Block calls directly in your phone's settings

The fastest way to stop calls from a specific number is to use your phone's built-in blocking feature. You do not need an app or a service — your phone already has this.

On an iPhone, open the Phone app and find the number you want to block in your recent calls list. Tap the information icon (the small "i" in a circle) next to the number, scroll down, and tap "Block this Caller". The person can still leave voicemails, but you will not see missed calls from them, and their calls will not ring through.

On an Android phone, open the Phone app, find the number in your call history, press and hold it, and select "Block number" from the menu that appears. Some Android phones label this differently — look for "Block" or "Add to block list". The exact wording depends on your phone's manufacturer and Android version.

Once you block a number, that caller's calls go straight to voicemail and do not show up in your recent calls. You can unblock the number anytime by going back into the same menu and selecting "Unblock".

Key Takeaways

  • Both iPhone and Android have a built-in block feature in the Phone app that stops calls from reaching you without needing a separate app.
  • Blocked callers can still leave voicemails, but their calls will not ring through and will not appear in your missed calls list.
  • You can block a number from your recent calls list or from a contact card by tapping the information icon and selecting the block option.
  • Blocking is reversible — you can unblock a number at any time using the same menu where you blocked it.
  • If you receive calls from many unknown numbers, your phone's spam filter settings offer additional protection beyond blocking individual numbers.

Block calls from unknown or spam numbers

If you are getting repeated calls from numbers you do not recognize, your phone has a spam filter that can catch many of them automatically. This is different from blocking a single number — it filters entire categories of calls.

On iPhone, go to Settings, tap Phone, then turn on "Silence Unknown Callers". This sends any call from a number not in your contacts straight to voicemail. You will still see the missed call notification, but it will not ring and interrupt you. Your contacts and recent callers will still ring through normally.

On Android, the spam filter location varies by phone maker. On most phones, open the Phone app, tap the three-line menu (hamburger icon), go to Settings, and look for "Spam and abuse" or "Block numbers". Turn on the spam filter toggle. Some Android phones also let you report a number as spam directly from the call screen — tap "Report spam" when the call comes in, and the number gets added to a shared spam list.

Neither of these filters is perfect. Some spam calls will still get through, and occasionally a real call might be blocked. Check your voicemail regularly to make sure nothing important was filtered.

Block calls from a contact you already have saved

If the number is already in your contacts, you can block it from the contact card itself. This is useful when you want to stop hearing from someone whose number you have saved.

On iPhone, open Contacts, find the person, tap "Edit" in the top right, scroll to the bottom, and tap "Block this Caller". Confirm by tapping "Block Contact".

On Android, open Contacts, select the person, tap the three-dot menu at the top, and select "Block number". The exact wording depends on your phone, but it will be in that menu.

Blocking a contact does the same thing as blocking a number from your call history — their calls go to voicemail and do not appear in your missed calls. The contact itself stays in your phone; you are only blocking their calls.

Use Do Not Disturb to silence calls without blocking

If you want to stop calls from reaching you temporarily without permanently blocking anyone, Do Not Disturb is a better choice. This silences all incoming calls except from people you choose to allow through.

On iPhone, swipe down from the top right corner to open Control Center, then tap the Do Not Disturb icon (a circle with a line through it). You can also go to Settings, tap Focus, and set up a custom focus that allows calls only from specific contacts. This is useful if you want to silence calls during work or sleep but still receive calls from family or your boss.

On Android, swipe down from the top twice to open Quick Settings, find "Do Not Disturb" or "Quiet" mode, and tap it. You can also go to Settings, search for "Do Not Disturb", and set up exceptions for specific contacts. When Do Not Disturb is on, calls are silenced but still come through — they just do not ring or vibrate.

Do Not Disturb is temporary and reversible. Turn it off whenever you want to hear calls again. This is better than blocking if you think you might want to hear from someone later.

Report spam and block at the carrier level

If you are getting calls from the same number repeatedly or from obvious spam sources, your phone carrier may be able to block them on their network. This stops the call before it even reaches your phone.

Contact your carrier directly — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or whoever provides your service — and ask about spam blocking options. Many carriers offer free spam filters that work automatically. Some also let you report a number as spam, and they will block it for other customers too.

You can usually report spam through your carrier's website or by calling their customer service number on the back of your bill. Provide the phone number and describe what kind of calls you are receiving. The carrier will add it to their spam database.

Carrier-level blocking is more powerful than phone-level blocking because it stops the call at the network level. However, it takes longer to set up and you have to contact your carrier to manage it. Use this option if a single number is calling you dozens of times or if phone-level blocking is not stopping the calls.

Manage your blocked list and unblock numbers

Your phone keeps a list of all the numbers you have blocked. You can view this list anytime and unblock a number if you change your mind.

On iPhone, go to Settings, tap Phone, scroll down, and tap "Blocked Contacts". You will see every number you have blocked. Tap "Edit" in the top left, then tap the red minus sign next to a number to unblock it.

On Android, open the Phone app, tap the three-line menu, go to Settings, find "Blocked numbers" or "Block list", and you will see all blocked numbers. Tap a number to unblock it, or press and hold to see more options.

Unblocking a number means that person can call you again and you will see their calls in your recent list. They will not know they were blocked — there is no notification sent to them when you block or unblock.

What to do if blocking is not stopping the calls

Sometimes blocking a number does not work because spam callers use different numbers each time or spoof real numbers. If you are still getting unwanted calls after blocking, try these steps.

First, make sure you blocked the right number. Check your recent calls to confirm the exact number, then block it again. Second, turn on your phone's spam filter if you have not already — this catches many spam calls automatically. Third, do not answer calls from unknown numbers. Answering confirms your number is active, which can lead to more calls.

If the calls continue, contact your carrier and ask them to block the number at the network level. You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov if the calls are scams or harassment. The FTC does not stop individual calls, but it tracks patterns and can take action against large-scale spam operations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a blocked caller tell that I blocked them?

No. When you block someone, they do not receive a notification. Their calls go to your voicemail, and they have no way to know whether you blocked them, turned off your phone, or simply did not answer. They might suspect it if calls always go to voicemail, but there is no alert sent to them.

Will a blocked caller still be able to text me?

On iPhone, blocking a number blocks both calls and text messages. On Android, it depends on your phone — most block both, but some only block calls. Check your phone's blocking settings to see what is covered. If you want to block only calls but allow texts, you may need to use a different method like Do Not Disturb with exceptions.

What happens to voicemails from blocked callers?

Blocked callers can still leave voicemails, but they go to a separate voicemail folder on iPhone (the "Blocked Messages" section in the Phone app). On Android, they appear in your regular voicemail but are marked as blocked. You can listen to them anytime, but they will not notify you when they arrive.

Can I block calls from a specific area code?

Your phone cannot block an entire area code with the built-in feature — you can only block individual numbers. However, your carrier may offer a service that blocks calls from certain area codes. Contact your carrier to ask about this option. Alternatively, use Do Not Disturb to silence all unknown callers, which is more effective than trying to block by area code.

If I block someone and then unblock them later, will they know?

No. Unblocking is invisible to the other person. They will not receive any notification that you unblocked them. They can call you again, and you will see the call normally, but they will have no way to know you had blocked them in the first place.