How do I enable auto-reply in Focus modes other than Driving? For example if I want to create a custom Focus, there's no option for me to enable auto-reply. I.e. if I'm on vacation and just want to reply to customers that I'm away, etc.
Hi Domthompson,
Thank you for posting in Apple Support Communities. We understand you'd like to let others know what's going on when you're away and have enabled Focus. While not exactly what you're looking for, the information below may help.
"Share your Focus status
When you set up a Focus, you can turn on Share Focus Status so that apps display to people who message you that you have notifications silenced. The apps only know that you have notifications silenced. Apps don't know which Focus you have turned on, so the name is never shared. Focus status is shared in apps when you have a Focus turned on and after you give an app permission.
To turn Focus Status on:
You can learn even more about using Focus below.
Use Focus on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
Cheers!
I’ve only just seen this and haven’t read the full thread as my desire to have multiple Focus options with the reply text setting is clearly not available at present, which seems odd - why wouldn’t Apple just replicate the programming?
To solve this particular problem though would it not work to just change the text of the reply in the Driving Focus settings? In settings and having received these ‘auto replies’ it seems to me that ‘Driving’ is just a name to differentiate it from other Focus settings you may create, but the text that goes to people is only whatever is typed in the Auto Reply field.
hello! Thanks for the detailed response.
I understand what you’re saying, but what I’m hoping to achieve is a text/message back to the person with a response that I’ve crafted, which is a feature of the Driving Focus.
I want to be able to say “I am on vacation and will return all messages and calls when I return to the office on Tuesday 10/26”. Or “I’m taking a PTO day and will return your message tomorrow “.
I don’t understand why this can be done when Driving, but not an option for all other Focus types.
I would love to see this option as well.
also, I have two phones one for work and one for personal use.
I now have to share the “focus” across all devices in order for auto reply texts to work.
I would normally set an auto reply that I am “on vacation” “in a meeting” and provide alternative contact information for my clients, however, if I turn off “share focus” the auto reply will not send from my work phone.
I need a fix for this ASAP!
If it can do it for driving, I don't understand why it couldn't for any other focus. I've even tried looking in shortcuts for an automation but they only will do something when the focus is turned on or off. I'm a college student currently studying for finals and I have a "school work" focus to help limit my distractions. It would be great to have an auto-reply just to say "Hey I'm studying right now, I'll get back to you later".
Well thank you for your reply, however, I do not mind speaking to people when they telephone me. It’s texting that is driving me insane. If I use the driving focus that you suggest it wants to turn off incoming telephone calls. I see no feature in there that allows me to deal with incoming texts with an auto reply text. The auto reply text I would compose, and please don’t laugh, but I would say “I can’t read your text right now, but please don’t hesitate to give me a telephone call to let me know what’s on your mind“
This is a user to user support forum and Apple does not participate here. If you wish to provide feedback to Apple regarding a change you would like to see, a change you didn’t like, or report a bug, then use the feedback link here, Feedback - iPhone - Apple
Me too
I believe they had easier to use features like this in the past. I believe they do away with certain features that make it too easy to disengage from your screen. I believe they want you addicted to staring at your screen 24 seven and jumping every time you hear a ping. That’s just me
That's probably a good fix for some, but the problem I have with that is when in "driving" mode, it shuts off all cellular functionality practically and won't allow incoming calls. I still want to allow incoming calls and send texts which Driving mode won't let you do. It forces you to turn Driving mode off in order to do those things.
Thanks for confirming that I’m not alone in my dissatisfaction with the limited options and functionality of this “mode”. How long have “personal computers” been in existence? What’s up with failing the consumer in our desire to have the ability to personalize functions on state-of-the-art iPhones?
+1 - This is key.
I have actually received a ‘driving reply text’ to a text message - you might want to give it a try.
Me too!
need my work phone to tell peeps I am away!!
you should be able to do auto reply and any focus and pick exactly who you want the text to go to and what time do you want it set up for.
No thanks but no thanks. The devil is in the detail. I wanna text response to any incoming texts. I want phone calls to come through
Using auto-reply in Focus mode
