In today’s digital age, with the constant barrage of unwanted phone calls, it becomes imperative to know how to block them effectively. If you own an iPhone, you have the power to control who can and cannot reach you via phone call. This article will guide you through the simple steps of how to block all phone calls on your iPhone, empowering you to regain control over your communication and protect your privacy.
Depending on your preferences, you can block calls from specific numbers, such as telemarketers or spam callers, or you can go a step further and block all incoming calls altogether. The beauty of the iPhone’s blocking feature lies in its customization options. You have the flexibility to create a personalized block list, ensuring that only the calls you want to receive make it through. Whether you’re seeking respite from persistent robocalls or simply desire more control over your time, the iPhone’s call-blocking capabilities offer a solution.
To enhance your understanding, this article will delve into the specific methods you can use to block all phone calls on your iPhone, including both temporary and permanent blocking options. We will also explore potential limitations and provide additional tips to optimize your call-blocking experience. By the end of this guide, you will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to effectively manage your incoming calls, ensuring that your phone remains a haven of communication convenience and peace of mind.
Understand the Different Blocking Options
When it comes to blocking phone calls on your iPhone, there are a few different options available to you. You can block individual numbers, blocks from unknown numbers, or block all calls except for those from your contacts. Here’s a detailed breakdown of each blocking option:
Blocking Individual Numbers
To block a specific phone number, open the Phone app and tap on **Recents**. Tap on the “i” icon next to the number you want to block, then scroll down and tap on **Block this Caller**. You can also block a number directly from the Messages app. Open the conversation thread with the number you want to block, tap on the contact’s name at the top of the screen, then tap on **Block this Contact**.
When you block a number, it will no longer be able to call or text you. You can unblock a number at any time by following the same steps and tapping on **Unblock this Caller**.
Blocking Calls from Unknown Numbers
If you’re tired of getting spam calls from unknown numbers, you can block them all with a few simple steps. Go to **Settings** > **Phone**, then scroll down and tap on **Silence Unknown Callers**. This will prevent any calls from numbers that are not in your contacts from ringing through.
Note that this feature may also block calls from legitimate businesses or services that use automated dialing systems. If you need to receive calls from unknown numbers, you can disable this feature at any time.
Blocking All Calls Except for Contacts
If you want to take blocking to the next level, you can block all calls except for those from your contacts. This is a great option if you’re getting a lot of unwanted calls from telemarketers or other sources. To do this, go to **Settings** > **Phone**, then scroll down and tap on **Block All Callers**.
You can then add exceptions for specific numbers or contacts by tapping on **Allow Calls From**. This way, only the people you want to hear from will be able to call you.
Blocking Individual Numbers
To block specific phone numbers on your iPhone, follow these steps:
- Open the Phone app: Tap on the “Phone” icon on your home screen.
- Go to “Recents”: Select the “Recents” tab at the bottom of the screen to view a list of your recent calls.
- Find the number you want to block: Scroll through the list until you find the contact or phone number you wish to block.
- Tap on the “i” button: Next to the contact or phone number, tap on the small “i” button within a circle.
- Scroll down and select “Block this Caller”: In the contact information menu, scroll down to the bottom and tap on the “Block this Caller” option.
- Confirm the block: A confirmation message will appear. Tap on “Block Contact” to complete the blocking process.
Here’s a table summarizing the steps to block individual numbers on your iPhone:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open the Phone app. |
| 2 | Go to “Recents”. |
| 3 | Find the number you want to block. |
| 4 | Tap on the “i” button. |
| 5 | Scroll down and select “Block this Caller”. |
| 6 | Confirm the block. |
Blocking Calls from Unknown Numbers
There are two main ways to block calls from unknown numbers on your iPhone. One is to use the built-in “Silence Unknown Callers” feature, which will send all calls from numbers not in your contacts list directly to voicemail. The other is to use a third-party call-blocking app, which can provide more advanced features such as the ability to block calls from specific numbers or area codes.
