Block a specific contact using the Messages app
The fastest way to stop texts from one person is to block them directly in the Messages app. Open Messages, find the conversation with the person you want to block, and swipe left on their name. A red Delete button appears on the right side — but look for the three dots (more options) that show up first. Tap those dots, then tap Block this Caller.
Once you block someone, their texts stop arriving on your phone. Any messages they sent before you blocked them stay in your conversation thread, but you won't see new ones. If they try to call you, it goes straight to voicemail without ringing your phone. They won't get a notification that you blocked them, but they may figure it out when calls and texts go unanswered.
If you change your mind later, you can unblock them the same way: swipe left on their name, tap the three dots, and choose Unblock this Caller.
Block someone from their contact card
You can also block a contact without opening a text conversation. Open the Contacts app, find the person's name, and tap it to open their card. Scroll to the bottom and tap Block this Caller. This works the same way as blocking through Messages — texts and calls stop coming through, but the person won't know they're blocked.
This method is useful if someone has been texting you but you don't have an active conversation thread, or if you want to block them before they even send you a message.
Use Do Not Disturb to silence texts without blocking
Blocking is permanent until you unblock. If you just want to silence texts from someone temporarily — say, during work hours or while you're sleeping — Do Not Disturb is a gentler option. The person can still reach you if they call repeatedly (the second call in three seconds gets through), and they won't know you've muted them.
To set this up, open Settings, tap Focus, and create a new focus called something like "Work" or "Sleep." Choose which contacts are allowed to reach you, and set a schedule for when it turns on and off. Texts from people not on your allowed list will still arrive, but your phone won't light up or make noise.
Block unknown senders and filter unknown numbers
If you're getting texts from numbers you don't recognize, you can filter them without blocking each one individually. Open Settings, scroll down to Messages, and toggle on Filter Unknown Senders. This moves texts from people not in your contacts to a separate tab in the Messages app, so they don't clutter your main inbox.
Unknown texts still arrive and you can read them, but they won't trigger notifications. This is useful for blocking spam and scam texts without losing the ability to see them if you need to. You can still block individual unknown numbers the same way you block contacts — just swipe left on the conversation and tap Block this Caller.
Key Takeaways
- Swipe left on a conversation in Messages, tap the three dots, and select Block this Caller to stop texts and calls from one person.
- Blocked people can still leave voicemails, but their calls won't ring your phone and their texts won't appear in your inbox.
- Use Filter Unknown Senders in Settings to move texts from people not in your contacts to a separate tab instead of blocking them one by one.
- Do Not Disturb lets you silence texts from specific people on a schedule without permanently blocking them.
- You can unblock someone at any time by swiping left on their name and choosing Unblock this Caller.
What happens when you block someone on iMessage
If the person you block uses iMessage (Apple's encrypted texting service for iPhone to iPhone), blocking works the same way. Their blue iMessages stop arriving, and they can't see that you've read their messages. If they switch to regular SMS texting from a different phone, those texts won't be blocked — you'll need to block them again using the SMS method above.
Some people try to get around a block by texting from a different number. If this happens, block the new number the same way you blocked the first one. If someone is harassing you across multiple numbers, consider reporting them to your carrier or local police.
Manage your blocked list
To see everyone you've blocked, open Settings, scroll to Messages (or Phone if you want to see blocked callers), and tap Blocked Contacts. This shows you a list of every person you've blocked. You can tap Edit in the top right, then tap the red minus sign next to a name to unblock them.
There's no limit to how many people you can block on an iPhone, so don't worry about running out of space. Blocked contacts stay blocked until you manually unblock them, even if you restart your phone or update iOS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell if I blocked them?
They won't get a notification, but they may suspect it if their calls go straight to voicemail and texts never get read receipts. If they call repeatedly, the second call in three seconds will ring through, which can tip them off that you're using Do Not Disturb instead of blocking.
What if I block someone by accident?
Open Settings, find Messages or Phone, tap Blocked Contacts, tap Edit, and tap the red minus sign next to their name. They're unblocked immediately and can text or call you again.
Do blocked messages get deleted?
No. Any texts from that person that arrived before you blocked them stay in your conversation thread. Only new messages are blocked. If you want to delete the old conversation, swipe left on it in Messages and tap Delete.
Will blocking someone stop them from seeing my status or location?
Blocking stops texts and calls, but it doesn't hide your location in Find My Friends or your status in other apps. If you want to hide your location from someone, you need to remove them from Find My separately.
Can I block someone from calling but still get their texts?
No. Blocking blocks both calls and texts together. If you want to silence calls but keep texts, use Do Not Disturb and add them to your allowed contacts list instead.