How to unblock a number on iPhone

To unblock a number on iPhone, open the Phone app, tap Recents, find the number you want to unblock, swipe left on it, and tap Unblock. Alternatively, go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts, find the number, and tap Edit in the top-left corner, then Delete to remove it from your blocked list. The person can then call or text you again, and their messages will appear in your inbox instead of being filtered out.

Once you unblock a number, that contact has no way of knowing you had blocked them. There is no notification sent, and your call or message history does not reveal that the block existed. If you change your mind later, you can block the number again using the same methods.

Key Takeaways

  • The fastest way to unblock is through the Phone app's Recents tab: find the number, swipe left, and tap Unblock.
  • You can also unblock through Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts, then tap Edit and Delete the number.
  • Unblocking a number does not notify the person or show them that they were ever blocked.
  • After unblocking, calls and texts from that number will reach your inbox normally again.

Unblocking through the Phone app's Recents tab

The Phone app is usually the quickest route if you remember the number or recognize it in your recent calls. Open the Phone app and tap the Recents tab at the bottom. Scroll through your call history until you find the number you want to unblock. Press and hold the number, or swipe left on it (depending on your iOS version), and a menu will appear with the option to Unblock.

If you do not see the number in Recents, it may be because blocked calls do not always show up there. In that case, use the Settings method instead. Once you tap Unblock, the number is when ready active again.

Unblocking through Settings

Go to Settings on your home screen, then scroll down and tap Phone. Look for the option called Blocked Contacts (on some older iOS versions it may say Blocked). Tap it to see your full list of blocked numbers and contacts.

Find the number you want to unblock in the list. Tap Edit in the top-left corner of the screen, then tap the red minus sign next to the number. A Delete button will appear on the right side — tap it to remove the number from your blocked list. You can also swipe left directly on the number and tap Delete without entering Edit mode on newer iOS versions.

What happens after you unblock a number

Once a number is unblocked, calls and text messages from that contact will come through to you normally. If they sent you messages while they were blocked, those messages will not suddenly appear in your inbox — they were not stored. Only new messages sent after you unblock will reach you.

Voicemails left by a blocked caller may or may not appear in your voicemail, depending on your carrier and when the call came in. If you want to hear those messages, contact your carrier's voicemail system directly. The person who called you has no way to know whether you blocked them or straightforward did not answer.

Blocking the number again if you change your mind

If you unblock a number and later decide you want to block it again, the process is straightforward. Open the Phone app, go to Recents, find the number, and tap the information icon (the small "i" in a circle). Scroll down and tap Block this Caller. Alternatively, go back to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts, tap Edit, and tap the plus sign to add a new blocked number.

You can block and unblock the same number as many times as you need to. There is no limit to how many numbers you can have blocked at once.

Unblocking contacts versus unblocking numbers

If you blocked someone who is saved in your Contacts app, unblocking the number unblocks that contact entirely. You will see their calls, texts, and FaceTime requests again. If you want to keep the contact but block them again later, you can do so without deleting them from your address book.

If you blocked a number that is not saved as a contact, unblocking straightforward removes that specific number from your blocked list. The person remains unknown to your phone unless they call or text again and you save them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person know I unblocked them?

No. Unblocking sends no notification to the person, and there is no way for them to see that you had blocked them or that you just unblocked them. They will only know if they try to call or text and you respond.

Can I see messages that came in while the number was blocked?

No. Messages sent while a number was blocked do not appear in your inbox after you unblock. Only new messages sent after you unblock will reach you. If you need to see what they sent, you would have to ask them to resend it.

What if I unblock a number by mistake?

You can block it again when ready using the same steps. Go to the Phone app, find the number in Recents, tap the information icon, and select Block this Caller. Or use Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts and add it back to your list.

Does unblocking a number unblock them on iMessage too?

Yes. When you unblock a number on iPhone, that contact can reach you through calls, texts, and iMessage. There is no separate block list for iMessage — it uses the same blocked contacts list as your phone and SMS.