Using “Silence Unknown Callers”
To use the “Silence Unknown Callers” feature:
1. Go to Settings > Phone.
2. Scroll down to the “Silence Unknown Callers” section and turn on the switch.
Using a Third-Party Call-Blocking App
There are many different third-party call-blocking apps available in the App Store, so you can choose one that best suits your needs. Some of the most popular options include:
| App Name | Features |
|---|---|
| Hiya | Blocks calls from numbers not in your contacts list, as well as from suspected spammers and robocallers. |
| Truecaller | Similar to Hiya, but also allows you to identify unknown callers and block calls from specific numbers or area codes. |
| RoboKiller | Blocks calls from known robocallers and allows you to report new ones. |
Once you have installed a call-blocking app, you will need to follow the app’s instructions to set it up. Once it is set up, the app will automatically block calls from the numbers or types of numbers that you have specified.
Blocking Calls from Hidden or No Caller ID
To block calls from unknown numbers, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap on “Phone”.
- Tap on “Blocked Contacts”.
- Tap on “Add New”.
- Enter the phone number you want to block.
- Tap on “Block Contact”.
You can also block calls from hidden or no caller ID numbers by enabling the “Silence Unknown Callers” feature in the Settings app. Here’s how:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap on “Phone”.
- Tap on “Silence Unknown Callers”.
- Toggle the switch to the “On” position.
When this feature is enabled, calls from numbers that are not in your contacts or recent call history will be silenced and sent to voicemail. You can still see these calls in your call history, but they will not ring your phone.
Blocking Calls from Specific Contact Numbers
To block calls from specific contact numbers, follow these steps:
- Open the Phone app and go to the “Recents” tab.
- Tap on the “i” icon next to the contact you want to block.
- Scroll down and tap on “Block this Caller”.
Blocking Calls from Unknown Numbers
To block calls from unknown numbers, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app and go to “Phone”.
- Tap on “Call Blocking & Identification”.
- Toggle the “Block Unknown Callers” switch to “On”.
Blocking Calls from Private Numbers
To block calls from private numbers, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app and go to “Phone”.
- Tap on “Call Blocking & Identification”.
- Toggle the “Block Private Numbers” switch to “On”.
Blocking Calls from Specific Area Codes or Countries
iOS does not have a built-in feature to block calls from specific area codes or countries. However, there are a few third-party apps that can do this. Here are some popular options:
| App Name | Features | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Call Blocker | Blocks calls from specific phone numbers, area codes, and countries | Free |
| Hiya | Blocks calls from robocalls, spammers, and unknown numbers | Free (with in-app purchases) |
| RoboKiller | Blocks robocalls, spam calls, and unwanted telemarketers | $2.99/month or $29.99/year |
Once you have installed a third-party app, you can follow the app’s instructions to block calls from specific area codes or countries.
Blocking All Phone Calls
To block all phone calls, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app and go to “Phone”.
- Tap on “Call Blocking & Identification”.
- Toggle the “Silence Unknown Callers” switch to “On”.
Note that this will also block calls from people in your contacts.
Using Do Not Disturb for Temporary Blocking
Do Not Disturb is a quick and convenient way to block calls for a limited time. It will silence both incoming calls and notifications.
To enable Do Not Disturb:
- Swipe down from the top right corner of the screen to open the Control Center.
- Tap the moon icon (crescent when inactive, filled when activated).
- Do Not Disturb is now active.
To customize Do Not Disturb settings:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap “Do Not Disturb.”
- Configure the following options:
- Scheduled: Set specific times when Do Not Disturb is enabled.
- When iPhone is Locked: Automatically enable Do Not Disturb when your iPhone is locked.
- Calls: Choose to allow calls from all, none, or specific contacts.
- Repeated Calls: Allow calls from the same number multiple times within a three-minute window.
