How to Block a Number on iPhone: 4 Quick Methods

To block a number on iPhone, open the Phone app, go to Recents, tap the (i) icon next to the number and tap Block this Caller. This stops calls, texts and FaceTime from that number all at once. The blocked person is not notified, and you can unblock them anytime from Settings. Here are four ways to do it depending on where the number appears.

• From Recents: Phone app > Recents > (i) > Block this Caller
• From Messages: open the conversation > tap the name > Info > Block this Caller
• From Contacts: open the contact > scroll down > Block this Caller
• From Settings: Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts > Add New

How do I block a number from my recent calls?

Open the Phone app, tap Recents, find the number you want to block, and tap the (i) icon on the right side. Scroll down and tap Block this Caller, then confirm.

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap Recents at the bottom.
3. Find the call from the number you want to block.
4. Tap the (i) icon to the right of the number.
5. Scroll to the bottom and tap Block this Caller.
6. Tap Block Contact to confirm.

This is the fastest method when you just received a call you want to block. The number doesn't need to be saved as a contact. Once blocked, the number is immediately added to your blocked list and stays there until you remove it manually. If you missed the call and don't recognize the number, you can check who called before deciding whether to block it.

Four places you can block a number on iPhone.

How do I block a contact on iPhone?

Open the Contacts app (or Phone > Contacts), find the person, scroll to the bottom of their contact card and tap Block this Caller. This works for contacts you've saved but no longer want to hear from.

Blocking a contact removes them from your incoming calls, texts and FaceTime. It does not delete the contact. If you later unblock them, the contact and all its details are still there. According to Apple Support, blocked contacts can still leave voicemail, but the messages are stored in a separate "Blocked Messages" section.

How do I block a number from a text message?

Open the Messages app, tap the conversation from the number you want to block, tap the contact name or number at the top of the screen, tap Info, then tap Block this Caller.

1. Open Messages.
2. Tap the conversation with the number.
3. Tap the name or number at the top.
4. Tap Info.
5. Tap Block this Caller.

This blocks the number from calling you, texting you, and FaceTime. It's the same block as doing it from the Phone app. If the text came from a short code (like 5-digit marketing numbers), blocking it from Messages is the only way since short codes don't appear in Recents.

Keep in mind that blocking a short code only stops that specific sender. Marketing companies sometimes rotate through multiple short codes, so you may need to block several. For messages that look like scams, check our guide on spotting scam text messages before tapping any links.

How do I block unknown numbers on iPhone?

You can't block all unknown numbers with a single button, but Silence Unknown Callers achieves the same result. Go to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers and toggle it on. Every call from a number not in your contacts goes straight to voicemail.

For a more detailed walkthrough, see our guide on how to block spam calls on iPhone. If you keep getting calls from one unknown number, try a reverse phone lookup to identify it first.

How do I block text messages on iPhone?

Block a specific sender by opening their message, tapping the name at the top, tapping Info, then Block this Caller. To filter all texts from unknown senders into a separate tab, go to Settings > Messages and turn on Filter Unknown Senders.

Filter Unknown Senders is not a block. You can still see the messages by tapping the "Unknown Senders" tab in Messages. It just keeps your main inbox clean.

When you block someone on iPhone, it covers calls, texts and FaceTime.

What happens when you block someone on iPhone?

Their calls go straight to voicemail without ringing your phone. Their text messages are silently dropped. FaceTime calls are automatically declined. They are not notified that you blocked them.

• Calls: go to voicemail. Voicemails are saved in a "Blocked Messages" section at the bottom of Voicemail.
• Texts: blocked. You won't see them, and the sender won't get a "delivered" confirmation.
• FaceTime: automatically declined. It looks like you're not available.
• iMessages: blocked. The sender sees "Delivered" for iMessages sent before the block, but nothing for messages sent after.

Blocking is per-number, not per-device. If someone has two phone numbers and you block one, they can still reach you from the other. If you need to check whether someone has additional numbers linked to their name, a people search can show all numbers associated with a person.

Can someone tell if you blocked them on iPhone?

Not directly. Apple does not send a "you have been blocked" notification. But there are indirect signs that a savvy caller might notice:

• Calls: go to voicemail after one ring instead of four or five.
• iMessages: never show a "Delivered" receipt after the block. Messages sent before the block still show "Delivered."
• FaceTime: rings indefinitely without connecting.
• SMS texts: the sender does not get any delivery confirmation, but this is normal for SMS so it's harder to tell.

None of these are conclusive proof on their own. A phone that's turned off or in airplane mode behaves similarly. The difference is that a blocked caller always gets the same pattern, every time they call, even when your phone is on and connected.

For more detail on the signs from the other side, see our guide on how to know if someone blocked your number. If you're not sure whether to block someone or just want to find out who a number belongs to first, check your current blocked list to make sure you haven't already blocked them.

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