On A Smartphone, How To Block A Number

You can block bothersome calls and messages regardless of whether you have an iPhone or an Android phone.

There are several reasons to block a number, including a recalcitrant ex, persistent telemarketers, or those con artists who like spoofing. It’s time to block that number after you’ve had enough of your phone buzzing. Yet how? The actions to take according to your OS and carrier are shown below.

Don’t Call the Registry

Put your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry to avoid telemarketers, which will help you get rid of annoying calls altogether. You may register up to three numbers at once on DoNotCall.gov(Opens in a new window), and you can see whether your numbers are already listed there (Opens in a new window). To confirm your registration, you must either provide your email address or call 1-888-382-1222 (TTY: 1-866-290-4236) from the phone you want to register.

Your phone number will be put into the register, which is administered by the FTC, in less than 24 hours, but it may take up to 31 days for telemarketing calls to cease. If telemarketers phone you often, submit a complaint (Opens in a new window).

Telemarketers and robocallers are also blocked by applications like RoboKiller and Nomorobo (and even deploy answer bots that pester them). Additionally, programmes like Do Not Respond deal with SMS spammers.

Just be aware that nothing will completely stop unsolicited calls. Robocalls are still common, despite the FCC’s efforts to restrict them (Opens in a new window). Here are some further actions you may do to stop your phone from ringing nonstop as you wait for actual findings.

Running Systems

iOS from Apple

If you go to Settings > Phone and enable Silence Unknown Callers, you can reroute calls from individuals or businesses you don’t know with iOS 13 and later. Voicemail is automatically called from any caller whose number is not in your contacts list, Siri Suggestions, or recent outgoing calls. A notice of the call will be sent to you later.

Text messages from phone numbers that are not in your contacts may also be sent to a different list. Select Messages > Settings > Filter Unknown Senders and toggle it on.

Open the Phone app and hit Recent to block a caller’s number. Locate the number, then hit the Info button (it looks like an I in a circle in lowercase). Tap Block this Caller by scrolling down. If you confirm, voicemail will be used for all calls from that number.

Go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts to block someone from your contact list. At the bottom, choose Add New. Your Contacts list will appear; choose the people you wish to block. As an alternative, you may access it via Settings > Messages > Blocked Contacts > Add New.

Tap the number or name at the top of the screen to bring up a drop-down menu with three options: audio, FaceTime, and Info. Choose one of these to ban someone from texts. Click Info. Scroll down and hit Block this Caller after tapping Info once again.

If you believe someone could use FaceTime to spy on you, open that app, identify your most recent FaceTime discussion with them, and click the Info button. You’ll get a screen with call details and actions; scroll down and choose Block this Caller. Go to Settings > FaceTime > Blocked Contacts to block them if they are someone in your contacts. To block a name or names, scroll to the bottom, press Add New, and then make your selection.

In related news, there are indicators that you may have been banned, such as calls going straight to voicemail, never seeing the Delivered message shown under your messages, and your text becoming green instead of blue when contacting other iOS users. Don’t panic immediately away (these things may also occur if the person you’re attempting to reach does not have a connection. However, if it has been some time and you are still having trouble, you have probably been blocked.)

Android Because Android gives phone manufacturers significant customization latitude, the method for banning a number differs from device to device.

Typically, you should be able to press the phone number, scroll to the bottom to block the call, or hit the ellipsis icon to add a number by selecting Block Number.

Call Screen is a function that certain Android phones have that allows Google Assistant to filter calls from people who aren’t in your contacts. Dial Call Screen under Settings > Spam. Choose Call Screen, then choose which caller types you want to screen under Unknown Call Settings (spam, possible fake numbers, and so on). Any callers who fall into one of those categories will be informed by Google Assistant that you are using a call screener and asked why they are calling. You may choose whether to participate in the conversation after receiving a real-time transcript of it.

Carriers’ Choices

Apps are available from wireless providers that may be used to restrict calls. For iOS and Android users, AT&T offers Call Protect (Opens in a new window) (available from the AT&T Mobile Security app, as well). For $3.99 a month, you can upgrade to the Plus version, which offers additional security features including a VPN, a personal ID monitor, and theft alerts (if you use an Android device).

For a fee, Verizon offers a few options(Opens in a new window) that allow you to block certain numbers as well as potential fraudsters. Fraudulent Shield, formerly known as Name ID, is an app from T-Mobile that enables you to block and report scam calls; a premium version costs $4 per line each month.

The FCC currently mandates that all carriers (even landline providers) participate in the STIR/SHAKEN protocols, an authentication scheme for genuine calls (Opens in a new window). That approach ought to already significantly reduce the quantity of fake calls, but it won’t completely eliminate them.