A device and method for locking in button context based on a source contact of an electronic communication is provided. An electronic communication is received, via a communication interface, from a source contact. A controller detects that a button, of one or more buttons external to the device, has been activated, each of the one or more buttons mapped to activation of respective functions. The controller identifies a respective function mapped to the button. When the button is activated within a threshold time period after receiving the electronic communication, the controller performs the respective function using the source contact from which the electronic communication was received. When the button is activated after the threshold time period, the controller performs the respective function independent of the source contact.