Block a call right now, or set up blocking for future calls
You can block a call two ways: stop the current call before it rings through, or add a number to your phone's block list so it never reaches you again. The fastest method depends on whether you recognize the number and whether your phone is in your hand when it rings.
If the call is ringing right now and you do not want to answer, press the red decline button (or the button labeled "Decline" or "Reject"). The call stops when ready and goes to voicemail. This works on any phone. If you want that number blocked permanently, you can add it to your block list after the call ends — your phone will remember the number from your recent calls list.
If you want to block a number you already know, or one that keeps calling, you can add it to your block list before it ever rings. The steps differ slightly between iPhone and Android, but both take less than a minute.
Key Takeaways
- Press the red decline button during a call to stop it when ready; the call goes to voicemail instead of ringing through.
- On iPhone, open Settings, tap Phone, select Blocked Contacts, and add the number or contact you want to block.
- On Android, open the Phone app, find the number in your call history or contacts, tap the three dots, and choose Block Number.
- Blocked numbers can still leave voicemails, but you will not see a notification and the message will not appear in your main voicemail inbox on most phones.
- You can unblock a number at any time using the same menu where you blocked it.
How to block a number on iPhone
Open the Settings app on your home screen. Scroll down and tap Phone. Tap Blocked Contacts. At the top, tap the plus sign (+) to add a new blocked number.
You can type in the phone number directly, or tap Contacts to choose someone from your contact list. If you want to block a number that called you recently, tap Recents instead — your phone will show all incoming, outgoing, and missed calls from the past few days. Find the number and tap it, then confirm by tapping Block This Caller.
Once a number is blocked, calls from that number will not ring your phone. The caller will hear a message saying your number is not available, and any voicemail they leave will go to a separate folder you can access but will not be notified about.
How to block a number on Android
Open the Phone app (the one you use to make calls). Tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu) at the top left, then tap Settings. Tap Blocked Numbers or Block List — the exact wording varies by phone maker, but it is always in the Settings section of the Phone app.
Tap the plus sign (+) or the button that says Add Number. You can type the number in, or tap Contacts to pick someone from your phone's contact list. If the number is in your recent calls, you can also go back to the Phone app's main screen, find the number in your call history, press and hold it, and tap Block Number from the menu that appears.
Once blocked, calls from that number will not ring through. On most Android phones, blocked calls go straight to voicemail, and you will not see a notification. Some Android phones let you send blocked calls to a separate spam folder instead.
Block a call from your recent calls list
The fastest way to block a number is often through your phone's call history. Open the Phone app and look at your recent calls — these are listed in order from most recent to oldest.
On iPhone, swipe left on the number you want to block, then tap the trash icon and select Block This Caller. On Android, press and hold the number, then tap Block Number from the menu. Both methods add the number to your block list when ready.
This approach works well if someone has called you multiple times and you want to stop it now. You do not have to remember or type the number — your phone already has it.
What happens when you block a number
A blocked caller will not see any message saying they are blocked. Instead, they will hear a message that sounds like a normal unanswered call — something like "the number you have reached is not available" or "the call cannot be completed as dialed." To them, it will feel like your phone is off or you are not picking up.
Blocked callers can still leave voicemails, but you will not get a notification about them. On iPhone, blocked voicemails appear in a separate folder called Blocked Messages inside the Voicemail section of the Phone app. On Android, blocked voicemails usually go to a spam or blocked folder, though some phones delete them automatically. You can check these folders anytime if you want to listen to what was left.
Blocking does not prevent text messages from a blocked number — it only stops calls. If you want to block texts as well, you will need to use your phone's messaging app to block the contact there too.
Unblock a number if you change your mind
You can remove any number from your block list at any time. On iPhone, go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts, find the number, and swipe left, then tap Unblock. On Android, open Phone > Settings > Blocked Numbers, find the number, and tap the minus sign or delete icon next to it.
Once unblocked, calls from that number will ring your phone normally again. You will see incoming calls and get notifications just as you would from any other contact.
Block calls from unknown or private numbers
Some calls come from numbers that show up as "Unknown," "Private," or "No Caller ID." You cannot block these the same way because there is no specific number to add to your block list.
On iPhone, you can silence calls from unknown numbers entirely. Go to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers. When this is on, calls from numbers not in your contacts will go straight to voicemail without ringing. You can still see them in your recent calls and call them back if you want.
On Android, the option varies by phone maker. Some phones have a setting called Block Unknown or Block Private Numbers in the Phone app's settings. Others use a separate app like Google Phone, which has a Block Unknown Callers toggle. Check your phone's Phone app settings to see what options are available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell if I blocked them?
No. A blocked caller hears a normal "call cannot be completed" message, the same as if your phone were off. They will not receive any notification that they are blocked. However, if they call repeatedly and always get the same message, they might suspect it, but your phone does not tell them directly.
Will blocked callers still reach my voicemail?
Yes, blocked numbers can leave voicemails, but you will not be notified. On iPhone, blocked voicemails go to a separate folder in the Voicemail section. On Android, they usually go to a spam or blocked folder. You can listen to them anytime, but you will not get an alert when they arrive.
Can I block a number that is not in my contacts?
Yes. You can type any phone number directly into your block list, even if it is not saved as a contact. On both iPhone and Android, when you add a blocked number, you have the option to type it in manually instead of choosing from your contacts.
What if I block someone by accident?
You can unblock them when ready. On iPhone, go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts, find the number, and swipe left to tap Unblock. On Android, open Phone > Settings > Blocked Numbers, find the number, and tap the delete icon. The number will be unblocked within seconds.
Does blocking stop text messages too?
No. Blocking a number in the Phone app only stops calls. Text messages from a blocked number will still come through. To block texts, open your Messages app, find the conversation, and look for a Block option — usually accessed by tapping the contact name at the top of the conversation.