The basic way to block a call depends on what kind of phone you have

On an iPhone, you can block a caller right from the call screen by tapping the red circle to decline, then tapping the contact name and choosing "Block this Caller." You can also go to your Phone app, find the number in your recent calls or contacts, tap the information icon (the small "i" in a circle), scroll down, and select "Block this Caller." Once blocked, that number cannot call or text you, and their calls go straight to voicemail without ringing your phone.

On an Android phone, the steps vary slightly by manufacturer and Android version, but the general path is similar. Open your Phone app, find the number you want to block in your call history or contacts, press and hold it, and look for "Block" or "Block number" in the menu that appears. Some Android phones also let you tap the information icon next to a contact and find a block option there. After you block someone, their calls and texts are silenced, though some Android versions let you choose whether to send them to voicemail or reject them silently.

If you do not remember the exact number or contact name, you can also block calls from unknown numbers entirely. On iPhone, go to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers, which sends any call from a number not in your contacts to voicemail. On Android, open your Phone app, tap the three-dot menu, go to Settings > Blocked numbers, and look for an option to block unknown or private numbers (the exact wording depends on your phone model).

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone users can block a caller by tapping the red circle during a call, then selecting "Block this Caller" from the contact details.
  • Android users typically press and hold a number in their call history and select "Block" from the menu, though the exact steps vary by phone model.
  • Both iPhone and Android let you block unknown or private numbers entirely, sending them straight to voicemail without ringing your phone.
  • Blocked callers cannot reach you by phone or text, but they will not be notified that they are blocked.
  • You can unblock a number at any time by going back to your blocked list and removing it.

Where your blocked list lives and how to manage it

On iPhone, your blocked contacts are stored in Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts. You can see the full list of everyone you have blocked and tap "Edit" in the top left to remove someone from the list if you change your mind. There is no limit to how many numbers you can block on an iPhone.

On Android, the blocked list location depends on your phone maker. For most Android phones, open your Phone app, tap the three-dot menu, go to Settings, and look for "Blocked numbers" or "Blocked contacts." Samsung phones keep this in Phone > Menu > Settings > Block numbers. Google Pixel phones use Phone > Menu > Settings > Blocked numbers. If you cannot find it in your Phone app, check your Contacts app instead — some Android versions put the block list there.

Once you find your blocked list, you can remove someone by tapping their name and selecting "Unblock." Unblocking them when ready restores their ability to call and text you. There is no notification sent to them when you unblock them, just as there is no notification when you block them in the first place.

What happens when you block someone

When you block a number on your phone, that person's calls and text messages stop reaching you. On iPhone, their calls go to your voicemail, and they can leave a message, but you will not hear your phone ring. On Android, the behavior depends on your settings — you can choose to send them to voicemail, reject them silently, or send them to a separate blocked messages folder.

The blocked caller does not receive a notification that they have been blocked. They will not see a message saying "this person blocked you." Instead, their call will ring on their end as if it went through normally, but it will not reach your phone. If they try to text you, the message may or may not show as delivered depending on whether they are using iMessage (Apple's messaging service) or standard SMS text messages. With iMessage, the message may appear to send normally even though you never receive it.

If a blocked caller leaves a voicemail, it goes into a separate "Blocked Messages" folder on iPhone or a blocked voicemail section on Android, depending on your phone. You can listen to these messages if you want, but you do not have to. The blocked caller has no way of knowing whether you listened to their voicemail.

Blocking calls from unknown or private numbers

If you are getting calls from numbers that do not show up in your contacts — often labeled "Unknown," "Private," or "Restricted" — you can block all of them at once rather than blocking each number individually. This is useful when you are being harassed by someone using a spoofed number or calling from a blocked number.

On iPhone, go to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers and turn it on. This sends any call from a number not in your contacts, not in your recent calls, and not in your voicemail to voicemail automatically. Your phone will not ring, but the call will still be logged in your recent calls list so you can see who tried to reach you.

On Android, the process varies by phone. For most Android phones, open your Phone app, tap the three-dot menu, go to Settings > Blocked numbers, and look for "Block unknown" or "Block private numbers." For Samsung phones, go to Phone > Menu > Settings > Block numbers > Block unknown callers. Once turned on, unknown calls go to voicemail without ringing your phone.

When blocking is not enough

Blocking a single number works well if you are being bothered by one person or one business. However, if you are receiving many calls from different numbers — especially if they appear to be spoofed or automated — blocking each one individually becomes impractical. In those cases, turning on "Silence Unknown Callers" (iPhone) or "Block unknown" (Android) is more effective because it stops calls from any number you have not saved.

If blocking and silencing unknown callers does not stop the harassment, you may be dealing with robocalls or spam calls that use different numbers each time. Many phone carriers offer additional spam-filtering services. AT&T Call Protect, Verizon Call Filter, and T-Mobile Scam Shield are built into those carriers' networks and can identify and block many spam calls automatically. These services are often free or cost a few dollars per month for more advanced filtering.

If the calls are threatening, harassing, or part of a pattern of abuse, you can also report them to your local police department or to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Blocking the number protects you when ready, but reporting helps authorities track patterns of harassment or fraud.

Blocking calls from apps and services

Some unwanted calls come not from phone numbers but from apps or services on your phone itself — for example, notifications that sound like calls, or apps that use your phone's calling feature to reach you. These cannot be blocked the same way as a regular phone number.

If an app is sending you unwanted notifications that sound like calls, go to your phone's Settings, find the app in your app list, and turn off its notification permissions. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications, find the app, and toggle off "Allow Notifications." On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Notifications, find the app, and turn off notifications. You can also uninstall the app entirely if you no longer want it.

If a service like WhatsApp, Telegram, or another messaging app is calling you and you want to block it, open the app, find the contact or conversation, and look for a block option within that app itself. These apps have their own block lists separate from your phone's block list. Blocking someone in WhatsApp, for example, does not block them from calling you on your regular phone line — it only blocks them within WhatsApp.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I blocked them?

No. When you block someone, they do not receive a notification. Their calls will ring on their end as if they went through normally, but they will not reach your phone. They may eventually figure it out if they notice you never respond to calls or texts, but the phone itself does not tell them they are blocked.

What if I block someone by accident?

You can unblock them at any time. On iPhone, go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts, tap Edit, and tap the minus sign next to their name. On Android, open your Phone app, go to Settings > Blocked numbers, find their name, and tap Unblock. Once unblocked, they can call and text you normally again.

Will blocking stop text messages too?

Yes. When you block a number on your phone, both calls and text messages from that number are blocked. On iPhone, blocked texts do not appear in your message threads. On Android, they may go to a separate blocked messages folder depending on your phone model.

Can I block a number that is not saved in my contacts?

Yes. You can block any number, whether or not it is saved. Find the number in your recent calls, press and hold it (or tap the information icon), and select Block. You do not need the person's name or contact information to block them.

If I block someone, will they still be able to leave voicemail?

Yes. On both iPhone and Android, blocked callers can still leave voicemail messages. These messages go into a separate blocked messages folder that you can access if you want to listen to them, but you are not notified when they arrive.