How do I turn off the feature where phone answers incoming call when handset is picked up, automatically?

It seems that you're sharing your home phone line with your Lexmark fax machine. You can adjust the "pick-up" ring from the printer operator panel by pressing the Setup button > Fax Setup > Ringing and Answering > Pick Up On > select your preferred number of rings before the fax answers.
Please note:
If you have an answering machine connected to the same line as the fax, set the answering machine to answer incoming calls before the printer does. Increase the number of rings by a factor of 3 over the answering machine. For example, if the answering machine is set to pick up on 4 rings, set the printer to pick up on 7 rings.

If you have a voicemail feature in the same line as the fax, you may subscribe from your phone service provider for a distinctive ring pattern feature. You can program your printer to have a distinctive ring pattern and phone number for incoming faxes.

Should you still need assistance, please leave a comment to my response and I'll get back to you. Should this resolves your problem, your rating will be greatly appreciated.

There are 2 things that would prevent you from being able to answer a ringing phone by picking up the handset. Your phone has to be ringing, and you need to set preferred line ringing on incoming calls.

The second part is easy. Press PROGRAM 99 and dial 22 STORE on your phone. Now when a call rings on your phone you can pick it up. If you can't, then your phone is not ringing.

Ringing is set in system programming.

Carl

The answer mode determines whether the HP Fax answers incoming calls or not.

Different answer modes are :

* Fax

The HP Fax will automatically answer all incoming calls using the Rings to Answer setting. This is the default setting.

* FaxTel (unit with handset model only)

The HP Fax automatically answers all incoming calls using the Rings to Answer setting. If the call is a fax call, the HP Fax will receive the fax. If the call is a voice call, the HP Fax will create a special ring to indicate it is a voice call. The incoming voice call will need to be answered using the attached handset.

NOTE: If the HP Fax determines the call is a voice call, only the HP Fax will ring with the special ring tone. The other phones on the same phone line will not ring at all. You will not be able to pick up the voice call using the other phones.

* Tel

The HP Fax will not automatically answer calls. Faxes will need to be received manually.

* AnswerMachine

The HP Fax will monitor the line when an incoming call is answered by a person or by the answering machine. If the HP Fax detects fax tones on the line, it will receive the fax.

It means that your fax machine is "answering" the incoming call before you pick up the handset. Usually, the factory setting on the fax machine picks up after two incoming rings. There are three ways you can address this issue: 1.) You can either change the number of rings to, say, five incoming rings to give you enough time to answer the phone before the fax machine picks up, or 2,) you can find out if your fax machine has a feature that allows for the voice hook "click over" that will allow you to override the fax when you pick up your handset, or 3.) turn your fax machine off until you need to send a fax.

If you want to investigate number 2.), then you'll need your operator's manual.

Good luck.

In most handsets in the phone settings menu u have an option called automatic answer.Once the option is enabled u would b able to answer calls automatically

Receive Mode Settings Select from the following receive mode options to suit your needs. Once you've decided on which receive mode to use, follow the below instructions to set the receive mode using the operation panel. Receive Mode Setting

1. Press the <FAX> button to enter Fax mode.
   
2. Press <Menu>.
   
3. Press the right or left arrow button to select [Receive mode settings], then press the <OK> button.
   
4. Press the up or down arrow to select the receive mode that best suits your needs, then press <OK>.
   
   

Types of receive mode
Select the receive mode according to your needs.
Receive mode
Purpose
FAX/TEL AUTO SW When you want to receive faxes automatically as well as voice calls. FAX ONLY MODE When you want to receive only faxes automatically with your machine, or have a dedicated telephone line for FAX use only. DRPD When you have subscribed to a DRPD service with your telephone company. MANUAL MODE When you receive mainly voice calls and sometimes faxes, or want to receive faxes manually. ANS.MACHINE MODE When you want to receive voice messages on your answering machine and receive faxes automatically. FAX/TEL auto switch
FAX :
The machine does not ring but will receive the fax automatically. Voice call :
The phone attached to the machine will ring. Pick up the handset to answer the call. Note:

• Ring start timing and Telephone ring length can be specified in FAX/TEL auto switch in the Receive mode settings.
  
• If you want the telephone to ring when it receives a fax, connect a telephone to your machine and enable the Incoming ring settings in RX settings.
  
• The phone attached to the machine may not ring depending on the telephone type you are using.

FAX only
FAX * :
The telephone does not ring. The machine will receive the fax automatically. Voice call :
You will not be able to answer the call. * If you want the telephone to ring, connect the telephone to your machine and enable the Incoming ring settings in RX settings menu.


DRPD
FAX :
Your telephone line will ring according to the ring pattern you have chosen and receive the fax automatically. Voice call :
Your telephone line will ring according to the ring pattern you have chosen. Pick up the handset to answer the call. Note: Specify the FAX pattern in the DRPD: Set FAX ring pat. in RX settings menu.

Manual RX
FAX :
The telephone attached to the machine will ring. Pick up the handset and if you hear a beep tone, press the <Color> or <Black> button on the machine to receive the fax. Voice call :
The telephone attached to the machine will ring. Pick up the handset to answer the call. Note: If you are far from your machine, you can use the remote receiving function to receive faxes. Pick up the handset of the telephone connected to the machine and press 25 (the remote receiving ID).

Ans. machine connect
FAX :
First the answering machine connected to your machine will respond to an incoming call, and then the machine will receive faxes automatically. Voice call :
The answering machine connected to your machine will respond to an incoming call. Note:

• Set the answering machine to answer on the first or second ring.
  
• The entire message should be no longer than 15
  

if your phone had set for ringging assignment, u no need to press any key to answer the call.
check the indicator light,
if green light turn on, u can direct answer the call
if red light turn on, u ned to press the line to answer the call
kindly ask the phone provider the set yr extention for incoming ring assignment

This sounds like a programming issue on this telephone. There are 2 areas in programming that would cause this. If you have recently had a technician out to do some programming then it is possible that he made a mistake and needs to be called back to correct his mistake.

go to programming section 5
You want Automatic Line Selection

Press feature00
left intercom button press twice (system program)
press right intercom once (central tel program)
enter # of extension to be programmed (intercom #)
press **
press line buttons in desired order line1 line 2 etc and
end with left intercom then press**
enter feature 00 to exit programming
Dave