You can see your blocked numbers in Settings, and unblock any of them in seconds

When you block a number on iPhone, that person can't call or text you, and their messages go to a separate folder you don't see. But the block isn't permanent — you can view your blocked list anytime and remove someone from it. Apple keeps all your blocked numbers in one place in Settings, and unblocking takes one tap.

The blocked list lives under Phone settings, not in your Contacts app. This matters because many people look in the wrong place first. Once you know where to find it, you can unblock a number in under a minute.

Key Takeaways

  • Your blocked numbers are stored in Settings under Phone, not in Contacts or Messages.
  • You can see the full list of blocked numbers by opening Settings, tapping Phone, then scrolling to Blocked Contacts.
  • Unblocking a number removes all restrictions — that person can call and text you again when ready.
  • If you block a number through Messages or FaceTime instead of Phone, those blocks are stored separately in those apps' settings.
  • Blocked messages don't disappear; they stay in a separate folder in Messages that you can access anytime.

How to find your blocked numbers in Settings

Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap Phone. Near the bottom of the Phone settings menu, you'll see Blocked Contacts. Tap that, and you'll see a list of every number you've blocked through the Phone app.

The list shows phone numbers and contact names if you had them saved. If you blocked a number before saving it as a contact, you'll just see the raw number. This is the complete record of phone and FaceTime blocks made through the Phone app — it doesn't include blocks you created in Messages or FaceTime separately.

How to unblock a number

In your Blocked Contacts list, find the number you want to unblock. Swipe left on it, or tap Edit in the top-left corner and then tap the red minus sign next to the number. Either way, an Unblock button appears. Tap it, and the number is unblocked when ready.

Once you unblock a number, that person can call and text you right away. You don't need to restart your phone or do anything else. If they try to reach you while you're still in Settings, the call or message will come through normally.

Blocks in Messages and FaceTime work separately

If you blocked someone through the Messages app instead of Phone, that block lives in Messages settings, not in Phone settings. To find it, open Messages, tap Edit in the top-left, then tap Blocked. The same applies to FaceTime — blocks made in FaceTime are stored in FaceTime settings, not Phone settings.

This separation means you could theoretically block someone from calling you through Phone but still receive their FaceTime calls, or vice versa. Most people block across all three at once, but iPhone lets you be selective. If you want to block someone completely, you may need to check all three places.

Where blocked messages go

When someone you've blocked sends you a text message, it doesn't vanish. Instead, it goes into a separate folder in the Messages app that you can view anytime. Open Messages, scroll to the top, and look for a Blocked section. Tap it to see all messages from people you've blocked.

You can read these messages, but you can't reply to them while they're blocked. If you unblock the number, those old messages stay in your regular message thread with that person, and you can reply normally. Blocking only stops new incoming calls and messages from appearing in your main inbox — it doesn't erase the history.

What happens when you block someone

Blocking a number stops calls, FaceTime calls, and text messages from reaching you. The person who is blocked doesn't get a notification that says "you've been blocked" — but they will notice they can't reach you. Their calls go to voicemail, and their texts don't show a delivery status.

The blocked person can still see your contact information and call your number, but the call won't ring on your phone. If they leave a voicemail, you won't see it in your voicemail inbox. Some people interpret this as a sign they've been blocked, but there's no official alert from Apple.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see who I've blocked if I forgot?

Yes. Go to Settings, tap Phone, scroll to Blocked Contacts, and you'll see the full list. If the number isn't saved as a contact, you'll see just the phone number, which may not tell you who it is. You can add it to a contact to label it, or search your call history to see when they last tried to reach you.

If I unblock someone, will they know?

No. Unblocking a number doesn't send any notification to that person. They won't know you unblocked them unless you call or text them first. From their perspective, they just suddenly can reach you again after being unable to before.

What if I blocked a number but can't find it in my blocked list?

You may have blocked them in Messages or FaceTime instead of Phone. Check Blocked Contacts in Messages settings and FaceTime settings separately. You could also have blocked them on a different device — blocks don't sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, so you need to check each device.

Do blocked messages take up storage space?

Yes. Messages from blocked numbers stay on your phone and count toward your storage, just like any other text message. If you want to free up space, you can delete the entire conversation from the Blocked folder in Messages. This removes the messages permanently.

Can I block someone from calling but still receive their texts?

Not with a single block. When you block a number in Phone settings, it blocks calls and FaceTime but not texts — those go to the Blocked folder in Messages. If you want to block texts too, you need to block them separately in Messages settings. This gives you fine control over what you want to receive.