The basic steps differ by phone type, but all take under a minute
Call blocking on most phones works the same way: find the number in your recent calls or contacts, open its menu, and select a block option. On iPhone, you tap the info icon next to the number and scroll to "Block this Caller". On Android, you long-press the number in your call log and tap "Block number". The blocked caller will reach your voicemail instead of ringing through, and you won't see their calls or texts in your main inbox.
Some phones let you block before a call even comes in — you can add a number to your block list manually if you know who's calling. Others let you block directly from a text message by opening it and selecting block from the menu. The exact wording and location of these options varies slightly between phone models and carriers, but the principle is identical across all modern phones.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone, open the recent call, tap the info icon, scroll down, and select "Block this Caller".
- On Android, long-press a number in your call log or contacts and tap "Block number".
- Blocked callers reach your voicemail and their calls do not appear in your call history.
- You can block numbers manually before they call by adding them to your block list in the Phone app.
- Blocking a number does not stop text messages on some phones — you may need to block the contact separately in your Messages app.
Blocking a number on iPhone
Open the Phone app and go to the Recents tab. Find the number you want to block, then tap the small circle with an "i" on the right side of that entry. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and tap "Block this Caller". A confirmation message will appear — tap "Block Contact" to confirm.
If the number is already in your Contacts app, you can block it from there instead. Open Contacts, find the person, tap "Edit" in the top right, scroll down, and tap "Block this Caller". You can also block a number directly from a text message by opening the conversation, tapping the contact name at the top, and selecting "Block this Caller".
To see your full block list on iPhone, open Settings, go to Phone, and scroll down to "Blocked Contacts". You can unblock anyone from this list by tapping "Edit" and then the minus sign next to their name.
Blocking a number on Android
Open the Phone app and go to your call history or Recents. Long-press (press and hold) the number you want to block until a menu appears. Tap "Block number" or "Block contact" — the exact wording depends on your phone manufacturer and Android version. A confirmation message will appear; tap "Block" to finish.
You can also block from your Contacts app. Open Contacts, find the person, tap the three-dot menu icon at the top right, and select "Block number". On some Android phones, you may see the option directly in the contact details without opening a menu.
To manage your block list, open the Phone app, tap the three-dot menu at the top, and look for "Blocked numbers" or "Settings". The exact path varies by manufacturer — Samsung phones may call it "Block list" and place it under Settings instead. From this list, you can unblock anyone by tapping them and selecting "Unblock".
Blocking text messages separately from calls
On iPhone, blocking a contact through the Phone app also blocks their text messages. However, if you want to block only texts from someone without blocking their calls, you need to do it in the Messages app instead. Open the conversation, tap the contact name at the top, and select "Block this Caller".
On Android, blocking a number in the Phone app does not automatically block text messages on all devices. Open your Messages or SMS app, find the conversation, long-press it, and look for a "Block" or "Block sender" option. Some Android phones require you to open the message, tap the three-dot menu, and select "Block number" from there.
If you use a third-party messaging app like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger, those apps have their own block features separate from your phone's native blocking. Open the conversation, tap the contact name, and look for a block or report option in that app's settings.
What happens when you block a number
A blocked caller will hear your voicemail greeting when they call, just as if your phone were off or you were on another call. They will not know they are blocked — there is no special message telling them so. Their calls will not ring through to you, and they will not appear in your recent calls list.
Text messages from a blocked number behave differently depending on your phone. On iPhone, blocked texts go to a separate folder in the Messages app that you can view if you choose. On Android, blocked texts are typically deleted automatically, though some phones let you view them in a "Blocked messages" folder. Check your Messages app settings to see what happens to blocked texts on your specific device.
Blocking is not permanent. You can unblock a number at any time by going to your block list and removing it. The person will then be able to reach you normally again.
Using your carrier's call blocking service
Your phone company — whether that is Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or another carrier — may offer a call blocking service separate from your phone's built-in blocking. These services block calls before they reach your phone and often filter spam and robocalls automatically. Some carriers offer this free; others charge a small monthly fee.
To set up carrier-level blocking, contact your phone company directly or log into your account on their website. Look for options labeled "Call Filter", "Call Guard", "Scam Shield", or similar names — each carrier uses different branding. You can usually add numbers to a block list through the carrier's app or website, and these blocks work even if you change phones or switch to a new device.
Carrier blocking is useful if you want to block a number before you even know it is calling, or if you want to filter entire categories of calls like suspected spam. However, it does not replace your phone's built-in blocking — both can work together.
Blocking unknown or private numbers
If you want to block all calls from unknown or private numbers, you can do this on most phones. On iPhone, open Settings, go to Phone, and toggle on "Silence Unknown Callers". This sends all calls from numbers not in your Contacts to voicemail automatically. You can still see them in your recent calls if you want to call back.
On Android, the option varies by manufacturer. Open your Phone app settings and look for "Block unknown" or "Block private numbers". Some Android phones do not have this built-in; if yours does not, you can read a third-party call blocking app from the Google Play Store that offers this feature.
Be aware that blocking all unknown callers means you will miss calls from businesses, doctors' offices, and other legitimate callers who use private or masked numbers. If you need to receive calls from unknown numbers, consider using a call filtering app instead, which lets you see who is calling before deciding whether to answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a blocked person tell they are blocked?
No. A blocked caller hears your normal voicemail greeting and may assume you did not answer. There is no notification or message that tells them they have been blocked. They may eventually realize it if they call repeatedly and always reach voicemail, but your phone does not inform them directly.
Will a blocked number still be able to text me?
On iPhone, blocked texts go to a separate folder you can view in Messages. On Android, blocked texts are usually deleted, though some phones let you view them in a blocked messages folder. The behavior depends on your phone model. Check your Messages app settings to see where blocked texts go on your device.
What if I block someone by mistake?
You can unblock them anytime. 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 Blocked numbers, find the contact, and tap Unblock. They will be able to reach you normally again when ready.
Do I need to block a number on both my phone and my carrier?
No. Blocking on your phone alone is usually enough for personal contacts you want to avoid. Carrier-level blocking is more useful for filtering spam and robocalls across many numbers. You can use both at the same time, but you do not need to block the same number twice.
Can I block a number if I do not know who it is?
Yes. You can block any number from your recent calls, even if it is not saved in your contacts. Long-press or tap the info icon next to the number and select block. You can also block numbers manually by typing them into your block list if you know the number in advance.