- Tap “Back” to save your settings.
| Do Not Disturb Settings |
|---|
| Scheduled |
| When iPhone is Locked |
| Calls (Allow from) |
| Repeated Calls |
When Do Not Disturb is enabled, you can receive emergency calls by swiping right on the call notification.
Silencing All Calls in Focus Mode
Focus modes allow you to customize your iPhone’s settings to minimize distractions during specific times or activities. You can configure a Focus mode to block all phone calls, ensuring that you’re not disturbed by incoming calls while you’re sleeping, studying, or engaged in other important tasks.
To silence all calls in Focus mode:
- Open the Settings app and navigate to Focus.
- Tap Create New Focus, or select an existing Focus mode you want to edit.
- Under Allow Notifications From, toggle the switch for Phone to the off position.
- Tap Done to save your changes.
Blocking Specific Callers
In addition to silencing all calls, you can also block specific callers while a Focus mode is active. This allows you for greater customization, letting you selectively block calls from certain individuals while allowing others to ring through.
To block specific callers in Focus mode:
- Open the Settings app and navigate to Focus.
- Select the desired Focus mode.
- Under Allow Notifications From, tap Add People.
- Search for the contact you want to block and toggle the switch for them to the off position.
- Tap Done to save your changes.
| Caller | Blocked |
|---|---|
| John Doe | Yes |
| Jane Smith | No |
Blocking Calls During Screen Time Limits
To prevent phone calls from interrupting your designated screen time limits, follow these steps:
- Go to “Settings” > “Screen Time”.
- Tap “Downtime” and select “Enable” if it’s not already turned on.
- Configure your desired downtime hours.
- Under “Allowed Notifications,” tap “Apps” and then “Phone.”
- Select “During Downtime” and choose “Block.”
You can customize the call blocking settings further by selecting “Specific People” and adding contacts to allow or block calls from during downtime hours.
Here’s a detailed guide to setting up call blocking during screen time:
| Steps | Instructions |
|---|---|
| Step 1: Open Screen Time | Navigate to your iPhone’s “Settings” and tap “Screen Time.” |
| Step 2: Set Up Downtime | If not already enabled, tap “Downtime” and toggle the “Enable” switch. |
| Step 3: Adjust Downtime Hours | Specify the duration and time range for your downtime period. |
| Step 4: Configure App Notifications | Under “Allowed Notifications,” tap “Apps” and select “Phone.” |
| Step 5: Set Call Blocking for Downtime | Choose “During Downtime” and select “Block.” |
| Step 6: Allow or Block Specific People | (Optional) Tap “Specific People” to add contacts to allow or block calls from during downtime hours. |
Blocking Calls from Specific Apps
To prevent certain apps from making outgoing calls, you can block their access to the phone feature. Here’s how:
1. Go to Settings
Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Select “Privacy”
From the main Settings menu, tap on “Privacy”.
3. Choose “Phone”
Under the “Privacy” menu, select “Phone”.
4. Scroll Down to “Blocked”
Scroll down the “Phone” menu and tap on “Blocked”.
5. Click “Add New…”
Tap on “Add New…” to add a new app to the blocked list.
6. Select the App
A list of installed apps will appear. Select the app you want to block from making outgoing calls.
7. Toggle Off the Switch
Next to the app’s name, you’ll see a toggle switch. Tap on it to turn it off.
8. Confirm Blocking
A confirmation message will appear. Tap on “Block” to confirm your selection.
9. Additional Settings for Blocked Apps
Once an app is blocked, you can further customize its behavior:
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Allow Call History | Allow the app to access call history even though it’s blocked from making calls. |
| Allow FaceTime | Allow the app to make FaceTime calls even though it’s blocked from making regular calls. |
To adjust these settings, tap on the blocked app in the “Blocked” list and toggle the desired switches.
Managing Blocked Contacts
After adding contacts to your blocked list, you may need to manage or remove them in the future. Here’s how:
1. Unblocking a Contact
- Open Settings.
