How to Unblock a Number on iPhone

This guide shows you how to unblock a phone number, contact, or email address on your iPhone. Once unblocked, that person can call, text, and FaceTime you again, and you’ll see their messages in your usual apps. You don’t need any special tools—just your iPhone and the Settings app.

What You’ll Need

• Your iPhone with iOS 14 or later (the steps are nearly identical on older versions).
• If you want to unblock a specific contact, know their name or phone number. If you don’t have it saved, you can still unblock the number from the list.

Step-by-Step

1. Open the Settings app. It’s the gray gear icon on your home screen.
2. Scroll down and tap “Phone.” This is usually near the top of the third group of settings.
3. Tap “Blocked Contacts.” You’ll see this option about halfway down the Phone settings page, under the “Calls” section.
4. Review the list. You’ll see every number, contact, and email address you’ve blocked. The list is in the order you blocked them, with the most recent at the top.
5. Find the number you want to unblock. You can scroll through the list, or use the search bar at the top if you have many blocked entries.
6. Swipe left on the entry. A red “Unblock” button will appear on the right side of the row.
7. Tap “Unblock.” The entry will disappear from the list immediately. That’s it—the number is now unblocked.

If you prefer, you can also unblock from the Phone app directly:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap Recents at the bottom.
3. Tap the “i” (info) icon next to the number you want to unblock.
4. Scroll down and tap “Unblock this Caller.”

Both methods do exactly the same thing—use whichever is faster for you.

Common Mistakes

• Blocking from the wrong app: If you blocked someone from FaceTime or Messages, they still appear in the Phone app’s blocked list. You must unblock them from Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts to fully remove the block across all apps.
• Confusing “Silence Unknown Callers” with blocking: If you have “Silence Unknown Callers” turned on (Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers), calls from numbers not in your contacts go straight to voicemail. That’s not the same as being blocked—the person isn’t on your blocked list, so unblocking won’t change this behavior.
• Forgetting to check both numbers: If someone has multiple numbers (home, mobile, work), you may have blocked only one. Check the entire blocked list to make sure you’ve removed every entry for that person.
• Assuming unblocking restores old messages: Unblocking does not bring back messages or calls that were silenced while the number was blocked. You’ll only see new activity after unblocking.

Tips

• Unblock from a conversation: If you have a Messages thread with the blocked person, open it and tap the name at the top, then tap “Info” and choose “Unblock this Caller.” It’s a shortcut if you’re already in the conversation.
• Check FaceTime too: Blocking from FaceTime also adds the person to the Phone blocked list, but you can unblock from FaceTime settings as well: Settings > FaceTime > Blocked Contacts.
• Use the search bar: If you have dozens of blocked numbers, the search bar at the top of the Blocked Contacts list saves a lot of scrolling.
• Remember the block is per-device: The block list syncs across your Apple devices using the same Apple ID, so unblocking on your iPhone also unblocks on your iPad and Mac.

Troubleshooting

The person still can’t reach me after unblocking. First, confirm the number is actually gone from Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts. If it’s still there, you may have blocked a different variant of the number (e.g., with or without the country code). Try adding the number to your contacts with the full international format, then unblock that entry. Also, check if you’ve enabled “Silence Unknown Callers”—that will still send calls to voicemail even for unblocked numbers that aren’t in your contacts.

I can’t find the Blocked Contacts option. This setting is only available on iPhone. If you’re using an iPad or iPod touch, go to Settings > FaceTime > Blocked Contacts instead. On iPhone, make sure you’re looking in Settings > Phone, not Settings > Messages.

The Unblock button doesn’t appear when I swipe. Swipe from the right edge of the row toward the left, not from the center. If that doesn’t work, try tapping the entry to open its details, then look for an “Unblock” button at the bottom of that screen.

I unblocked the number, but old messages are gone. This is normal. Unblocking doesn’t recover messages or calls that were silenced during the block. You’ll only see new activity going forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will unblocking notify the person?

No. The person won’t get any notification that you’ve unblocked them. They’ll simply be able to call, text, and FaceTime you again as if nothing happened.

Does unblocking delete the call history or messages?

No. Unblocking doesn’t delete anything. Your call history and message threads remain exactly as they were, including any messages they sent while blocked (those will appear in the thread, but you won’t have been notified).

Can I unblock a number that’s not saved in my contacts?

Yes. The Blocked Contacts list shows the raw number, email, or contact name. You can swipe left on any entry, even if it’s not in your address book.

What if I blocked someone on WhatsApp or another app?

Blocking in third-party apps is separate from the iPhone’s built-in block list. You’ll need to unblock them within that app’s settings (e.g., WhatsApp > Settings > Privacy > Blocked).

How do I block a number again after unblocking?

Go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts, tap “Add New…” at the bottom, and choose the contact or enter the number manually. You can also block from a recent call by tapping the “i” icon and selecting “Block this Caller.”

Does unblocking work the same on all iPhone models?

Yes, the process is identical across all iPhone models running iOS 14 or later. Older iOS versions have the same settings, just with a slightly different layout.

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