How to Unblock on iPhone: Contacts & Calls

This guide shows you how to unblock a phone number, contact, or email address that you previously blocked on your iPhone. You’ll be able to receive calls, messages, and FaceTime again from that person. You only need your iPhone with the latest iOS version installed.

What You’ll Need

• Your iPhone with iOS 14 or later (the steps are similar on older versions).
• The passcode or Face ID/Touch ID to unlock your device.
• If you blocked someone in a third-party app (like WhatsApp), you may need to unblock them within that app as well.

Step-by-Step

1. Open the Settings app. Locate the gray gear icon on your home screen and tap it.
2. Scroll down and tap “Phone.” This is where call-related settings are stored. If you want to unblock someone for FaceTime or Messages only, you can jump to step 5, but checking here first is easiest.
3. Tap “Blocked Contacts.” You’ll see a list of every number and contact you’ve blocked for calls, messages, and FaceTime.
4. Find the person you want to unblock. Scroll through the list. You can also swipe down to search by name or number.
5. Swipe left on the contact’s name. A red “Unblock” button will appear. Tap it. The contact moves out of the blocked list immediately.
6. Alternatively, tap “Edit” in the top-right corner. A red minus sign appears next to each entry. Tap the minus sign, then tap “Unblock.” This is helpful if you want to remove several people at once.
7. Verify the unblock. The contact should no longer appear in the “Blocked Contacts” list. You can now call, text, or FaceTime them, and they can reach you.

If you blocked someone from within the Messages app or FaceTime app specifically, the same “Blocked Contacts” list in Settings covers all of them. Unblocking in one place removes the block everywhere.

Common Mistakes

• Blocking in a third-party app. Unblocking in iPhone Settings does not unblock someone in WhatsApp, Telegram, or other messaging apps. You must also remove the block inside each app’s privacy or block settings.
• Confusing “Silence Unknown Callers” with a block. If calls from unknown numbers go straight to voicemail, that’s a separate setting under Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers. Unblocking a specific number won’t change that behavior.
• Forgetting to check “Do Not Disturb” or Focus modes. If you still don’t receive calls or notifications after unblocking, check that a Focus mode isn’t silencing the person. Focus modes are not the same as blocking.
• Only unblocking one direction. If you blocked someone, then they also blocked you, unblocking on your side won’t let their calls through until they unblock you too.

Tips

• Use the search bar. In the “Blocked Contacts” list, pull down to reveal a search field. Type the name or number to find it quickly, especially if the list is long.
• Unblock from a conversation. Open the Messages app, tap the conversation with the blocked person, tap their name at the top, then tap “Info.” Scroll down and tap “Unblock this Caller.” This is faster if you’re already in the chat.
• Check all your devices. The block list syncs across your Apple devices using the same Apple ID. Unblocking on your iPhone also unblocks on your iPad and Mac.
• After unblocking, test with a call or message. Ask the person to send a test message or call to confirm everything works.

Troubleshooting

You unblocked someone but still don’t get their calls. First, check that the number isn’t blocked in a third-party app. Then, check your Focus modes (Settings > Focus) to see if a schedule is silencing notifications. Also, verify that the person isn’t blocked on your carrier level—contact your carrier if you suspect that.

The “Unblock” button is grayed out. This can happen if the contact is managed by an Exchange or corporate profile. In that case, you may need to ask your IT administrator to unblock the number from the server side.

You can’t find the person in the blocked list. Make sure you’re looking at the right list. If you blocked them in FaceTime only, the list is still under Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts (it’s shared). If you blocked them in a third-party app, look in that app’s settings.

The person still appears as blocked after you unblocked. Try restarting your iPhone. If that doesn’t help, go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts, pull down to refresh, and confirm the entry is gone. If it reappears, you may have multiple entries for the same person (e.g., a mobile number and a work number). Remove each one.

You want to unblock an email address. Email blocking is handled separately. In the Mail app, go to Mail > Preferences (on Mac) or Settings > Mail > Blocked on iPhone. Remove the email address from that list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will unblocking someone notify them?
A: No. There is no notification sent when you unblock a contact. They will simply be able to reach you again.

Q: Does unblocking delete my message history with that person?
A: No. Your existing message threads remain intact. You’ll see them as normal after unblocking.

Q: Can I unblock a number that isn’t saved in my contacts?
A: Yes. The blocked list shows numbers even if they aren’t in your contacts. Swipe left on the number to unblock it.

Q: What if I blocked someone on FaceTime but not on calls?
A: The block list is shared across Phone, Messages, and FaceTime. Unblocking in Settings removes the block for all three.

Q: How do I block someone again after unblocking?
A: Go to the person’s contact card, scroll to the bottom, and tap “Block this Caller.” Or add them back to the blocked list in Settings.

Q: Does unblocking work immediately?
A: Yes, the change is instant. You can call or text them right away, and they can reach you.

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