How to Block Unknown Callers on iPhone: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Block Unwanted Calls on Your iPhone

Dealing with nuisance calls from numbers you don’t recognise can be pretty frustrating, right? Luckily, there’s a handy trick built into your iPhone’s settings. Instead of blocking every unknown number—risking you might miss an important call—this feature simply silences those calls and diverts them straight to voicemail. That way, you can carry on with your day and check your voicemails later if needed. Here’s how to set it up.

Open Your Settings

First, unlock your device and find the Settings app (that’s the grey gear icon on your home screen). You can scroll through your apps or, if you’re in a hurry, use the search function to find it quicker. Accessing Settings is key to tweaking how your iPhone handles incoming calls.
Quick Tip: If you’ve got Face ID, you can also swipe down from the top right corner to open the Control Centre and tap the gear icon there to access Settings.

Navigate to the Phone Settings

In Settings, scroll down until you see “Phone.” That’s where all your call-related options are. It’s essentially the control centre for managing your calls—especially if you want to reduce those unknown disturbances.
Path: Settings > Phone

Enable Silence Unknown Callers

Find “Silence Unknown Callers” and tap to turn it on. This feature has been around since iOS 13, so if you don’t see it, your iPhone might need an update (and yes, updating Apple devices is pretty common).
Settings > General > Software Update
And if it’s missing, make sure your iPhone is running iOS 13 or later.
Pro Tip: To find it quickly, just type “Silence Unknown Callers” into the search bar at the top of Settings.

Activate the Switch

When you see “Silence Unknown Callers,” flick the switch to turn it on. If it turns green, it’s active!
Shortcut: You can toggle this directly within the Phone settings or via Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers.
From now on, any calls from numbers not in your contacts will be silenced and sent straight to voicemail. Say goodbye to interruptions, right?

Check It’s Working

Double-check that the switch is still green—that’s your confirmation it’s doing its job.
Side Note: This feature doesn’t fully block calls from unknown numbers; it just mutes them. If you think a caller might be legitimate, you can still listen to their voicemail later.

Extra Tips for Managing Unknown Calls

It’s a good idea to keep your contacts up to date. Otherwise, you might miss important calls.
Tip: Manage your contacts via the Contacts app or through Phone > Contacts.
Since silenced calls still leave voicemails, you won’t miss anything urgent. If spam calls are a real annoyance, you could try third-party apps like Hiya or Truecaller. They can help filter out nuisance calls too.
Keeping your iOS updated is always a smart move because Apple often tweaks and enhances call features.
Check for updates here: Settings > General > Software Update
And if you’re expecting a call from your courier or your GP, you can temporarily turn off “Silence Unknown Callers” to let those important calls come through.

Frequently Asked Questions About Blocking Unknown Callers

Will this block emergency calls?

No worries. Emergency calls will always get through, no matter what. iOS makes sure of that.

Can I see missed calls from unknown numbers?

Absolutely! Missed calls from unknown numbers will still appear in your call log under Phone > Recents.

Will this affect my text messages?

Nope, it only impacts voice calls. Your messages won’t be affected at all.

Can I block calls without sending them to voicemail?

With the built-in feature, no. If you want to block a call without it going to voicemail, you’ll need to use a third-party app like Hiya or check what options your provider offers.

Will my contacts still call through as usual?

Yes! Your friends, family, and colleagues will still be able to ring you without issue. No worries there.

A Quick Summary

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Go to the Phone section.
3. Select Silence Unknown Callers.
4. Switch it on.
5. Ensure the toggle is green.

Final Thoughts on Improving Your Calling Experience

With spam calls being a daily bother, managing who can reach you is well worth the effort. Setting this up is quick and easy, and it can save you plenty of annoyance.
Pro Tip: If you want to receive calls from everyone temporarily, just disable “Silence Unknown Callers”. And if pesky spam numbers keep bothering you, you can block them directly via the call details — tap the info icon in your recent calls and select Block this Caller.
Think of it as giving your phone a bit of a fortress: only trusted contacts get straight through, while all others are diverted to voicemail. Keep your contacts updated to avoid accidentally silencing someone important. A few simple tweaks can make a big difference in having a calmer, less interrupted phone life. If you want to explore more options, checking out Apple’s support pages or user forums can offer handy tips. Implementing these steps is straightforward and should help cut down on those unwelcome calls. Here’s hoping this helps save you some time and frustration!