How to See Blocked Numbers on iPhone

This guide shows you where to find the list of phone numbers, contacts, and emails you have blocked on your iPhone, and how to review or remove them. You only need your iPhone with the latest iOS version installed; no other tools or accounts are required.

What You’ll Need

An iPhone running iOS 13 or later (the steps are nearly identical on older versions).
Your passcode or Face ID/Touch ID if you have not unlocked the phone recently.

Step-by-Step

Open the Settings app. Look for the gray gear icon on your home screen or in your App Library. Tap it to launch Settings.
Scroll down and tap “Phone.” This is usually near the middle of the Settings list, between “Messages” and “FaceTime.” If you use a carrier that supports Wi-Fi calling, you may also see “Phone” under a carrier section, but the main one is what you need.
Tap “Blocked Contacts.” Scroll down in the Phone settings until you see “Blocked Contacts” (it is near the bottom, above “Calls on Other Devices”). Tap it to open the full list.
Review the list. You will see every phone number, contact, and email address you have blocked. The list is in the order they were blocked, with the most recent at the top. Each entry shows the name (if it is a saved contact) or the raw number/email.
Unblock someone (optional). To remove a number from the list, tap “Edit” in the top-right corner. A red minus button will appear next to each entry. Tap the minus, then tap “Unblock” to confirm. The person can then call, text, and FaceTime you again.
Check other apps (if the list looks empty). If you blocked someone from within a specific app (like Messages or FaceTime), they still appear in the same central list. However, if you blocked an email address, it may only show under Mail settings. Go back to Settings > Mail > Blocked to see email-only blocks.

Common Mistakes

Looking in the wrong place: Some users search for “Blocked” in the Settings search bar and tap the first result, which might be “Blocked Contacts” under Phone — that is correct. But others tap “Do Not Disturb” or “Screen Time” thinking those lists are the same. They are not.
Confusing “Blocked Contacts” with “Silenced Unknown Callers”: The latter is a separate feature that sends unknown numbers straight to voicemail, but it does not block them. Your blocked list will not show those numbers.
Forgetting that blocking is not per-app: When you block a number from a call, it also blocks FaceTime and Messages. But if you block an email address in Mail, it only blocks that email, not calls or texts from that address (though most people use phone numbers).
Assuming the list is sorted alphabetically: It is not. It is sorted by the date you blocked each entry, newest first. If you are looking for a specific person, scroll through the whole list.

Tips

Use the search bar: On the Blocked Contacts screen, there is no built-in search, but you can pull down on the list to reveal a search field. Type a name or number to jump straight to it.
Block from the list directly: You can also add a new number by scrolling to the bottom of the Blocked Contacts list and tapping “Add New…” This opens your contacts so you can pick someone to block without having to go through their recent call or message.
Sync across devices: Your blocked list is tied to your Apple ID and iCloud, so it syncs across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. If you unblock on one device, it updates on all of them (as long as they are online).
Check after a restore: If you restore your iPhone from a backup, the blocked list usually comes back, but if you set up as new, you may need to re-block numbers manually.

Troubleshooting

The Blocked Contacts list is empty, but I know I blocked someone. First, make sure you are looking at the right list. Go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts. If it is empty, check Settings > Messages > Blocked Contacts (this is the same list, but sometimes the view refreshes). Also check Settings > FaceTime > Blocked Contacts. If all three are empty, you may have blocked the person from within a third-party app (like WhatsApp or Telegram) — those blocks are stored inside that app, not in the iPhone’s central list.

The list shows numbers, but I cannot find a specific contact. If you blocked a number that is not saved in your contacts, it appears as the raw number. If you later saved that number with a name, the list will still show the raw number unless you re-block it. You can unblock and re-block to update the display.

I unblocked someone, but they still cannot reach me. Unblocking takes effect immediately, but if the person is still blocked by your carrier (e.g., you used a carrier-level blocking feature), you need to contact your carrier. Also, if you have “Silence Unknown Callers” enabled, the person may still go to voicemail even though they are unblocked — that is a separate setting.

The list will not load or shows an error. This is rare. Try restarting your iPhone (press and hold the side button and either volume button, then slide to power off). If it persists, sign out of iCloud and back in (Settings > your name > Sign Out), but be aware this may affect other iCloud data. A simpler fix is to toggle Airplane Mode on and off to refresh the connection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I see the date I blocked someone?
No, the iPhone does not show the date a number was blocked. The list only shows the numbers/contacts in order, with the most recent at the top, but no timestamps.

Q: Will unblocking someone notify them?
No, there is no notification sent when you unblock or block a number. The person will simply be able to reach you again (if unblocked) without any alert.

Q: Does blocking a phone number also block iMessage and FaceTime?
Yes, when you block a phone number, it blocks calls, FaceTime, and Messages (including iMessage and SMS/MMS) from that number. However, blocking an email address only affects Mail and FaceTime (if the email is used for FaceTime), not iMessage.

Q: Can I see blocked numbers on my Mac or iPad?
Yes, the same list syncs via iCloud. On a Mac, open FaceTime or Messages, go to Preferences/Settings > Blocked. On an iPad, go to Settings > FaceTime > Blocked Contacts (or Messages > Blocked Contacts).

Q: What happens to voicemails from blocked numbers?
Blocked callers cannot leave a voicemail. Their call is disconnected immediately, and they do not have the option to leave a message. However, if you have “Silence Unknown Callers” on, those calls go to voicemail, but they are not blocked — they just ring silently.

Q: How do I block a number that is not in my contacts?
You can block any number from the Phone app’s Recents or from a message thread. Open the number’s details, tap the info (i) icon, scroll down, and tap “Block this Caller.” You can also add it manually via Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts > Add New.

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

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