What "answering the phone" actually means
Answering the phone means picking up or accepting an incoming call so you can talk to the person calling you. On a mobile phone, this usually means tapping the green phone icon or swiping up when the phone rings. On a landline, it means picking up the handset. The call connects when you answer, and disconnects when either person hangs up.
The term itself is straightforward, but the mechanics change depending on what device you are using and what settings you have turned on. Understanding the difference between answering, declining, and letting a call go to voicemail matters because each one sends a different signal to the person trying to reach you.
Key Takeaways
- On a smartphone, answer a call by tapping the green phone icon or swiping up when the phone rings, or by saying "answer" if you have voice control turned on.
- You can decline a call by tapping the red icon or swiping down, which sends the caller to voicemail without you speaking to them.
- If you do not answer or decline, the call goes to voicemail automatically after a set number of rings — usually four to six.
- Some phones let you answer calls hands-free through a speaker, headphones, or a car system, which is safer if you are driving.
- You can set your phone to send certain callers straight to voicemail or to block them entirely, so you never see the call come in.
How to answer on a smartphone
When your phone rings, a large screen appears showing the caller's name or number and two icons at the bottom: a green phone icon to answer and a red phone icon to decline. Tap the green phone icon with your finger. The call connects when ready and you can start talking.
If your phone is locked, you may see a different screen. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (on newer iPhones) or swipe to the right (on many Android phones) to answer. The exact motion depends on your phone model, but the phone will show you which direction to swipe.
If you have headphones plugged in or connected by Bluetooth, the call will play through the headphones by default. If you want to switch to speaker phone so others in the room can hear, look for a "Speaker" button on the call screen and tap it. To switch back to the handset, tap "Speaker" again.
How to decline or ignore a call
Tap the red phone icon to decline the call. The caller will hear that you declined and the call will not go to voicemail — they will know you saw the call and chose not to answer. This is different from letting it ring out.
If you want to ignore the call without the caller knowing you declined it, do nothing. Let the phone ring until it stops ringing on its own, usually after four to six rings. The call will then go to voicemail, and the caller will hear a recorded message asking them to leave a message. From their perspective, it looks the same as if you were busy or did not hear the phone.
You can also silence the ringer by pressing the volume down button on the side of your phone. The call will keep ringing on the screen, but you will not hear the sound. This gives you time to decide whether to answer without the noise alerting people around you.
How to answer on a landline
Pick up the handset — the part you hold to your ear and mouth. The call connects and you can talk. Hang up the handset when the conversation is over. There are no icons or taps involved.
Some landlines have a speaker button on the phone itself. Press it to put the call on speaker so you can talk without holding the handset. Press it again to switch back to the handset.
If your landline has an answering machine attached, unanswered calls will record a message after the greeting plays. If you have a digital voicemail service through your phone company instead of a machine, the call goes to voicemail the same way it does on a mobile phone.
What happens if you do not answer
If you do not answer or decline a call, it rings for a set number of times — usually four to six — and then stops. The caller hears ringing on their end the whole time. After the ringing stops, the call goes to voicemail if you have voicemail set up.
The caller can then leave a recorded message. You will see a notification that you have a new voicemail, and you can listen to it whenever you want by opening your voicemail app or dialing your voicemail number from your phone. On most phones, you can also see a transcript of the voicemail message if your phone has transcription turned on.
If you do not have voicemail set up, the caller will hear a message saying the number is not available to take messages, and the call ends. They cannot leave a message.
Answering hands-free while driving
If your phone is connected to your car's system by Bluetooth, incoming calls will play through your car speakers. You can answer by tapping a button on the steering wheel or saying a voice command like "answer call." Check your car's manual to find the exact button or voice command for your model.
If you are using a headset or earbuds connected to your phone, you can often answer by tapping the button on the headset itself or by using a voice command. This keeps your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.
Many phones also have a "Do Not Disturb While Driving" mode that automatically declines calls or sends them to voicemail when it detects that you are driving. You can turn this on in your phone's settings if you want calls to wait until you are stopped.
Blocking calls and sending them straight to voicemail
If you want a specific number to go straight to voicemail without your phone ringing, you can block that caller. On most phones, open the recent calls list, find the number you want to block, and tap "Block this Caller" or a similar option. The exact steps vary by phone model.
Once a number is blocked, calls from that number will not ring your phone at all. You will not see a notification. The caller will hear a message saying the call cannot go through, or they may be sent to voicemail depending on your phone company's system.
You can also set up a "Do Not Disturb" mode that silences all calls except from people in your contacts. This is useful if you want to avoid interruptions but still want to hear from people you know. Calls from unknown numbers will go to voicemail.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between declining a call and letting it go to voicemail?
When you tap the red icon to decline, the caller knows you saw the call and chose not to answer. When you let it ring out without answering or declining, the caller does not know whether you saw it or were just busy. Both end up in voicemail, but the caller's experience is different.
Can I answer a call if my phone is locked?
Yes. When a call comes in, the lock screen shows the caller's information and the answer and decline options. You can swipe or tap to answer without unlocking your phone first. The phone will unlock automatically once you answer.
What does it mean if someone calls me twice in a row?
Usually it means they really need to reach you and the first call did not go through, or they thought you might have missed the first call. Some people also use a double call as a signal that it is urgent. There is no standard meaning — it depends on the person calling.
Can I answer a call on my computer?
If your phone is synced to your computer through an app or service like Google Voice, Apple's Continuity, or Microsoft Teams, you may be able to answer calls on your computer. The call will still use your phone number, but the audio comes through your computer speakers and microphone. Check your phone's settings to see if this option is turned on.
Why does my phone keep ringing even after I declined a call?
If the same person calls back when ready after you decline, your phone will ring again. Some callers try multiple times if they think the first call was missed. If you want to stop them from calling, you can block the number or turn on Do Not Disturb mode.