Blocking stops a person from calling, texting, or reaching you through FaceTime
When you block someone on your iPhone, that person cannot call you, send you text messages, or start a FaceTime call with you. Their calls go straight to voicemail as if your phone is off. Text messages they send do not arrive in your Messages app. If they try to FaceTime you, they will see a message saying the call failed — they will not know you blocked them, though they may suspect it if the calls consistently fail.
Blocking is permanent until you unblock the person. You can block someone from the Phone app, Messages app, FaceTime app, or from their contact card. The block applies across all of these at once — you do not block them separately in each app.
A blocked person can still see your public social media profiles, send you emails, or contact you through other apps like Instagram or WhatsApp. Blocking only affects calls, texts, and FaceTime through your phone's built-in apps.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone prevents them from calling, texting, or FaceTiming you, but they can still email you or message you through other apps.
- You can block someone from the Phone, Messages, FaceTime, or Contacts app by finding their name and selecting the block option.
- A blocked person will not receive a notification that you blocked them, though repeated failed calls may make them suspicious.
- You can unblock someone at any time by going to Settings, then Phone or Messages, finding their name in the blocked list, and swiping left to unblock.
How to block someone from the Phone app
Open the Phone app and find the person's name in your recent calls or contacts. Tap the information icon (a small circle with an "i" inside) next to their name. Scroll down and tap Block this Caller. A confirmation message will appear asking if you want to block and report spam — tap Block to confirm.
If you want to block someone who has not called you recently, open Contacts, find their name, tap the information icon, and follow the same steps. The block takes effect when ready.
How to block someone from the Messages app
Open Messages and find the conversation with the person you want to block. Swipe left on their name (or tap and hold on older iPhones). A menu will appear with options including Block. Tap it, then confirm by tapping Block Contact.
Alternatively, open the conversation, tap the person's name at the top of the screen, then tap info. Scroll down and tap Block this Caller.
How to block someone from FaceTime
Open FaceTime and find the person's name in your recent calls or contacts. Tap the information icon next to their name, scroll down, and tap Block this Caller. Confirm the block when prompted.
You can also block someone from FaceTime by opening your Contacts app, finding their name, tapping the information icon, and selecting the block option from there.
How to unblock someone
Open Settings and scroll down to find Phone or Messages (depending on which app you want to unblock them in). Tap Blocked Contacts. You will see a list of everyone you have blocked. Find the person's name and tap Edit in the top right corner, then tap the red minus sign next to their name. Tap Unblock to confirm.
Once you unblock someone, they can call, text, and FaceTime you again. Any messages they sent while blocked will not suddenly appear — you will only see new messages sent after you unblock them.
What happens to messages and calls from a blocked person
Text messages from a blocked person do not appear in your Messages app at all. If they send you multiple texts, you will not see any of them. Calls from a blocked person go directly to voicemail, and the call does not show up in your recent calls list.
FaceTime calls from a blocked person will fail on their end — they will see a message saying the call could not be completed. They will not receive a notification that you blocked them, but if they try to call repeatedly and all calls fail, they may figure it out.
Blocking does not work across other apps
Blocking someone on your iPhone only affects the Phone, Messages, and FaceTime apps. If the person has your email address, they can still send you emails. If you both use Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram, or other messaging apps, they can still contact you through those services.
If you want to prevent someone from reaching you through other apps, you will need to block them separately in each app. Most apps have their own block feature in the person's profile or in the app's settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a blocked person tell that I blocked them?
No, they will not receive a notification. However, if they try to call you and the call fails repeatedly, or if they send texts that never get a response, they may suspect you blocked them. There is no way for them to know for certain without trying to contact you.
Will a blocked person see my voicemail greeting?
Yes. When a blocked person calls, their call goes to voicemail, and they will hear your voicemail greeting. They can leave a message, but you will not be notified that they called or that they left a voicemail.
What if I block someone by accident?
You can unblock them when ready by going to Settings, selecting Phone or Messages, tapping Blocked Contacts, and swiping left on their name to unblock. Once unblocked, they can reach you again right away.
Does blocking someone delete our conversation history?
No. Your text conversation with them will still be in your Messages app, and you can read old messages. However, new messages from them will not arrive. If you unblock them later, you will see new messages they send, but the conversation history remains.
Can I block someone without them knowing my phone number?
If they do not have your contact information saved, you can still block them. You can block unknown numbers or spam callers the same way you block a contact — just tap the information icon next to their number in your recent calls and select block.