> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.limecall.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.limecall.com/ai-receptionist/phone-calls.md).

# Phone calls

How the assistant answers voice calls.

Open **AI Receptionist → Phone Calls**. This is the main channel for most accounts.

## Turning it on

**Answers phone calls** switches the assistant on for voice. With it off, calls routed to the AI fall through to whatever you have set as a fallback.

## Which calls reach it

The assistant does not decide which calls it gets — your numbers do. On each number under **Phone Numbers**, **Who answers your calls** decides whether that line rings a person, a team, voicemail or the AI.

Common patterns:

| Pattern                | How to set it                                                                       |
| ---------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| AI answers everything  | Set the AI as the destination for all inbound calls.                                |
| AI covers overflow     | Keep the team as the main destination; set the AI as the **When busy** destination. |
| AI covers out of hours | Use business hours so the AI is the destination outside them.                       |
| AI on one line only    | Point a single number at the AI and leave the rest as they are.                     |

See [Call forwarding & routing](/virtual-numbers/call-forwarding-and-routing.md).

## Call settings

**End-of-speech patience** decides how long the assistant waits after you stop talking before it replies. This is the setting that most affects how natural the call feels.

* Too short and it interrupts people who pause mid-sentence.
* Too long and the conversation feels sluggish.

Start at **Balanced**. Move to **Patient** if your callers are older, speak slowly, or are often reading something out — an address, a policy number. Move to **Fast** only if your calls are short and transactional.

**Respond within** sets how quickly it starts speaking once it has decided what to say.

## When the assistant is paused

**Forward to while paused** sets where calls go if you pause the assistant. Set this. A paused assistant with no forwarding destination means calls to that number go nowhere.

Pausing is useful during a change — you can edit the assistant without callers hearing a half-finished configuration.

## Call recording

Recording is set per number rather than on the assistant. Recordings appear on the call record under **Calls**, alongside the transcript.

See [Call insights & transcripts](/analytics/call-insights-and-transcripts.md).

## AI minutes

Time the assistant spends on calls is metered as AI minutes, separately from ordinary call minutes. Watch the balance under **Settings → Usage & credits**.

If you run out mid-period, the assistant stops answering — so set an alert rather than discovering it from a customer. See [AI minutes & usage](/ai-receptionist/ai-minutes-and-usage.md).

## Caller lookup

**Caller lookup** enriches the caller's record with name, company, line type and location before the assistant speaks, where that data is available. It lets the assistant greet a known caller by name.

See [Contacts](/inbox-and-leads/contacts.md).