Block a contact so their messages never reach your inbox

You can block someone on iPhone so their text messages, iMessages, and FaceTime calls stop coming through. When you block a contact, they won't see a notification that you blocked them — their messages simply won't deliver to you, and they'll see "Not Delivered" on their end after a delay. You can unblock them later if you change your mind.

The blocked person can still call you, but the call won't ring through. They can still see your location in Find My if you were sharing it before the block. Blocking only stops messages and calls; it doesn't hide your profile from them on social media or other apps.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the conversation with the person you want to block, tap their name at the top, scroll down, and tap Block This Caller.
  • You can also block someone from your Contacts app by opening their card, scrolling to the bottom, and tapping Block This Caller.
  • Blocked contacts won't know they're blocked, but their messages will show "Not Delivered" after several minutes.
  • You can unblock someone anytime by going to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts, or by finding them in your Contacts app and tapping Unblock This Caller.

Block someone from an open text conversation

Open the Messages app and find the conversation with the person you want to block. Tap their name or phone number at the very top of the screen — not the message thread itself, but the header area where their name appears.

Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. You'll see a red button that says Block This Caller. Tap it, then tap Block Contact to confirm. The conversation stays in your Messages app, but no new messages from that person will come through.

Block someone from your Contacts app

Open the Contacts app and find the person you want to block. Tap their name to open their contact card. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the card — you'll see a red Block This Caller button.

Tap Block This Caller, then tap Block Contact to confirm. This method works even if you don't have an active conversation with them, so it's useful if someone is messaging you for the first time and you want to stop them before the conversation starts.

Block someone from a FaceTime call

If someone is calling you on FaceTime and you want to block them, tap the red decline button to reject the call first. Then open the FaceTime app, find their name in your recent calls list, swipe left on their name, and tap the block icon (a circle with a slash through it).

You can also tap the information icon (the small "i" in a circle) next to their name in your recent calls, scroll down, and tap Block This Caller. Either way, you won't receive FaceTime calls from them going forward.

Find your list of blocked contacts anytime

To see everyone you've blocked, open Settings and tap Phone. Scroll down and tap Blocked Contacts. You'll see a list of every person you've blocked on this iPhone.

If you want to unblock someone, tap Edit in the top right corner, then tap the red minus sign next to their name. Tap Unblock to confirm. Once you unblock them, their messages and calls will come through again like normal.

What happens when you block someone

When you block a contact, their text messages and iMessages won't arrive on your iPhone. If they send you a message, it will show "Not Delivered" on their phone after a few minutes — they won't get a notification that you blocked them, but they'll see the message didn't go through.

Phone calls from a blocked contact won't ring on your iPhone. FaceTime calls also won't come through. The person won't hear a busy signal or any notification; the call will just fail to connect on their end.

Blocking is different from muting a conversation. If you mute someone instead, their messages still arrive, but you won't get notifications. You can mute a conversation by opening it, swiping left on their name, and tapping the speaker icon with a slash through it.

Unblock someone if you change your mind

Open Settings, tap Phone, and tap Blocked Contacts. Find the person you want to unblock, tap Edit, tap the red minus sign next to their name, and tap Unblock. Their messages and calls will come through again immediately.

You can also unblock someone directly from your Contacts app. Open Contacts, find their name, tap it to open their card, scroll to the bottom, and tap Unblock This Caller. Either method works — use whichever is faster for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person know I blocked them?

No, they won't get a notification that you blocked them. However, they'll see "Not Delivered" on their messages after a few minutes, which may make them suspect they're blocked. There's no way to block someone silently on iPhone.

Can a blocked person still see my location?

If you were sharing your location with them in Find My before you blocked them, they can still see it. Blocking doesn't stop location sharing that was already active. You have to turn off location sharing separately in Find My if you want to hide your location from them.

What if I block someone but they keep contacting me from a different number?

Block each new number the same way — open the conversation, tap their name at the top, and tap Block This Caller. If the harassment continues, you can report it to your phone carrier or local police.

Can I block someone without deleting our conversation?

Yes. When you block someone, the conversation stays in your Messages app. You can read old messages from them, but new messages won't arrive. If you want to delete the conversation, swipe left on it in Messages and tap Delete.

Does blocking someone on iPhone block them on iMessage only, or all messages?

Blocking blocks all messages — text messages (SMS), iMessages, and FaceTime calls. It doesn't matter which service they use to contact you; if they're blocked, none of it gets through.