- Tap “Phone.” Then, tap “Blocked Contacts.”
- Select the contact you want to unblock.
- Tap “Unblock this Caller.”
2. Editing Blocked Contacts
You can edit the display name of a blocked contact by following these steps:
- Open Contacts.
- Find and tap the contact.
- Tap “Edit.”
- Change the name in the “First Name” or “Last Name” field.
- Tap “Done.”
3. Viewing Blocked Contacts
To view all your blocked contacts:
- Open Settings.
- Tap “Phone.” Then, tap “Blocked Contacts.”
4. Blocking Specific Phone Numbers
You can block specific phone numbers that are not in your contacts:
- Open Phone.
- Tap “Recents.”
- Find the desired phone number.
- Tap the info button (i) next to the phone number.
- Tap “Block this Caller.”
5. Blocking Unknown Callers
You can block all calls from unknown or unavailable numbers:
- Open Settings.
- Tap “Phone.” Then, tap “Blocked Contacts.”
- Toggle the switch next to “Silence Unknown Callers” to “On.”
6. Blocking Specific Countries
You can block calls from specific countries:
- Open Settings.
- Tap “Phone.” Then, tap “Blocked Contacts.”
- Tap “Country/Region Blocking.”
- Select the desired country.
- Toggle the switch to block calls from that country.
7. Blocking Time-Based Calls
You can limit incoming calls during certain hours:
- Open Settings.
- Tap “Screen Time.” Then, tap “Downtime.”
- Toggle the switch next to “Downtime” to “On.”
- Set the start and end times for the downtime.
8. Using Third-Party Apps
There are third-party apps available that offer additional call blocking features:
| App | Additional Features |
|---|---|
| Hiya | Caller ID, spam protection, custom block lists |
| Calls Blacklist | Powerful blocking engine, schedule blocking, call recording |
| Mr. Number | Spam detection, reverse lookup, SMS blocking |
9. Reporting Spam Calls
If you receive a spam call, you can report it to your carrier:
- Copy the phone number of the spam caller.
- Contact your carrier’s customer service line.
- Provide the spam phone number and any additional information.
10. Safety Considerations
While blocking unwanted calls can be beneficial, it’s important to consider these safety measures:
- Do not block emergency numbers or trusted contacts in case of emergencies.
- Be cautious when blocking unknown numbers, as they may be legitimate calls.
- Review your blocked contacts regularly to ensure they are still relevant.
- Use caution when downloading third-party call blocking apps and grant them only necessary permissions.
- Consider using a dedicated call blocking device or service if necessary.
How To Block All Phone Calls On iPhone
If you’re tired of getting unwanted phone calls, you can block all phone calls on your iPhone. This will prevent any calls from coming through, even from people in your contacts list.
To block all phone calls on your iPhone, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap on “Phone”.
- Tap on “Call Blocking & Identification”.
- Tap on the “Block All Calls” toggle switch to turn it on.
Once you’ve turned on the “Block All Calls” toggle switch, all phone calls will be blocked. You can still receive text messages and FaceTime calls, but you won’t receive any phone calls.
People Also Ask About How To Block All Phone Calls On iPhone
How do I block all phone calls except for those from my contacts?
To block all phone calls except for those from your contacts, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap on “Phone”.
- Tap on “Call Blocking & Identification”.
- Tap on the “Block All Calls” toggle switch to turn it off.
- Tap on the “Block Contacts Only” toggle switch to turn it on.
How do I unblock a phone number?
To unblock a phone number, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap on “Phone”.
- Tap on “Call Blocking & Identification”.
- Tap on the “Edit” button in the top right corner.
- Tap on the “-” button next to the phone number you want to unblock.
Can I block all phone calls from a specific area code?
You cannot block all phone calls from a specific area code on your iPhone. However, you can use a call blocking app to block calls from specific numbers or area codes.
