How to Block Unwanted Calls and Texts on iPhone

This guide shows you how to stop unwanted calls and text messages on your iPhone, covering everything from blocking individual numbers to filtering unknown senders and using built-in spam protection. You’ll learn the exact steps for each method, along with tips to reduce future spam and what to do when a block doesn’t work as expected.

What You’ll Need

An iPhone running iOS 13 or later (steps are for the latest iOS versions)
Your Apple ID password (to manage iCloud settings if needed)
Optional: A third-party call/text filtering app from the App Store

Step-by-Step

Block a specific number from the Phone app: Open the Phone app, go to Recents, and tap the info (i) icon next to the number you want to block. Scroll down and tap “Block this Caller.” Confirm by tapping “Block Contact.” You can also do this from a contact’s page or from a message in the Messages app.
Block a specific number from the Messages app: Open the conversation with the number you want to block, tap the contact name or number at the top, then tap the info (i) icon. Scroll down and tap “Block this Caller,” then confirm.
Silence unknown callers: Go to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers, and turn on the switch. This sends calls from numbers not in your contacts, recent outgoing calls, or Siri suggestions straight to voicemail. They’ll appear in your Recents list, and you’ll get a notification if they leave a voicemail.
Filter unknown senders in Messages: Go to Settings > Messages > Unknown & Spam, and turn on “Filter Unknown Senders.” This separates messages from people not in your contacts into a separate “Unknown Senders” list, and you won’t get notifications for them.
Report spam calls and texts: For calls, when you answer and realize it’s spam, tap “Report as Junk” (if you have a third-party call blocker installed, the option may appear). For texts, you can report iMessage spam by tapping “Report Junk” under the message. For SMS, you can forward the message to 7726 (SPAM) to report it to your carrier.
Use a third-party call/text blocker: Download a reputable call blocker or spam filter app from the App Store (like Hiya, RoboKiller, or Truecaller). After installing, go to Settings > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification and enable the app. For texts, go to Settings > Messages > Unknown & Spam and enable the app under “SMS Filtering.”
Block a number from a FaceTime call: Open FaceTime, tap the info (i) icon next to the call, scroll down, and tap “Block this Caller.” This also blocks them from Phone and Messages.
Manage blocked contacts list: Go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts (or Settings > Messages > Blocked Contacts) to view and manage all numbers you’ve blocked. You can add new ones or unblock with a swipe.

Common Mistakes

Not turning on Silence Unknown Callers: Many people block individual numbers but forget the broader setting that stops most spam. Enable it for the biggest impact.
Expecting blocked calls to disappear entirely: Blocked calls don’t show up in your call log, but the caller can still leave a voicemail (it goes to a separate “Blocked Messages” folder). You won’t get a notification, but the voicemail is there.
Assuming blocking a number blocks texts too: Blocking a number from Phone or Messages does block both calls and texts from that number, but only if the block is set correctly. Double-check that you used the “Block this Caller” option, not just “Add to Contacts” or “Ignore.”
Forgetting to update your iOS: Older iOS versions may not have the latest spam filtering features. Keep your iPhone updated to get the best protection.
Not reporting spam: Reporting spam to your carrier (7726) or Apple helps improve filtering for everyone, but many people skip this step.

Tips

Use Do Not Disturb or Focus modes: For times when you really need quiet, set up a Focus mode (like Driving or Personal) that only allows calls from your favorites or everyone in your contacts.
Create a custom Focus filter: In iOS 15 and later, you can create a Focus that silences unknown callers and only shows notifications from allowed people. Go to Settings > Focus, tap the +, and customize.
Block area codes or prefixes: If you’re getting spam from a specific area code, you can’t block the whole code natively, but you can use a third-party app that allows prefix blocking.
Be careful with “Report Junk” on iMessage: If you accidentally report a legitimate message as junk, it may affect future messages from that sender. Only report when you’re sure it’s spam.
Use Siri to block a number: You can say “Hey Siri, block [contact name or number]” and Siri will do it for you, which is faster than navigating menus.

Troubleshooting

Blocked calls still ring: This can happen if the number is spoofed (the caller uses a different number than the one you blocked). Use Silence Unknown Callers to catch all unknown numbers. Also, check that the block is actually enabled by going to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts and confirming the number is listed.
Texts from blocked numbers still appear: If you have an SMS from a blocked number, it should be filtered to “Unknown Senders” if you have that enabled. If not, go to Settings > Messages > Unknown & Spam and make sure “Filter Unknown Senders” is on. Also, note that blocking a number from the Phone app should block texts too, but if you only blocked from FaceTime, it may not affect Messages.
Silence Unknown Callers isn’t working: This feature only silences calls from numbers that are not in your contacts, recent outgoing calls, or Siri suggestions. If you’ve called the spam number before, it won’t be silenced. Also, if you have a third-party call blocker, it might interfere—check its settings.
Third-party blocker not filtering: Make sure the app is properly enabled in Settings > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification (for calls) and Settings > Messages > Unknown & Spam (for texts). If it’s not listed, reinstall the app and restart your iPhone.
You can’t unblock a number: Go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts, swipe left on the number, and tap Unblock. If the number isn’t there, it might be blocked through a third-party app, so check that app’s settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When I block a number, can they still leave a voicemail?
A: Yes, they can leave a voicemail, but it goes to a separate “Blocked Messages” folder in the Voicemail tab, and you won’t get a notification.

Q: Will blocking a number also block them from FaceTime?
A: Yes, blocking a number from Phone, Messages, or FaceTime blocks them across all three services.

Q: How do I block a number that keeps calling from different numbers?
A: Use Silence Unknown Callers to send all unknown numbers to voicemail. You can also use a third-party app that identifies and blocks spam numbers in real time.

Q: Does “Report Junk” in Messages actually do anything?
A: Yes, it sends the message to Apple (for iMessage) or your carrier (for SMS) to help improve spam detection. It also deletes the message and blocks the sender.

Q: Can I block a number without them knowing?
A: Yes, blocking is silent. They won’t get a notification, but their calls will go straight to voicemail and their texts will be filtered.

Q: How do I stop spam texts from unknown numbers?
A: Turn on “Filter Unknown Senders” in Settings > Messages, and report spam texts by tapping “Report Junk” or forwarding to 7726.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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