# Type To Reply To A Caller on iPhone: How It Works URL: https://byshahid.com/blog/type-to-reply-to-a-caller-iphone/ App: Secret Codes: IMEI & Carrier (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/secret-codes-imei-carrier/id6807154322) Author: Muhammad Shahid Updated: 2026-11-04 > Ask an incoming caller a question in text without picking up. On an incoming call you can tap Type to Reply and type something like "Who is this? " or "Can you email me instead? ". Your iPhone speaks it to the caller, and their spoken answer comes back to you on screen as text. - **What it does:** Ask an incoming caller a question in text without picking up. - **Published for:** any iPhone - **Type:** iOS setting Ask an incoming caller a question in text without picking up. This page explains what it does, how to use it on an iPhone and which carriers it applies to. I build **Secret Codes: IMEI & Carrier**, a free iPhone app with 317 checked codes and guides, including this one. If you would rather tap than memorise, [get Secret Codes on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/secret-codes-imei-carrier/id6807154322). ## What is Type To Reply To A Caller? On an incoming call you can tap Type to Reply and type something like "Who is this?" or "Can you email me instead?". Your iPhone speaks it to the caller, and their spoken answer comes back to you on screen as text. It is a genuinely different tool from declining with a text message. The caller is still on the line, so you get an answer within seconds and can then decide to pick up. It also works when the caller is on a landline or a phone that cannot receive SMS. This pairs naturally with Call Screening. Screening handles numbers you have never saved automatically. Type to Reply is the manual version you reach for on any call you are unsure about. ## How do I do it? - Let the call ring and look at the incoming call screen. - Tap Type to Reply. - Type the question you want your iPhone to speak to the caller. - Read their reply on screen, then answer or decline. ## Which carriers does this apply to? | Published for | any iPhone | | Type | iOS setting | | Good to know | iOS 26 or later. Not present on iOS 17 or 18. | _Screenshot: The Secret Codes detail screen shows the steps, the carriers and an Open in Phone button._ ## Related iphone phone and message settings - [Remind Me To Return A Call](/blog/remind-me-to-return-a-call-iphone/) - [Contact Photo And Poster](/blog/contact-photo-and-poster-iphone/) - [Custom Respond With Text Replies](/blog/custom-respond-with-text-replies-iphone/) - [Default Calling And Call Filtering Apps](/blog/default-calling-and-call-filtering-apps-iphone/) - [Emergency Bypass For A Contact](/blog/emergency-bypass-for-a-contact-iphone/) - [Calls On Other Devices](/blog/calls-on-other-devices-iphone/) See all [iphone phone and message settings](/blog/iphone-codes/phone-settings/) or [every category of iPhone codes](/blog/iphone-codes/). ## How Secret Codes helps Secret Codes keeps this and every other entry a search away. Pick your carrier once and each entry says whether it is published for your line. You can save favourites, add a private note, and record whether a code worked on your line. **Secret Codes: IMEI & Carrier** is free on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/secret-codes-imei-carrier/id6807154322 ## FAQ ### What is Type To Reply To A Caller on iPhone? Ask an incoming caller a question in text without picking up. On an incoming call you can tap Type to Reply and type something like "Who is this? " or "Can you email me instead? ". ### What else should I know about Type To Reply To A Caller? our iPhone speaks it to the caller, and their spoken answer comes back to you on screen as text. It is a genuinely different tool from declining with a text message. The caller is still on the line, so you get an answer within seconds and can then decide to pick up. ### What are the steps for Type To Reply To A Caller? 1. Let the call ring and look at the incoming call screen. 2. Tap Type to Reply. 3. Type the question you want your iPhone to speak to the caller. 4. Read their reply on screen, then answer or decline. ### Where do I find Type To Reply To A Caller? In the Phone app on your iPhone. ### Is there a dial code for Type To Reply To A Caller? No. On iPhone this is not a dial code, so you use the steps on this page instead. ### Which carriers does Type To Reply To A Caller work on? It is published for any iPhone. iOS 26 or later. Not present on iOS 17 or 18. ### Does Type To Reply To A Caller work on Android phones too? These steps are for iPhone. Android phones have their own menus. ### Will Type To Reply To A Caller work outside the US? The iPhone steps stay the same, although some features depend on your carrier and region. ### What if Type To Reply To A Caller does not work on my iPhone? Check that it applies to your carrier first, because carriers decide which services they offer and can change them. If it should apply to your line, contact your carrier. ### What is related to Type To Reply To A Caller? Remind Me To Return A Call. Park an incoming call as a reminder instead of losing it in Recents. ### What else is in this category? Contact Photo And Poster. Control the full screen card people see when you call them. ### Can I find Type To Reply To A Caller in an app? Yes. Secret Codes, a free iPhone app, includes it with its steps and carrier details. ## Sources - [Apple Support: iPhone User Guide](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/welcome/ios)