The simplest ways to stop unwanted calls

Most home phones let you block calls directly through your phone or through your phone company. The fastest method depends on what kind of phone you have and whether you want to block one number or many. If you have a landline through a cable or phone company, you can usually block calls using a feature they provide — sometimes free, sometimes for a small monthly fee. If you have a basic cordless phone, you may be able to block numbers right on the handset itself. If you use a VoIP service like Ooma or Vonage, blocking happens through an app or online account.

The key difference is that phone company blocking stops calls before they reach you, while handset blocking just silences them on your phone. Phone company blocking is stronger because it prevents the call from ringing at all. Handset blocking is useful if you want to keep a record of who called but don't want to hear the phone ring.

Key Takeaways

  • Your phone company can block numbers for free or a small fee, and this stops calls before they ring your phone.
  • Most cordless phones let you block numbers directly on the handset using the menu or settings button.
  • VoIP services like Ooma, Vonage, and MagicJack have blocking built into their apps or online accounts.
  • Blocking one number takes minutes, but blocking many numbers or unknown callers may require a paid service from your phone company.
  • If blocking does not work, the call may be spoofed, and you may need to contact your phone company or file a complaint with the FTC.

Blocking calls through your phone company

Call your phone company and ask what blocking options they offer. Most major carriers — AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, and others — offer at least one free or low-cost blocking feature. Some companies call it "Call Block" or "Anonymous Call Rejection." Others use names like "Call Filter" or "Selective Call Blocking." The names vary, but the function is the same: you give them a number, and they stop calls from that number before your phone rings.

To set this up, call your phone company's customer service number (it is on your bill). Tell them the phone number you want to block and ask them to add it to your block list. They will confirm the number and tell you when the block takes effect — usually within hours. Most companies let you block between 10 and 30 numbers for free. If you want to block more, they may offer a paid plan.

Some phone companies also offer a service that blocks calls from unknown numbers or numbers that do not match a pattern you recognize. This is useful if you are getting many calls from different numbers. Ask your phone company whether they offer "Unknown Caller Blocking" or "Spam Call Blocking" and what it costs.

Blocking calls on your cordless phone handset

If your cordless phone has a menu or settings button, you can often block numbers directly on the handset. The steps vary by phone model, but the general process is the same: find the call history or recent calls list, select the number you want to block, and choose "Block" or "Add to Block List."

To find the exact steps for your phone, look at the handset itself for a button labeled "Menu," "Settings," or "Options." Press it and look for a section called "Call History," "Recent Calls," or "Block List." If you cannot find it, check the manual that came with your phone — you can usually find it online by searching for your phone model number plus "manual." Many manufacturers like Panasonic, VTech, and Uniden post manuals on their websites.

Blocking on the handset works, but it only silences the call on that specific phone. If you have multiple handsets in your home, you will need to block the number on each one. Also, the call still reaches your phone line — your phone company does not know it is blocked, so the call may still count against your phone bill or show up in your call log.

Blocking calls on VoIP services

If you use a VoIP service like Ooma, Vonage, MagicJack, or Google Voice, blocking happens through an app or online account, not through a physical phone. Log into your account on the service's website or open their app on your phone or computer. Look for a section called "Settings," "Call Management," or "Block List."

In that section, you will see an option to add a number to your block list. Enter the phone number you want to block and save it. The block usually takes effect when ready. Most VoIP services let you block unlimited numbers at no extra cost, which is one advantage over traditional phone company blocking.

Some VoIP services also let you set rules for calls — for example, you can send calls from certain numbers straight to voicemail, or you can allow calls only from numbers in your contacts. Check your service's settings to see what options are available. If you are not sure how to access your account, call your VoIP provider's customer service number or check their website for a help section.

What to do if blocking does not work

If you block a number and calls from that number still reach you, the call may be spoofed. Spoofing means the caller is using a fake number — they are hiding their real number and making it look like the call is coming from a different number. Phone company blocking usually cannot stop spoofed calls because the number changes each time.

If you are getting many spoofed calls, contact your phone company and ask whether they offer spam or scam call blocking. Some companies now offer this as a free service or for a small monthly fee. These services use technology to detect calls that look like spam or scams and block them before they reach you.

You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC collects complaints about unwanted calls and shares the information with law enforcement. Filing a complaint does not stop the calls when ready, but it helps the FTC track patterns and take action against the worst offenders.

Blocking calls from unknown or private numbers

If you want to block all calls from numbers that do not show up on your caller ID — sometimes called "private" or "unknown" numbers — your phone company may offer this as a feature. Call them and ask about "Anonymous Call Rejection" or "Block Anonymous Calls." This feature tells callers that you do not accept calls from hidden numbers, and their call will not go through.

Be aware that some legitimate callers, like hospitals or government offices, may call from numbers that do not show up on caller ID. If you block all unknown numbers, you may miss important calls. A safer approach is to block only the specific numbers that are bothering you, or to use your phone's do-not-disturb or quiet hours feature to silence calls during certain times of day.

Using your phone's do-not-disturb or quiet hours feature

Most home phones have a feature that lets you silence calls during certain hours. On cordless phones, this is often called "Quiet Hours" or "Do Not Disturb." On VoIP services, it may be called "Do Not Disturb" or "Call Screening." This feature does not block calls permanently — it just silences them during the hours you set.

To turn on this feature, go to your phone's settings or your VoIP account settings and look for "Quiet Hours," "Do Not Disturb," or "Call Screening." Set the hours when you want calls to be silenced — for example, 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. Calls during those hours will go to voicemail instead of ringing your phone. This is useful if you are getting unwanted calls at night or during work hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I block calls from a number that keeps changing?

If the number changes every time, the caller is likely spoofing. Blocking individual numbers will not work because each call comes from a different number. Ask your phone company about spam or scam call blocking, which uses patterns to detect spoofed calls rather than blocking specific numbers.

Will blocking a number stop text messages from that number too?

Phone company call blocking usually blocks calls only, not text messages. If you want to block texts, you may need to block the number on your mobile phone instead, or ask your phone company whether they offer text blocking as a separate feature.

What happens to blocked calls — do they go to voicemail?

When your phone company blocks a call, the caller usually hears a message saying the call cannot go through. The call does not reach your voicemail. If you block a number on your handset or VoIP account, the call may go to voicemail instead, depending on your settings.

Can I unblock a number if I change my mind?

Yes. Call your phone company and ask them to remove the number from your block list, or go into your phone's settings or VoIP account and delete it from your block list. The unblock usually takes effect within hours.

Is there a charge for blocking calls?

Most phone companies offer at least one free blocking feature. If you want to block more than 10 or 30 numbers, or if you want advanced spam blocking, they may charge a monthly fee — usually between $3 and $10. VoIP services typically offer unlimited blocking at no extra cost.