How to Block a Number on iPhone

Unwanted calls and texts wear you down. Maybe it’s a persistent telemarketer, a cold caller, or someone you’d rather not hear from again. The good news: learning how to block a number on iPhone takes only a few taps — no extra tools, no settings maze.

This guide covers every method. You’ll see how to shut out a contact from your call history, your contacts, Messages, and FaceTime. You’ll also learn how to lift a block later, and how to quiet spam calls from the random numbers you don’t recognize. Every step works the same across recent models, from an iPhone SE to the latest Apple iPhone.

Different Ways to Block Unwanted Callers

There are a few routes here, and the right one depends on where you last saw the number. You can work from the Phone app, your contacts list, or Messages — each ends the same way, with that caller unable to reach you.

Pick whichever fits the moment. If a number just rang you, start in your call history. If it’s saved, open the contact card. If it arrived as a text, handle it right in the conversation.

How to Block a Phone Number from the Phone App

The quickest method uses your recent calls list. Here’s the flow when a number just rang:

1. Open the Phone app and tap Recents at the bottom.
2. Find the number you want to block in the recents list.
3. Tap the info button next to it — the small “i” icon.
4. Scroll down and tap Block this Contact, then confirm.

On some screens you’ll see a Block Caller option instead — tap Block Caller to finish, and the result is identical. Either way, the number joins your blocked list and can’t reach you by call or message again.

How to Block a Contact Saved on Your iPhone

If the person you want to block is already saved, work from the Contacts app:

1. Open Contacts and select the contact you want to block.
2. Scroll to the bottom of their card.
3. Tap Block Contact to confirm.

One tap covers calls, texts, and video calls for that contact. Blocking individual numbers like this leaves the rest of your contacts untouched.

How to Block Phone Numbers in Messages

Sometimes the trouble is texting, not calling. You can block someone without ever dialing, right inside the Messages app:

1. Open the conversation and tap the name or number at the top.
2. Scroll down to the contact’s options.
3. Choose the block option and confirm.

Any future message from that phone number or contact is stopped before it reaches you. This works for numbers not in your contacts too, so those random spam texts are easy to shut down. Drowning in junk? Our guide on how to block spam messages covers more ways to stop them. It handles unwanted messages on your iPhone without another app.

How to Silence Unknown Callers and Spam Calls

Blocking one caller at a time helps, but a scammer often rotates through fresh lines. When you’d rather block numbers in bulk, iOS has a built-in filter for this.

To turn it on:

1. Go to Settings, then open the Phone section.
2. Scroll to Silence Unknown Callers and flip the toggle on.

Now unknown numbers — ones not in your contacts, recent outgoing calls, or Siri suggestions — are held quietly with no ring, while a real caller can still leave a voicemail so you never miss anything that matters. It’s one of the simplest iPhone settings for calming unknown and spam noise.

Messages has a matching filter. In your Messages settings, turn on Filter Unknown Senders to route texts from people you don’t know into a separate list, with no notification to interrupt you.

What Happens When You Block Someone on iPhone

Once you block a contact, their calls, messages, and video requests stop reaching you. Here’s the short version:

• Calls are silenced — the blocked contact can’t get through, and you won’t hear a ring.
• Texts are quietly discarded, and the sender is never told the message didn’t land.
• FaceTime requests simply don’t connect.

Blocking works the same across all Apple gear signed in with one Apple ID. A number blocked on your iPhone is blocked on your iPad and Mac too. Curious where silenced calls end up? See how to access voicemail on iPhone.

How to View and Manage Your Blocked List

Changed your mind? You can view your list of blocked contacts and reverse a block in seconds:

1. Open Settings > Phone.
2. Tap Blocked Contacts to see every number on the full list.
3. To unblock the number, swipe left and tap Unblock — or tap Edit and delete it.

The same list shows up under Messages settings, so you manage it once.

How to Block an Email Address on iPhone

The same idea reaches your inbox. Open the Mail app, open the email from the sender, tap their name at the top, and choose Block Contact. From then on, their mail slips quietly into the Trash folder instead of your main inbox.

Third-Party Apps for Heavier Spam

For relentless spam callers, third-party apps like call-screening tools can flag or block known scam numbers automatically, adding another filter on top of Apple’s built-in options. Review the permissions first — a call blocker needs access to your calls to work, so stick with trusted developers.

If a stubborn caller has you worried about something bigger, confirm your device is clean with how to detect and remove spyware from an iPhone, and learn how to spot a fake or scam website to avoid the traps that leak your number in the first place.

Keep Your Number and Data Private with Planet VPN

Blocking numbers stops unwanted calls, but it doesn’t cover everything that follows you online. Public Wi-Fi, unsecured connections, and data brokers can expose more than you’d like — including details that put your number back in a spammer’s hands.

Planet VPN encrypts your connection, so your browsing stays private on any network you join. The free plan gives you core protection at no cost: 6 locations and no card required. Want more locations and higher speed? Premium adds them on top — the same private connection you already rely on, just with more reach.

Ready to lock things down? Explore Planet VPN, download the app, or set it up on iOS. Compare Free and Premium side by side on the Planet VPN plans page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you permanently block a number from calling you?

Blocking a number on your iPhone is permanent by design — it stays blocked until you remove it yourself. Open Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts to confirm the number is on the list. As long as it’s there, that caller can’t reach you by phone, text, or FaceTime.

Does *67 block a number on iPhone?

No. Dialing *67 before you make a call hides your own caller ID for that one call — it does nothing to stop incoming calls. To keep a number from reaching you, use the Block Contact option in the Phone, Messages, or Contacts app instead.

Is there a way to block a number without dialing it on an iPhone?

Yes — you don’t need to call the number at all. Open the Messages conversation or find it in your call history, tap the contact’s name, and choose Block Contact. You can also add the number by hand under Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts.

Can you tell if someone has blocked your contact on an iPhone?

Not directly — Apple doesn’t tip you off either way, so you won’t get a notification when it happens. Common clues are calls that go straight to voicemail every single time and texts that never show “Delivered.” Neither is proof, though: a phone that’s switched off or set to Do Not Disturb behaves the same way.

How do I completely block a number on my iPhone?

Block it once from any Apple app — Phone, Messages, or Contacts — and it’s blocked everywhere tied to that Apple ID. That single action covers calls and messages across all your Apple devices, so there’s nothing else to switch off.