How to send calls directly to voicemail

We've all been there—in a meeting, deep in focused work, or simply needing a break from constant interruptions when your phone rings. Sometimes you just need calls to go straight to voicemail without the awkward "decline call" dance.

In this guide, I'll walk you through exactly how to send calls directly to voicemail on any device, what options are best for the busy business owner, and show you step-by-step instructions that actually work.

Why send calls to voicemail?

Sending calls directly to voicemail isn't about avoiding people—it's about managing your availability on your terms. Here are some common scenarios where this skill comes in handy:

• During important meetings or presentations when interruptions could be costly
• When you need deep focus time for complex work
• When you're dealing with persistent sales calls but don't want to block the number entirely
• When you're in a different time zone and calls come in during your sleep hours

The good news is that modern smartphones make this process relatively simple once you know where to look.

Use your phone's built-in features to send calls straight to voicemail

Do Not Disturb: the most effective native solution

Do Not Disturb mode is built into both iPhone and Android devices and offers the cleanest way to send calls directly to voicemail without any rings or notifications.

For iPhone:

1. Open Settings and tap "Focus" (or "Do Not Disturb" on older iOS versions)
2. Toggle on "Do Not Disturb"
3. Tap "People" and select "Allow None" to ensure all calls go to voicemail
4. Under "Silence Notifications," select "Always" rather than "While iPhone is locked"

This configuration will let you send calls straight to voicemail without your phone making a sound or displaying notifications.

For Android:

1. Swipe down from the top of your screen to access the quick settings panel
2. Tap the "Do Not Disturb" icon (usually a circle with a horizontal line)
3. Tap "Calls" and select "Don't allow any calls"
4. Ensure "Messages" are also silenced if you want complete focus

The beauty of Do Not Disturb is that you can customize it extensively. For example, you can allow calls from specific contacts (like your mother or your dog) to come through while sending everyone else (like pesky unknown callers) to voicemail—perfect for when you're expecting an important call but want to minimize other interruptions.

Scheduled Do Not Disturb: automation for better work-life balance

Rather than manually enabling Do Not Disturb each time, set up a schedule:

On iPhone:

1. Go to Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb
2. Tap "Add Schedule" or "Automation"
3. Set your desired timeframe (like 9 AM to 5 PM on weekdays)

On Android:

1. Go to Settings > Sound & vibration > Do Not Disturb
2. Tap "Schedules"
3. Create a new schedule with your preferred times

I personally use this feature to automatically send calls to voicemail during my deep work sessions (10 AM to noon) and after 8 PM when I'm spending time with family or sleeping through the night. This simple automation has helped me stay focused, and reduce stress and distractions.

Can you send only specific calls to voicemail?

Sometimes you don't want to send all calls to voicemail—just calls from specific people. Here’s how you can send specific calls to voicemail:

Contact-specific filtering

On iPhone:

1. Open Contacts and select the person you want to send to voicemail
2. Tap "Edit" and scroll down to "Ringtone"
3. Select “Haptics”
4. Select "None" for the ringtone
5. Their calls will still appear but won't make any sound

On Android:

1. Open Contacts and select the contact
2. Tap the three dots > "Route to voicemail"
3. Calls from this contact will now go directly to voicemail

This approach is more subtle than blocking, as the person can still leave messages, but you won't be interrupted.

What the smart business owner does to send calls to voicemail 

Built-in features work well for basic needs, but third-party apps offer more options that make it easier for entrepreneurs to run their businesses. 

Google Voice going to voicemail 

Google Voice creates a separate phone number that forwards to your actual number, giving you incredible control:

1. Sign up for Google Voice and get a free number
2. Configure which calls ring through and which go straight to voicemail
3. Receive voicemail transcriptions via email
4. Set up custom greetings for different callers or times of day

I particularly like that Google Voice transcribes voicemails to text, making it much faster to process messages without listening to each one.

Virtual receptionist services: the professional solution for small business

For small business owners or professionals, there’s a better option to manage and send calls to voicemail, and that’s virtual receptionists.

When it comes to running any type of service-based business—whether you’re a flooring contractor or vacation rental company—letting a call go directly to voicemail might mean losing business. 

That’s why many small businesses get a virtual receptionist or hire an answering service. You can either let them take all of your calls, or just the ones that you send to business voicemail. Answering services often have 24/7 availability, so you can capture callers who phone in after-hours and on weekends when you’re enjoying deserved time off.

If you’re a business owner that’s drowning under a high volume of calls or missing them, consider hiring a virtual receptionist service. The ROI might just be worth it.

Upfirst’s voicemail assistant: like having a virtual receptionist, but affordable

Although having a virtual receptionist is much more affordable than hiring someone in-house and full-time, some business owners still can’t accept the cost that comes with an answering service (often at least a couple hundred dollars a month).

There are other even more affordable options out there to send calls to voicemail, and that’s with Upfirst’s voicemail assistant. It’s almost the same as having a 24/7 virtual receptionist, except it’s AI.

When you send calls straight to voicemail, Upfirst’s AI voice agent picks up the call for you, and through natural conversation, starts taking messages, collecting lead information, setting appointments, and even filtering out annoying spam calls so you aren’t bothered by them. 

The process works like this: you send calls to voicemail, forward them to Upfirst, and the AI receptionist answers with your business name, collects information, and sends you detailed summaries via email. This way, no call goes unanswered, but you control when you deal with them.

Next steps for a peaceful inbox

Sending calls directly to voicemail isn't about avoiding communication—it's about managing it on your terms. Whether you're using your phone's built-in features, third-party apps, or a service like Upfirst, taking control of when and how you handle calls can really improve your productivity and reduce stress.

As a business owner, the most effective way to send calls to voicemail is one that lets you keep track of the actual important ones and be less bothered by the ones that don’t matter. Also, always give clear directions in how people can reach you, so that everyone benefits from more efficient interactions.

Try Upfirst’s voicemail assistant for yourself, for free

It’s free to make an account with Upfirst and try for 14 days. See for yourself how business owners are managing their calls and answering every customer, even when they send calls straight to voicemail. Try it for free today!