Learning how to block a number on iPhone is nearly essential these days, as telemarketers and spam callers will stop at nothing to bombard with constant ringing on a daily basis.
There are plenty of reasons to avoid getting phone calls from unknown numbers – from stopping irritating robocalls to keeping your personal information safe from strangers. Fortunately, your iPhone can silence unknown callers, and there are numerous third-party apps that will automatically block spam calls.
Looking to stop annoying spam calls for good? You’ll want to know how to block a number on iPhone.
How to block a number on your iPhone
The simplest way to block a number on iPhone is to use Apple’s Silence Unkown Callers tool, but there are several other ways to permanently block spam phone calls as well. For example, you can use a third-party app that will detect and block spam calls, or you can simply block the number directly.
Turn on Silence Unknown Callers
- On your iPhone, go to Settings.
- Scroll down and tap on Phone.
- Navigate to Silence Unkown Callers.
- Toggle the switch to turn it on.
Using this method will silence any phone numbers that don’t appear in your contact list and haven’t contacted you before. When received, incoming calls will be silenced and sent to your voicemail instead. They will also appear in your iPhone’s recent call list so you can check the number of who is calling.
It’s important to note that when making emergency calls, Silence Unknown Callers will be disabled for 24 hours so people can contact you. What’s more, people you’ve previously texted using their number or a person who has shared their number via email will still be able to contact you.
Use a third-party app
There are several apps on the Apple App Store that will be able to block spam call IDs, stop robocalls and even let you see who’s calling to determine if it’s a spam call or not. A few notable picks include TrueCaller, RoboKiller and Hiya. However, some of the best antivirus software for iPhone provides spam blocking, such as Malwarebytes Mobile Security.
To turn on the app’s function, follow the steps below:
- On your iPhone, go to the App Store and download your chosen app to block calls.
- Go to Settings.
- Scroll down and tap on Phone.
- Select Call Blocking & Identification.
- Toggle the switches to turn on the apps.
When receiving a call, your iPhone will compare the number to the list of phone numbers the third-party app has identified. If detected, your iPhone will show if the phone number is a spam call.
Block a number manually
If a caller you don’t trust keeps ringing you or you know of a phone number you don’t want to hear from, you can also block the number manually. These phone numbers will then appear under Blocked Contacts.
- On your iPhone, head to the Phone app.
- Tap Recents.
- Select the Info “i” button next to the phone number or contact you wish to block.
- Tap Block this Caller.
Get rid of spam messages
Spam is one of the many ways hackers can sneakily steal your personal data or banking information, and they don’t just operate through phone calls. Whether it’s through emails or text messages, spammers can send a malicious link or attachment that can lead to you mistakenly downloading malware, ransomware, adware and more.
Emails are one of the most-used forms of sending endless amounts of spam. The good news is there are plenty of ways to block spam emails, too.
