How to Block Callers on Your iPhone in 2 Easy Steps!

The estimated reading time for this post is 3 minutes

Q. I’ve been getting annoying calls from a certain someone and a friend of mine told me I could block callers on my iPhone. I forget how to do it, I should have been paying attention when she told me how to do it.

Can you write an article about how to block a caller on an iPhone? The sooner the better, please!

A. Sure, blocking a number on your iPhone is easy and free. You can block calls from a number whether or not they’re in your Contacts. By blocking callers you can avoid annoying people bothering you with phone calls, FaceTime video calls and text messages.

Blocking a Number

➪ When you block a number, you block phone calls, FaceTime calls and text messages from that number.

To block a number in your Contacts:

• Open the Phone app
• Tap Contacts at the bottom of the screen
• Find the listing you want to block in your Contacts
• Scroll to the bottom of the Listing
• Tap “Block this Caller”
• You’ll see a confirmation screen. Tap Block Contact to confirm.

Note that if you use your Contacts app you won’t see an option to block a caller.

How to block a Recent Caller:

You can block a recent caller even if the number isn’t in your Contacts list.

• Open the Phone app
• Tap Recent at the bottom of the screen
• Find the number you want to block
• Tap the i with a circle around it
• Scroll down to the bottom of the screen
• Tap “Block this Caller”
• You’ll see a confirmation screen. Tap “Block Contact” to confirm.

How to Block a Number from Settings

You can also block a number from Settings:

• Go to Settings => Phone
• Under “Calls” tap “Blocked”
• Tap “Add New”
• Search for the Contact you wish to block

How to Block a Number from Your Messages App

If someone you want to block has sent you a text message, you can block that number directly from your Messages app.

• Open the Messages app
• Click on the message from the number you want to block
• Tap “Contact” in the upper right corner of the screen
• Tap the i with a circle around it under “Done”

• Scroll down to the bottom of the screen
• Tap “Block this Caller”
• You’ll see a confirmation screen. Tap “Block Contact” to confirm.

How to See Your List of Blocked Callers

You can easily check to see which callers you have blocked.

• Go to Settings => Phone
• Under “Calls” tap “Blocked”

You’ll see a list of all of the numbers you have blocked.

How to Unblock a Number

Blocking isn’t permanent, you can unblock someone if circumstances change and the person becomes, well, less annoying and more desirable. Hey, it happens.

Unblock in Settings

The easiest way to unblock a number is to use the Settings app.

• Go to Settings => Phone
• Under “Calls” tap “Blocked”
• Tap Edit in the upper right corner of the screen
• Tap the red circle to the left of the number you want to unblock.
• Confirm by tapping the red Unblock button to the right of the number you want to unblock.

You will return to the Blocked screen to see that the number is no longer listed as a blocked number.

Unblock in the Phone App

If the person you have blocked is listed in Contacts, you can unblock the caller through the Phone app.

• Open the Phone app
• Tap Contacts at the bottom of the screen
• Find the listing you want to block in your Contacts
• Scroll to the bottom of the Listing
• Tap “Unblock this Caller”

Your Thoughts

Have you ever wanted to block a caller? Have you ever changed your mind and unblocked someone?

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Carolyn is away from the Internet so you don’t need to block any calls from her. She will return on August 25 to respond to comments.