There's a reason why your iPhone doesn't always have the option to decline calls

If you have an Apple iPhone, you might have noticed that while sometimes, the option to decline an incoming call pops up on screen, at other times there's no option at all.

While one phone call may have the option to either answer or decline, others simply show the 'slide to answer' bar instead.

But why is that? Well, there's actually a reason behind it, and it makes so much sense.

There's also a way to work around the feature, if it's something that really bugs you.

The reason why your phone presents different options is all to do with whether it's currently locked or if it's unlocked and in use.

Have you ever wondered why sometimes you cannot decline a call? (Getty Stock Photo)

According to Supercar Blondie, this is to reduce the chances of you answering the call accidentally.

For example, it's much easier to accidentally press the answer button, than it is to slide across the answer bar.

You might not know it, but it could have saved you from pocket answering an unwanted call a fair few times.

However, if you do want to decline a call, you can simply press the lock button on your phone and it'll silence the call.

Hit it a second time, and the caller will be diverted straight to voicemail.

So while it may seem a little inconvenient, the good news is there's an easy work around.

There's an easy work around to the call feature (Getty Stock Photo)

One person wrote on Reddit: "When your iPhone is locked and a call comes in, you only have the option to 'slide to answer'. However, when the phone is unlocked, you can either accept or decline the call.

"The reason for this is, essentially, reverse butt-dialing. Apple assumed that if your phone is locked, it’s probably in your pocket or bag and you’re not really paying attention to it. If the 'accept' and 'decline' buttons were available while in lock screen mode, it would be much easier to accidentally pick up or ignore calls by hitting one of the buttons, rather than holding the button and sliding with your finger."

In other recent iPhone news, turns out that the iPhone 17 Pro Max has become the most traded-in iPhone on the market.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max sits at the top of the independent trade-in market rankings, accounting for 11.5% of all devices appearing in the top 20. The analysis is based on SellCell’s internal trade-in data and secondary market pricing trends gathered from 40 independent iPhone buyers.

So why are people parting ways with their iPhone 17 Pro Max so soon? Responses to the phone have been mixed, with some customers expressing regret after buying it, while others are still huge fans.

“I literally posted a couple days ago asking about the best way to sell my 17 Pro,” one iPhone user shared on Reddit. “This makes sense to me. Five months in, I really regret the purchase and would rather have some cash and go back to the 13 Pro, which to me is about imperceptibly different and a better color.”

However, the phone still has some fans. “I’ve been very happy with my 17 Pro Max,” another customer wrote.