How to Block Unknown Callers on iPhone

What You Need to Know

• There are several ways to block unknown or spam callers on your iPhone
• You can block callers under your phone settings by enabling Silence Unknown Callers and Call Blocking & Identification
• If you want a granular approach you can block individual callers in Recent Calls in the phone app
• You can also block callers directly through your carrier

Introduction

In an era where our phones are central to communication, unwanted calls can be more than just a nuisance; it can disrupt our day-to-day life. Fortunately, your iPhone comes equipped with several tools to help you manage who can contact you and under what circumstances.

Whether you’re looking to block robocalls or an unwelcome acquaintance, this guide will walk you through several strategies to ensure your peace and privacy. Let’s explore how to block unknown callers, specific contacts, manage your list of blocked callers, and utilize Do Not Disturb Focus Mode to silence all incoming calls.

Blocking Unknown Callers

One of the simplest ways to reduce interruptions is to block calls from unknown numbers—those not saved in your contacts.

Activate Silence Unknown Callers

• Open the Settings app on your iPhone
• Scroll down and select Phone
• Find the option labeled Silence Unknown Callers and turn it on.

Once this feature is enabled, calls from unknown numbers will be automatically silenced, sent to voicemail, and listed in your recent calls. This feature is particularly useful for mitigating spam and robocalls without requiring additional apps.

Blocking Individual Callers

If you have been receiving unwanted calls from a specific number that you want to block, you can do this directly from your recent calls list.

Block from Recent Calls

• Open the Phone app
• Tap on Recents at the bottom
• Find the number you wish to block, tap the info (i) icon next to it
• Scroll down and tap on Block this Caller then confirm

This method ensures that the specific caller will no longer be able to contact you via phone calls, FaceTime, or messages. They will be sent directly to voicemail when they call and will be tracked in recent calls.

Silence Junk Callers on Your iPhone

Another tool you have to block unwanted calls is to enable Silence Junk Callers in your phone configuration settings. This setting is specific to your cellular carrier. To do this:

• Open Settings
• Tap Phone
• Tap Call Blocking & Identification
• Enable Silence Junk Callers

Calls will be sent to voicemail and logged in recent calls just like the other methods we have discussed.

Block Unknown Callers With Your Carrier

One final way to block unknown callers is with your carrier. All the major carriers offer blocking services that you can configure online. To understand your options, search for your carrier name plus block unknown callers (i.e. Verizon block unknown callers). You will see what steps you need to take to block unknown callers.

Managing Your List of Blocked Callers

It’s easy to keep track of and manage your list of blocked contacts on your iPhone. You might want to review this list periodically to update it based on changing relationships or accidental additions.

Access and Manage Blocked Contacts

• Go to Settings and tap Phone
• Scroll down and select Blocked Contacts
• Here, you can see a list of all blocked numbers and contacts
• Swipe left on a number to unblock it if you’ve changed your mind

This centralized list makes it straightforward to control who is blocked from contacting you.

Using Do Not Disturb Focus Mode to Block All Callers

For those times when you need complete focus or silence, the Do Not Disturb (DND) Focus Mode can be an awesome tool. It allows you to silence calls from everyone including people who are in your contacts. You can configure specific exceptions to allow the most important people to get through to you when DND is enabled.

Set Up Do Not Disturb Focus Mode

• Open Settings and tap Focus
• Do Not Disturb
• Tap People
• Tap Allow Notifications From
• Tap the plus sign (+) to add people to the Allow list

How to Turn on Do Not Disturb

• Swipe down on the top right side of the Homescreen
• In Control Center long tap (i.e. hold) Focus
• Tap Do Not Disturb

DND will not be enabled until you turn it off. All notifications and calls will be silenced. This mode is particularly useful during meetings, while sleeping, or in moments when you need complete concentration.

Conclusion

Managing who can reach you via your iPhone can significantly enhance your daily productivity. By understanding and utilizing the blocking features provided by iOS, you can customize your phone interactions to suit your lifestyle. From silencing unknown callers to setting up complete blocking through Focus modes, your iPhone empowers you to take control of your communications. By incorporating these strategies, you can tailor your iPhone’s functionality to better fit your needs, ensuring that you only receive the calls that matter to you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Will blocked callers know they’ve been blocked?

No, iOS does not notify callers that they have been blocked. They will not be able to reach you, but they will not receive any indication of being blocked.

What happens to texts from blocked numbers?

Texts from blocked numbers will be filtered out and will not appear in your messages.

Can I block texts separately from calls?

No, when you block a number on your iPhone, it automatically blocks both calls and texts from that number.

Is there a way to temporarily block all incoming calls without activating DND?

The simplest way to block all incoming calls without using the Do Not Disturb feature is to activate Airplane Mode. However, this will also disconnect you from Wi-Fi and cellular data.