The basic steps differ by phone type, but take less than a minute

Blocking a number on your phone stops that caller from reaching you by call or text. On an iPhone, open the Phone app, find the number in your recent calls or in a contact, tap the info icon, and select "Block this Caller." On an Android phone, open the Phone app, long-press the number in your call history, and tap "Block number." Both phones also let you block from a text message: swipe left on iPhone or long-press on Android, then choose the block option.

Once you block a number, that caller won't see a busy signal or rejection message—the call or text straightforward won't go through to you. They may not realize they're blocked. You can unblock the number at any time by going back to the same menu and selecting "Unblock."

If you don't recognize the number and it's not in your contacts, you can still block it from your recent calls list without saving it as a contact first. This is the fastest way to stop repeat callers.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone, tap the info icon next to a recent call or contact, then select "Block this Caller" from the menu.
  • On Android, long-press a number in your call history and tap "Block number."
  • You can block a number directly from a text message by swiping left (iPhone) or long-pressing (Android).
  • Blocked callers won't reach you by call or text, and you can unblock them later if needed.
  • Blocking happens on your phone only—the caller's number isn't blocked on their device or across other phones.

Blocking from your iPhone's Phone app

Open the Phone app and go to the "Recents" tab at the bottom. Find the number you want to block—it can be a missed call, an answered call, or any recent contact. Tap the small circle with an "i" on the right side of that entry.

A menu will appear with options for that number. Scroll down and tap "Block this Caller." A confirmation message will appear asking if you're sure. Tap "Block Contact" to confirm. The number is now blocked on your phone.

If the number is already saved in your Contacts app, you can also block it from there. Open Contacts, find the person, tap "Edit," scroll to the bottom, and tap "Block this Caller."

Blocking from your Android phone's Phone app

Open the Phone app and go to the "Recents" or "Call History" tab. Find the number you want to block and long-press it (hold your finger on it for a second or two until a menu appears).

Tap "Block number" or "Block" from the menu that appears. Some Android phones may phrase this as "Add to reject list" or "Block caller." A confirmation message will appear. Tap "Block" or "OK" to confirm.

If you're using a Samsung phone, you can also access blocking through the Phone app's settings. Tap the three-dot menu at the top, select "Settings," then "Blocked numbers," and add the number manually.

Blocking directly from a text message

You don't have to go through your call history to block someone. If you receive a text from a number you want to block, you can block it right from the message.

On iPhone, open the text thread, tap "Details" in the top right, then tap the phone number or contact name. Tap "Block this Caller" from the menu.

On Android, open the text message, tap the three-dot menu at the top right, and select "Block number" or "Block sender." The exact wording depends on your phone's manufacturer and messaging app.

What happens when you block a number

When you block a number, calls from that number go nowhere—they don't ring your phone, and you won't see a notification. The caller hears nothing unusual; they don't get a busy signal or a message saying they're blocked. From their perspective, the call may seem to go through, but it doesn't reach you.

Text messages from blocked numbers also don't appear on your phone. Some phones let you view blocked messages in a separate folder if you want to check them later, but this is optional.

Blocking only affects your phone. If the same number calls someone else, that person will receive the call normally. The number isn't blocked across all devices or networks—only on your specific phone.

Unblocking a number if you change your mind

If you block a number by mistake or later decide you want to receive calls from that person again, you can unblock it.

On iPhone, go to Settings, tap "Phone," scroll down to "Blocked Contacts," and you'll see a list of all blocked numbers. Swipe left on the number you want to unblock and tap "Unblock."

On Android, open the Phone app, tap the three-dot menu, go to "Settings," then "Blocked numbers," find the number, and tap the minus sign or delete icon next to it.

When blocking isn't enough

If you're receiving calls from many different numbers or from numbers that keep changing, blocking individual numbers won't solve the problem. Spam and robocalls often come from spoofed numbers that change with each call.

In these cases, consider using your phone's built-in spam filter. On iPhone, go to Settings, tap "Phone," and turn on "Silence Unknown Callers" to send calls from numbers not in your contacts to voicemail. On Android, open the Phone app, tap the three-dot menu, go to "Settings," then "Spam and abuse," and turn on spam protection.

You can also contact your phone carrier about spam-blocking services. Most carriers offer free or paid tools that filter calls before they reach your phone. Ask your carrier what options are available on your account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a blocked caller tell they've been blocked?

No. A blocked caller won't receive a message or busy signal. The call straightforward doesn't go through, and they may not realize they've been blocked. They might assume your phone is off or you're not answering.

Will a blocked number still be able to leave voicemail?

No. Blocked calls don't reach your voicemail system. If someone tries to call you after being blocked, the call fails before it can be routed to voicemail.

Can I block a number without saving it as a contact?

Yes. You can block any number directly from your recent calls list or from a text message, even if it's not saved in your contacts. You don't need to create a contact entry first.

What if I block a number and then they text me from a different number?

Blocking only affects the specific number you blocked. If the same person texts from a different number, that message will come through normally. You would need to block each number separately.

Does blocking a number use data or cost money?

No. Blocking is a feature built into your phone and doesn't use data, minutes, or cost anything. It happens entirely on your device.