A quick response is a short SMS that you can send when rejecting a call on your Android smartphone, and customizing them can save you time. The default quick responses offered by Android let people know you can't answer right now and how to contact you next. You can customize these quick decline messages as you like, to make them more useful for you. This tutorial illustrates how to use, view, and edit the quick response text messages available in Android:

NOTE: For this tutorial, we used an ASUS ZenFone Max Pro device running Android 9 Pie. The procedures are similar on all Android-powered devices, so you should be good to go even if you have a smartphone from Samsung, Huawei, OnePlus, or some other manufacturer. If you do not know your Android version, read How to check the Android version on your smartphone or tablet.

How to use quick responses on Android smartphones

When someone calls you on your Android smartphone, you see the incoming call screen. If you want to reject the call and send a quick response through an SMS, tap on Reply.

By default, you get four quick response text messages samples. Tap on the response you want to send:

• Can't talk now. What's up?
• I'll call you right back.
• I'll call you later.
• Can't talk now. Call me later?

NOTE: Depending on your smartphone, the quick response text message samples might be different.

You also have the option to write a custom message, if you have the time. To do that, tap on "Write your own…". On the next screen, type in your message and tap "Send."

TIP: If your smartphone is already unlocked, you might get the incoming call alert at the top of your screen.

To get to the incoming call screen and access the option to send a quick response message, tap on the area displaying the caller's name.

How to change the default quick responses in Android

While sending a quick response to someone when you can't answer their call is useful, the default quick responses on Android are quite generic. That is why we'd rather create our own. To customize the quick decline messages, first open the Phone app by tapping its icon on the Home screen or on the All Apps screen.

In the Phone app, tap the three dots button from the upper-right corner of the screen.

This reveals a menu with a couple of options. Tap on Settings.

In the list of settings, tap Quick responses.

On the "Edit quick responses" screen, you should see the four default quick response text message samples available in Android.

You can customize any of them by tapping on them.

When you tap on a quick response, you can edit it, changing its text to anything you wish. Insert a text that comes in handy more than once. Maybe someone keeps calling you, but you don't want to hear it and only have one thing to say. When you are done customizing a message, tap OK.

Your message should now be displayed in the list, replacing the one you chose to edit. When you are done customizing your quick responses as needed, close the Phone app.

Did you add any noteworthy quick responses?

Now you know how to add your own quick responses on your Android smartphone. If someone is indeed pestering you, keep in mind that you can also block their calls and messages. Before you close this page, please let us know what new quick responses did you add? Anything funny or useful that you wouldn't mind sharing? Let us know in a comment.