Block a specific number on iPhone or Android
The fastest way to stop calls and texts from one person is to block their number directly in your phone's built-in settings. Both iPhone and Android let you do this from the contact card or call log without installing anything extra.
On an iPhone: Open the Phone app, find the number in your recent calls, tap the information icon (the small "i" in a circle), scroll down, and tap "Block this Caller". You can also open Contacts, select the person, tap the three dots at the top right, and choose "Block this Caller".
On Android: Open the Phone app, press and hold the number in your call history, and tap "Block number". Or open Contacts, select the person, tap the three dots, and select "Block". Some Android phones (like Samsung) have a slightly different menu layout, but the option is always in the contact details.
Key Takeaways
- Your phone's built-in blocking feature stops calls and texts from a specific number without needing a third-party app.
- Blocked callers will not hear a message saying they are blocked — their call simply fails to reach you, and texts disappear.
- You can unblock a number at any time by going back to the same menu and selecting "Unblock".
- If you are getting spam from many different numbers, your phone's spam filter or your carrier's tools may catch more than blocking individuals can.
Turn on spam and robocall filtering
If you are receiving unwanted calls from numbers you do not recognize, blocking each one individually takes time. Most phones and carriers offer automatic filtering that catches spam before it reaches you.
On iPhone: Go to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers. This sends calls from numbers not in your contacts to voicemail. You can also go to Settings > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification to turn on any carrier-provided filters your service plan includes.
On Android: Open the Phone app, tap the three lines (menu), go to Settings > Spam and Call Screen, and turn on "Filter spam calls". Google's Call Screen feature (on newer Pixel phones) can even answer suspected spam calls for you and show you a transcript.
Your carrier — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or whoever provides your service — may also offer a separate spam-blocking tool through their website or app. Check your carrier's support page to see what is included with your plan.
Block texts from a specific number
Text blocking works the same way as call blocking on most phones, but the steps are slightly different because texts live in a different app.
On iPhone: Open the Messages app, find the conversation, swipe left on it (or press and hold), tap "Block this Caller", and confirm. The person can still send you messages, but you will not see them — they go nowhere.
On Android: Open the Messages app (or your default texting app), press and hold the conversation, and tap "Block" or "Block number". Some Android phones let you block from the individual message instead — just press and hold the message and look for a block option.
If you are getting spam texts from many numbers, turn on your phone's spam filtering for texts too. On iPhone, go to Settings > Messages > Filter Unknown Senders. On Android, check your Messages app settings for a spam filter toggle.
Unblock a number you blocked by mistake
Blocked numbers stay blocked until you remove them. The steps to unblock are almost the same as blocking, just in reverse.
On iPhone: Go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts (or Settings > Messages > Blocked Contacts for texts). You will see a list of every number you have blocked. Tap "Edit" in the top left, tap the red minus sign next to the number, and tap "Unblock".
On Android: Open the Phone app, tap the three lines, go to Settings > Blocked Numbers, find the number, and tap the X or trash icon next to it. On some Android phones, you go through Contacts instead — find the blocked contact, tap the three dots, and select "Unblock".
What happens when you block someone
When you block a number, the person calling or texting does not receive a notification that they are blocked. Their call will not ring through to you — it will fail on their end as if your phone is off or unreachable. Text messages they send will not appear in your Messages app, though they may not know the message did not go through.
The blocked person can still leave a voicemail, but you will not be notified about it. If you check your voicemail settings, you may see an option to delete voicemails from blocked callers automatically, depending on your phone and carrier.
Blocking is one-way: you cannot see their calls or texts, but they can still see your social media, call you from a different number, or contact you through other apps. Blocking only stops communication through the Phone and Messages apps.
When to use your carrier's tools instead
Your phone's built-in blocking works for numbers you know. If you are getting dozens of spam calls from different numbers every week, your carrier may have stronger tools that block entire categories of spam before the calls even reach your phone.
Verizon offers Call Filter (free or paid versions), AT&T offers Call Protect, and T-Mobile offers Scam Shield. These services block known spam numbers at the network level, meaning the calls never reach your phone at all. You can turn these on through your carrier's app or website.
If you are on a smaller carrier or prepaid plan, ask your carrier's support team what spam-blocking options come with your service. Some are free, and some cost a few dollars per month.
Block calls and texts on older phones
If you have an older iPhone (iOS 12 or earlier) or an Android phone more than five years old, the blocking menu might be in a different place, but the feature exists on nearly all modern phones.
On very old iPhones, you may need to go to Settings > Phone > Blocked instead of the newer path. On older Android phones, the Phone app menu might say "Settings" instead of three lines, or blocking might be under Contacts instead of the call log.
If you cannot find a block option on an older phone, your carrier can block numbers for you over the phone. Call your carrier's customer service and give them the number you want blocked — they can do it on their end, though this is slower than doing it yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell if I blocked them?
No. When you block a number, the caller does not receive a message saying they are blocked. Their call fails as if your phone is off or you are out of service. They may suspect you blocked them if calls consistently fail, but they cannot confirm it through the phone system.
Will blocked voicemails still come through?
Yes, blocked callers can still leave voicemails, but you will not get a notification. On iPhone, you can turn on "Filter Unknown Callers" to send blocked voicemails to a separate folder. On Android, check your voicemail app settings for an option to hide voicemails from blocked numbers.
What if someone keeps calling from different numbers?
If the same person is calling from multiple numbers, blocking each one individually becomes impractical. Consider turning on "Silence Unknown Callers" (iPhone) or "Filter spam calls" (Android) to send unknown numbers to voicemail. You can also contact your carrier to report harassment — they may be able to block an entire range of numbers or investigate the pattern.
Does blocking work across all apps?
No. Blocking only stops calls and texts through your phone's Phone and Messages apps. The person can still reach you through WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, email, or any other app. If you need to block someone across multiple platforms, you will need to adjust privacy settings in each app separately.
Can I block a number without saving it to my contacts?
Yes. You can block a number directly from your call log or message thread without ever adding it to your contacts. Just find the number in your recent calls or texts and follow the block steps — you do not need to create a contact first.