicemail and shoots them a text. It’s the "it’s not you, it’s me" of telecommunications.
You can actually change what these messages say in your settings.
- Open Settings.
- Tap Phone.
- Look for Respond with Text.
- Overwrite those generic messages with something that sounds more like you. Maybe "Eating a taco, call you in ten?" or "In a meeting, unless the house is on fire, wait."
Using Silence Unknown Callers to Automate the Process
If you’re looking for how to send a call to voicemail iPhone automatically because you're sick of spam, Apple built a nuclear option. It’s called "Silence Unknown Callers."
When this is turned on, any number not in your Contacts, Recents, or Siri Suggestions goes straight to voicemail without your phone even ringing. It’s bliss. But be careful. If you’re waiting for a call from a doctor’s office or a delivery driver, they’ll get sent to the voicemail shadow realm too. You’ll see the call in your Recents list, but your pocket will never vibrate.
To turn this on, go to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers. It’s a life-changer for people who get twenty robocalls a day about their car’s extended warranty.
Focus Modes and Do Not Disturb
Sometimes you don't want to decline one call; you want to decline all of them. Since iOS 15, Apple has leaned heavily into Focus Modes. When you have a Focus mode like "Do Not Disturb" or "Work" active, calls will behave based on the rules you set.
Most people don't realize that you can allow calls from "Favorites" while sending everyone else to voicemail. It creates a sort of VIP list. If you're wondering why your phone isn't ringing when people call, check that little moon icon in your Control Center. You might have accidentally left Do Not Disturb on, which effectively sends almost every call to voicemail by default.
What Happens on the Caller's End?
Let's talk about the etiquette and the "tell." When you use the double-click method to send a call to voicemail, the caller hears the ringing stop abruptly. If they were on the third ring and suddenly they’re talking to your mailbox, they know you hit the button.
If you want to be more subtle, just hit the Side button once. The phone stops making noise in your hand, but the caller hears the full
duration of the rings on their end. They'll assume you’re just away from your phone. It’s the polite way to ignore someone.
Dealing with Persistent Callers
There is always that one person who calls three times in a row. If you have a Focus mode active, Apple has a "Repeated Calls" setting. If someone calls twice within three minutes, the second call will actually break through the silence and ring. It’s designed for emergencies. If you truly want to be left alone, you have to disable that specific toggle in your Focus settings.
Real-World Troubleshooting
Occasionally, people find that their Side button doesn't decline calls. This usually happens because of a specific accessibility setting. If "Prevent Lock to End Call" is toggled on under Settings > Accessibility > Touch, your Side button won't hang up on people. This was actually added because people were accidentally hanging up on active calls while trying to lock their screens. If you want that "double-click to decline" functionality back, make sure that setting is turned off.
Actionable Steps for a Quieter Phone
If you want to master your iPhone's calling behavior right now, do these three things:
- Test the double-click: Have a friend call you while your phone is locked. Practice that double-tap on the Side button to see how fast it diverts.
- Audit your "Respond with Text": Go into your Phone settings and personalize those three messages so you don't sound like a robot when you're busy.
- Check your Silence Unknown Callers: If your voicemail is full of spam, turn this on for 24 hours and see how much your stress levels drop.
Managing your interruptions is a core part of using tech effectively. You own the phone; the phone doesn't own you. Sending a call to voicemail isn't rude—it’s a boundary. Use these tools to keep your focus where it belongs.