Block a caller in three steps

To block a caller on iPhone, open the Phone app, find the number or contact you want to block, tap the information icon (the small circle with an "i"), scroll down, and tap "Block this Caller." The person will no longer be able to reach you by phone call or FaceTime, and their messages will go to a separate folder you can ignore.

If you are already on a call with someone you want to block, you can end the call and block them immediately without leaving the Phone app. If the number is saved in your contacts, blocking works the same way — the contact stays in your phone, but calls and messages from that person stop coming through to your main inbox.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocked callers cannot reach you by phone, FaceTime, or iMessage, and their messages appear in a separate folder instead of your main inbox.
  • You can block a number directly from a recent call, from your contacts list, or from a message thread without deleting the contact.
  • Blocking someone does not notify them, but they may figure it out if calls go straight to voicemail every time.
  • You can unblock a caller at any time by going to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts and swiping left on the name.

Block a number from your recent calls

The fastest way to block a caller is from the list of recent calls. Open the Phone app and tap the "Recents" tab at the bottom of the screen. Find the number or contact name you want to block and tap the information icon — a small circle with an "i" — next to it.

Scroll down to the bottom of the information screen. You will see a red button that says "Block this Caller." Tap it, and a confirmation message will appear asking if you are sure. Tap "Block Contact" to confirm. The number is now blocked, and you will not receive calls or FaceTime requests from that person.

Block a number from your contacts

If the person is already saved in your contacts, you can block them from the Contacts app instead. Open Contacts, find the person's name, and tap it to open their full contact card. Tap "Edit" in the top right corner, then scroll down and tap "Block this Caller" in red at the bottom.

Blocking a contact does not delete them from your phone — their name and number stay in Contacts, but calls and messages from them will be blocked. This is useful if you want to keep the contact information but do not want to hear from that person right now.

Block a number from a text message

You can also block a caller from a text message thread. Open the Messages app, find the conversation with the person you want to block, and swipe left on the thread. A red "Block" button will appear. Tap it to block that number from calling or messaging you.

If you want more options, tap "Edit" instead of swiping, then tap the conversation and select "Block" from the menu that appears. Either way, the person is blocked immediately, and their future messages will go to a separate folder.

What happens when you block someone

When you block a caller, they cannot reach you by phone call, FaceTime, or iMessage. Calls from a blocked number will go straight to voicemail, but the blocked person will not hear a message saying they are blocked — the call will simply ring and then go to voicemail as if you did not answer.

Text messages from a blocked contact will not appear in your main Messages inbox. Instead, they go to a separate folder. To see blocked messages, open Messages, tap "Edit" in the top left, and look for a "Blocked" section. You can read messages from blocked contacts if you want to, but you will not be notified when they arrive.

Blocking someone does not send them a notification, but they may realize they are blocked if their calls always go to voicemail and their messages never get a response. There is no way for them to know for certain from their phone that you blocked them.

Unblock a caller if you change your mind

If you want to unblock someone, go to Settings on your home screen and tap "Phone." Scroll down and tap "Blocked Contacts." You will see a list of every number you have blocked. Find the person you want to unblock and swipe left on their name. A red "Unblock" button will appear — tap it to remove them from your blocked list.

Once you unblock someone, they can call and message you normally again. You will receive their calls and see their messages in your main inbox. Unblocking does not notify the other person, so they will not know you have unblocked them unless you tell them.

Block unknown callers and spam

If you are getting calls from numbers you do not recognize, iPhone has a built-in filter for spam and unknown callers. Go to Settings > Phone and toggle on "Silence Unknown Callers." Calls from numbers not in your contacts will go straight to voicemail, and you will not see a notification.

You can also report a number as spam or junk before blocking it. When you see a call or message from a suspicious number, tap the information icon, scroll down, and tap "Block this Caller" and then "Report as Spam" if that option appears. This helps Apple identify spam patterns and protect other users.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a blocked caller tell they are blocked?

No notification is sent to a blocked person, but they may suspect it if their calls always go to voicemail and messages never get responses. There is no way for them to confirm from their phone that you blocked them.

Will a blocked caller still see my voicemail greeting?

Yes. Blocked callers can still reach your voicemail, and they will hear your greeting before leaving a message. Their voicemail will appear in a separate folder that you can check or ignore.

Can I block a number that is not in my contacts?

Yes. You can block any number from your recent calls list, even if it is not saved as a contact. Open Phone, tap Recents, find the number, tap the information icon, and select "Block this Caller."

What if I block someone by accident?

Go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts, find the person's name, swipe left, and tap "Unblock." They will be able to reach you again immediately, and you will receive their calls and messages normally.

Do blocked messages take up storage space on my phone?

Yes. Blocked messages are stored separately but still use storage. If you want to delete them, open Messages, tap "Edit," find the Blocked folder, and delete individual conversations or clear the entire folder.