How to Set Up Auto-Reply to Text Messages on iPhone and Android?

Auto-replying to text messages mean setting up your phone or messaging app to automatically respond to incoming texts without requiring you to manually type a message.

Instead of leaving the sender wondering if you received their message, an auto-reply instantly lets them know you’re unable to respond at the moment. This feature is useful when you’re busy, driving, or unavailable to respond immediately.

For example, when you're driving, an auto-reply helps avoid distractions and keeps you focused on the road. For work or personal commitments, it ensures others know you're busy, reducing the pressure to respond quickly.

In addition to this, you can create personalized auto-reply message templates, especially useful for business situations. These templates can be tailored to specific conditions, ensuring that the right message is sent depending on the context.

You can set up an auto-reply text on your iPhone using its Focus mode or the Shortcuts app. Focus mode is a feature built into iOS that helps you manage notifications and set specific status alerts, including automatic replies. The Shortcuts app is available in Settings, and if not available, you can download it from the App Store.

To set up auto-reply text on your iPhone, open the Control Center, tap Focus, then go to Driving Settings and enable Auto-Reply.

• Step 1: Open the Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner.
• Step 2: Tap Focus, then select Driving and access its settings via the three dots (Ellipsis Icon).
• Step 3: Open the Auto-Reply section and choose who can receive the message (Recents, Favorites, or All Contacts).
• Step 4: Write your auto-reply message (e.g., "I’m currently unavailable. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can").
• Step 5: Choose to activate the feature automatically or manually.

To set up an auto-reply on the iPhone from the Shortcuts app, create a new automation that triggers when you get a Message. Then, create your reply message to send as the response automatically.

• Step 1: Download, install, and launch the Shortcuts app.
• Step 2: Go to Automation > New Automation and select "Message" > "Message Contains".
• Step 3: Hit the space bar under the “Only run this automation when a message contains” section.
• Step 4: Click the New Blank Automation option, search for "Wait" in Search Actions, and set a 3-4 second timer.
• Step 5: Add "Text" in Actions and input your auto-reply message (e.g., “I am currently out of the office, will reply soon”).
• Step 6: Add "Send Message", long-press on Recipients, select "Shortcut Input", and press Done.

To set up an auto-reply to text messages on Android, install a third-party app, Textline, Textedly, or SMS Auto Reply, and enable the auto-reply feature within the app. These apps also allow you to set auto-reply message templates for business, which can be tailored to specific keywords.

Textline is a reliable auto-reply text app that helps enhance business communication, providing a quick and efficient tool for marketing, customer service, and sales. It also provides a shared SMS inbox to stay organized.

Here’s how to set up an auto-reply text using Textline:

1. In your Textline inbox, go to Messaging Tools > Automations and click New Automation.
2. Choose "Build From Scratch", name it (e.g., "AUTO REPLY TEXT MESSAGE"), and select the Department (phone number).
3. Under Automation Type, select "Message Received" and set conditions to match specific keywords (e.g., "Sales").
4. Under Actions, click Add Action > Send a message and type your auto-reply message (140-character limit).
5. Click Next, review, and click Create Automation.

Textedly is an SMS marketing platform helping businesses connect with customers via bulk text messaging. It is popular as one of the best mass text messaging apps for its easy-to-use tools, including an ‘auto-reply’ feature that allows businesses to set up automatic responses.

Here’s how to set up auto-reply text message on Android with Textedly:

1. Log in to Textedly and press the App Store tab.
2. Choose Automatic Replies.
3. Drag and drop your contact list or manually upload it.
4. Write personalized messages or pick from SMS templates.
5. Choose to send the message as soon as you receive a text or schedule it for later.

The SMS Auto Reply/Autoresponder app is designed to manage communication by automatically replying to incoming texts when you are busy, away, or need a break. With customizable auto-replies, you can even write an out-of-office message for different situations like driving, sleeping, or being in a meeting.

Here is a step-by-step process to set up an auto-reply text on Android using SMS Auto Reply/Autoresponder:

1. Visit the Google Play Store and download/install the Reply/Autoresponder app.
2. Launch the application.
3. Press Add/Edit, set your reason from Busy and In a meeting, among others, and write your message in the Message section.
4. Add contacts to the Personalized List and Don’t Reply List to decide who gets the message.
5. Press the Save icon to keep your settings.

Setting up auto-replies to text messages ensures your contacts are informed when you're unavailable. Whether using iPhone's built-in feature like Focus mode or Shortcuts apps or utilizing third-party apps for Android like Textline and Textedly, you can easily send automatic responses for various situations. These apps offer canned responses, customizable messages, and scheduling, making it simple to stay responsive without constant effort.

Yes, you can set an auto-text reply on the iPhone. Either use the Focus mode or set automation via the Shortcuts app.

No, Google Voice does not offer an auto-reply text feature. You cannot set up to automatically reply to messages using Google Voice.

Yes, AT&T has blocked its text message auto-reply feature. Formerly, the carrier provider offered the auto-reply feature via its DriveMode app for Android. However, it no longer supports the application from 2020.