Does anyone know of a way to have the Messages app automatically reply to messages from others? For example, when I'm on vacation, I can set my email to send an automatic reply to people telling them I'm on vacation and that I'll get back to them by some future date, but in the meantime, if it's urgent, they can contact my business partner. I would like to have a similar automatic reply to text messages. Of course, in an ideal world, I'd like that auto-reply to only go to business contacts, but my personal contacts would still be able to send me texts without getting that auto-reply. However, that feels like I'm asking for too much. For now, I'd be happy with ANY kind of text message auto-reply!
Now, I know the Driving Focus Mode allows a customizable auto-reply, but then my phone has to be in Driving mode all the time, which is a pain when I actually want to USE the phone for other things. Every time I go on the phone to play a game or read my email, I have to answer "NO" to the "Are you driving right now?" question, and this shuts off Driving mode. UGH!! It seems like the other focus modes (Personal, Work, Do Not Disturb, etc.) should also allow auto-replies, and I have no idea why Apple is not allowing this feature. Furthermore, if they don't want to add that into the features of the Focus app, then why not at least allow third parties to create a new app which gives users the ability to auto-reply to text messages? It seems like this would be the killer feature for Focus in the future. After all, what good is Focus mode if you can't tell people why you're not answering their text messages? I know it says that I have Focus mode turned on, but (1) only other iPhone users even see that, and (2) some of my older and less tech-savvy contacts don't seem to understand what that means. This is really very frustrating!
Now, I know the Driving Focus Mode allows a customizable auto-reply, but then my phone has to be in Driving mode all the time, which is a pain when I actually want to USE the phone for other things. Every time I go on the phone to play a game or read my email, I have to answer "NO" to the "Are you driving right now?" question, and this shuts off Driving mode. UGH!! It seems like the other focus modes (Personal, Work, Do Not Disturb, etc.) should also allow auto-replies, and I have no idea why Apple is not allowing this feature. Furthermore, if they don't want to add that into the features of the Focus app, then why not at least allow third parties to create a new app which gives users the ability to auto-reply to text messages? It seems like this would be the killer feature for Focus in the future. After all, what good is Focus mode if you can't tell people why you're not answering their text messages? I know it says that I have Focus mode turned on, but (1) only other iPhone users even see that, and (2) some of my older and less tech-savvy contacts don't seem to understand what that means. This is really very frustrating!
