Block a contact in Settings in three steps
To block someone on your iPhone, open Settings, tap Phone, scroll down to Blocked Contacts, and tap Edit in the top right corner. Tap the plus sign, find the person you want to block in your contacts list, and tap their name. They will be blocked immediately — they cannot call, text, or reach you through FaceTime.
The person you block will not receive a notification that you blocked them. Their calls and texts will not go through, but they will not see an error message either. From their perspective, their message simply will not deliver, and calls will go straight to voicemail.
If you change your mind, you can unblock the same person by going back to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts, swiping left on their name, and tapping Unblock.
Key Takeaways
- Blocked contacts cannot call, text, or reach you through FaceTime, and their messages will not show up in your Messages app.
- The person you block will not be notified, but their calls go to voicemail and their texts fail to send.
- You can block someone directly from a conversation by opening the message or call, tapping the contact name at the top, scrolling down, and selecting Block This Caller.
- Blocking someone is different from muting notifications — a muted contact can still reach you, but you will not hear alerts.
- You can unblock a contact at any time through the same Settings menu where you blocked them.
Block someone directly from a text or call
You do not have to go into Settings. If someone texts or calls you, you can block them right from that conversation. Open the message thread or call history, tap the contact name or number at the top of the screen, and scroll down until you see Block This Caller. Tap it, then confirm.
This method is faster if you are already looking at the conversation. It blocks them immediately and removes all their past messages from your inbox — you will not see their texts or calls anymore.
What happens when you block someone
When you block a contact, they cannot reach you through Phone, Messages, or FaceTime. If they try to call, the call goes straight to voicemail. If they text, the message fails to send on their end, though they may not realize it right away. Any existing messages from that person disappear from your Messages app.
The blocked person cannot see that you blocked them. They will not get a notification or a message saying so. They will only notice when their calls stop connecting and their texts do not go through.
Blocking does not prevent someone from contacting you through other apps like Instagram, WhatsApp, or email. If you need to block them everywhere, you will have to adjust settings in each app separately.
Block an unknown number or spam caller
If you get a call or text from a number that is not in your contacts, you can still block it. Open the call or message, tap the number at the top, scroll down, and tap Block This Caller. The number will be blocked even though it is not saved as a contact.
For repeated spam or scam calls, blocking individual numbers adds up quickly. Consider using the built-in spam filter instead: go to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers. This sends all calls from numbers not in your contacts to voicemail, though you can still see them in your call history.
Difference between blocking and muting
Blocking and muting do two different things. When you block someone, they cannot reach you at all — their calls and texts do not go through. When you mute someone, they can still call and text you, but you will not hear notifications or see alerts. Their messages still arrive in your inbox; you just will not be interrupted by sounds or badges.
To mute a contact, open a conversation with them, tap their name at the top, and toggle off Notify Me. You can mute a contact without blocking them if you want to stay reachable but reduce interruptions.
See your full list of blocked contacts
To see everyone you have blocked, go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts. The list shows all the people and numbers you have blocked. If the list is long, you can search for a specific name to find them quickly.
From this screen, you can also unblock someone by swiping left on their name and tapping Unblock. Once you unblock them, they will be able to call and text you again, and their old messages will reappear in your Messages app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a blocked contact see that I blocked them?
No. They will not receive a notification or any message telling them they are blocked. They will only notice when their calls go to voicemail and their texts fail to send. There is no way for them to know for certain that you blocked them rather than simply not responding.
Will a blocked person's old messages still be on my phone?
No. When you block someone, all their previous text messages disappear from your Messages app. If you unblock them later, those old messages do not come back. If you want to keep a record, take a screenshot of important messages before you block the contact.
What if someone I blocked calls from a different number?
Blocking only applies to the specific number or contact you blocked. If they call from a different phone or number, that call will go through normally. You would need to block each number separately. If someone is harassing you from multiple numbers, consider using Silence Unknown Callers instead.
Can I block someone without them knowing I have their contact saved?
Yes. You can block a number that is not in your contacts list. Open the call or message from that number, tap it at the top, and select Block This Caller. They will not know whether you have them saved or not.
Does blocking someone on iPhone block them on iMessage too?
Yes. Blocking through Phone settings blocks the contact across all Apple services — Phone, Messages, and FaceTime. You do not need to block them separately in each app. However, blocking does not affect other messaging apps like WhatsApp or Instagram.