How to Block a Number on Your iPhone
Scam calls. Nuisance calls. Silent calls. Here is how to stop them.
If your phone rings several times a day from numbers you do not recognise, you are not alone.
Scam calls and nuisance calls are more common than ever. And while you cannot stop every one of them, you can stop the ones that keep coming back.
Here is how to block a number on your iPhone — and a few other things worth knowing.
How to block a number from your recent calls
This is the quickest way. If the number has called you before it will be in your recent calls list.
Open the Phone app → Recents → tap the i next to the number → scroll down → tap Block this Caller → confirm
That number will never be able to call, text or FaceTime you again.
Tip: You will not get any notification when a blocked number tries to contact you. They are simply ignored.
How to block a number from a text message
If you have received a scam or nuisance text, you can block the number directly from the message.
Open the Messages app → open the conversation → tap the number or name at the top → scroll down → tap Block this Caller → confirm
How to block a number you have not been contacted by yet
If you know a number you want to block — maybe someone has given it to you or you have seen it online — you can add it manually.
Settings → Phone → Blocked Contacts → Add New → type or search the number
How to see and manage your blocked numbers
You can see every number you have blocked and remove any of them at any time.
Settings → Phone → Blocked Contacts
Tip: Removing a number from this list means they can contact you again. Only do this if you are sure.
What about unknown numbers?
If you are getting calls from lots of different unknown numbers — which is common with automated scam calls — blocking them one by one will not solve the problem.
iPhone has a setting that sends all unknown callers straight to voicemail. Saved numbers still ring through as normal.
Settings → Phone → Silence Unknown Callers → turn it on
If it is important, they will leave a message. If it is a scam, they will not.
Tip: This is one of the most useful settings on your iPhone for anyone who gets a lot of nuisance calls. Worth switching on today.
What about scam texts?
As well as blocking the number, you can report scam texts directly to your network by forwarding them to 7726. It is free and helps stop others being targeted.
Not sure how to get started?
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