Block a caller directly from your phone log

The fastest way to block a call is to open the Phone app, find the number or contact you want to block in your recent calls list, tap the i icon next to their name, scroll down, and tap Block this Caller. The phone will confirm the block — that person can no longer reach you by phone, and their calls go straight to voicemail without ringing your device.

You can also block someone mid-call. While they are on the line, tap Contacts at the bottom of the screen, then tap the i icon next to their name, scroll down, and select Block this Caller. The call ends immediately.

Once you block someone, you can see your full block list by opening Settings, tapping Phone, and selecting Blocked Contacts. From there you can unblock anyone by swiping left on their name and tapping Unblock.

Block a contact before they ever call

You do not have to wait for someone to call you first. Open your Contacts app, find the person you want to block, tap their name to open their card, tap the i icon in a circle at the top right, scroll all the way down, and tap Block this Caller.

This works the same way as blocking from your call log — their calls will not ring through. The difference is you have blocked them before they attempt to contact you, so you will not see a missed call notification.

Block unknown or private numbers

If you are getting calls from numbers that show up as Unknown or Private, you can block all calls from hidden numbers at once. Open Settings, go to Phone, and turn on Silence Unknown Callers. Any call from a number not in your contacts will ring silently and go straight to voicemail.

This is different from blocking individual numbers — it blocks an entire category of calls. Your contacts can still reach you normally. If you turn this on, check your voicemail regularly because legitimate callers (banks, doctors, delivery services) may also be filtered this way.

Key Takeaways

  • You can block someone from your recent calls list by tapping the i icon next to their name and selecting Block this Caller.
  • Blocked callers cannot reach you by phone — their calls go to voicemail without your phone ringing.
  • You can block a contact before they call by opening their contact card and tapping Block this Caller from the info screen.
  • To block all calls from unknown or private numbers, open Settings, go to Phone, and turn on Silence Unknown Callers.
  • You can see all your blocked contacts in Settings under Phone, and unblock anyone by swiping left on their name.

Blocked callers can still leave voicemail and send text messages

When you block someone on iPhone, you are blocking phone calls only. That person can still send you text messages (SMS and iMessage), and they can still leave voicemail messages. Their voicemail will appear in your voicemail list, but you will not get a notification that they called.

If you want to prevent someone from texting you as well, you need to block them separately in the Messages app. Open Messages, find the conversation, swipe left on it, tap More, and select Block this Caller. This blocks both SMS and iMessage from that contact.

What happens when you block someone

A blocked caller will not hear a message saying they have been blocked. Instead, their call goes to your voicemail after a few rings, just as if your phone were off or you were already on another call. They have no way to know for certain that you blocked them — they only know their calls are not getting through.

The blocked person will not see any change on their end. They can still see your contact information, and they can still try to call you. From their perspective, the call simply does not connect.

Unblocking someone

If you change your mind about blocking someone, open Settings, tap Phone, and select Blocked Contacts. Find the person you want to unblock, swipe left on their name, and tap Unblock. They can now call you normally again.

Unblocking someone does not notify them that you have unblocked them. They will not know unless you tell them. If they try to call while they are still blocked, they will not receive any notification that the block has been lifted — they will only be able to reach you on their next attempt.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a blocked caller see that I blocked them?

No. A blocked caller will not receive any message or notification saying they have been blocked. Their calls simply go to voicemail, and they have no technical way to confirm the block. They may suspect it, but iPhone does not tell them.

If I block someone, will they still be able to text me?

Yes. Blocking someone in the Phone app only blocks calls. They can still send SMS text messages and iMessage messages. If you want to block texts as well, you must block them separately in the Messages app by swiping left on the conversation and selecting Block this Caller.

What if I block someone by accident?

Open Settings, tap Phone, select Blocked Contacts, find the person you blocked, swipe left on their name, and tap Unblock. They can call you immediately after you unblock them. There is no waiting period.

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

Yes. Open the Phone app, find the number in your recent calls list, tap the i icon next to it, scroll down, and tap Block this Caller. You do not need to save the number to your contacts first.

If I block unknown callers, will I miss important calls?

Possibly. When you turn on Silence Unknown Callers, any call from a number not in your contacts goes to voicemail without ringing. This includes calls from banks, doctors, delivery services, and other legitimate callers who use different phone numbers. Check your voicemail regularly if you use this feature.