You can block a contact on iPhone through the Phone, Messages, or FaceTime apps, or through your Contacts app

Blocking someone on iPhone stops them from calling, texting, or FaceTiming you. When you block a contact, their calls go straight to voicemail, their texts don't arrive, and FaceTime requests are rejected. The person you block won't get a notification that they're blocked, but they may figure it out when calls go unanswered and messages don't get read receipts.

The method you use depends on where you want to block them. If you're already in a conversation or call with them, you can block directly from that screen. If you want to block someone in your Contacts list, you can do that too. Either way, the block applies across all communication methods — Phone, Messages, and FaceTime — unless you later unblock them.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking someone stops their calls, texts, and FaceTime requests from reaching you, and their messages won't deliver.
  • You can block a contact from the Phone, Messages, or FaceTime app by opening the conversation and tapping the info button, or from your Contacts app by opening the person's card.
  • The person you block won't see a notification, but they'll notice their calls go to voicemail and messages don't deliver.
  • You can unblock someone at any time by going to Settings > Phone (or Messages or FaceTime) > Blocked Contacts and swiping left on their name.

Block someone from the Phone app

Open the Phone app and find the person you want to block. This could be in your Recents list (the calls you've made and received) or in your Contacts. Tap the info button — it's a small circle with an "i" inside — next to their name.

Scroll down and tap Block this Caller. A confirmation message will appear asking if you're sure. Tap Block Contact to confirm. That person's calls will now go straight to voicemail.

Block someone from the Messages app

Open Messages and find the conversation with the person you want to block. Tap their name or number at the top of the conversation thread. On the contact card that appears, tap the info button (the circle with an "i").

Scroll down and tap Block this Caller. Confirm by tapping Block Contact. Their text messages won't deliver to you, and they won't receive read receipts on messages they've already sent.

Block someone from the Contacts app

Open Contacts and find the person you want to block. Tap their name to open their contact card. Tap the info button (the circle with an "i") in the top right corner.

Scroll down and tap Block this Caller. Confirm by tapping Block Contact. This blocks them across Phone, Messages, and FaceTime all at once.

Block someone from FaceTime

Open FaceTime and find the person you want to block in your recent calls or contacts. Tap the info button next to their name. Scroll down and tap Block this Caller. Confirm by tapping Block Contact.

When you block someone on FaceTime, they can still see your contact information and call you, but the call won't ring through — it will appear to them as if the call didn't go through.

Unblock someone if you change your mind

If you want to unblock someone, go to Settings and tap Phone (or Messages or FaceTime, depending on where you blocked them). Tap Blocked Contacts. You'll see a list of everyone you've blocked.

Find the person you want to unblock and swipe left on their name. Tap Unblock. They can now call, text, or FaceTime you again. There's no confirmation message — the unblock happens immediately.

What happens when you block someone

When you block a contact, they can still see your contact information in their phone and try to reach you, but nothing will go through. Their calls will ring once and then go to voicemail. Text messages won't deliver — they may see a "Not Delivered" message after a while, or the message may appear to send but you won't receive it. FaceTime requests will be rejected.

The person you block won't receive a notification saying they've been blocked. However, if they try to call you repeatedly and all calls go to voicemail, or if they text you and messages consistently don't deliver, they may figure out that you've blocked them. Blocking is not the same as deleting a contact — the person remains in your Contacts app, just with a block in place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I've blocked them?

They won't get a notification, but they may suspect it if their calls always go to voicemail and their texts don't deliver. There's no way for them to know for certain from their phone, but the pattern of unanswered calls and undelivered messages can be a clue.

What if I block someone but they have a different phone number?

You'll need to block each number separately. Blocking works on a per-number basis, not per-person. If someone calls you from a different number, that call will come through unless you block that number too.

Can I block someone from seeing my location?

Blocking prevents calls, texts, and FaceTime, but it doesn't stop someone from seeing your location if you've shared it with them through Find My Friends or another app. You'll need to turn off location sharing separately in those apps.

Will blocking someone delete our conversation history?

No. Your text messages, call history, and FaceTime calls with that person remain in your apps. Blocking only stops new messages and calls from coming through. If you want to delete the conversation, you can swipe left on it and tap Delete.

Can I block someone without them knowing?

Yes — they won't get a notification. But if they try to reach you and everything fails, they may figure it out over time. There's no way to block someone completely silently if they're actively trying to contact you.