How to Block a Number on Your iPhone or iPad: Stop Unwanted Calls and Messages

Are you tired of receiving unwanted calls and messages on your iPhone or iPad? Whether it’s spam calls, persistent telemarketers, or unwanted texts, blocking numbers is an essential tool for managing your digital peace. Fortunately, Apple provides straightforward ways to block phone numbers, contacts, and email addresses directly from your devices. This guide will walk you through the steps on How To Block A Number and manage your blocked contacts effectively, ensuring a smoother and less intrusive mobile experience.

Blocking Numbers, Contacts, and Emails on iPhone and iPad

iOS offers multiple convenient methods to block numbers, contacts, and emails across different applications. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how to do it from various apps:

Blocking a Number from the Phone App

If you’ve just received a call from a number you want to block, the Phone app provides a quick access point:

1. Open the Phone app on your iPhone or iPad.

2. Tap on Recents to view your recent call history.

3. Locate the number you wish to block and tap the Info button (i) next to it.

   Alt text: Info icon next to a phone number in the Phone app, indicating options for that number, key to blocking unwanted calls.

4. Scroll down the contact details page until you find Block this Caller. Tap on it.

5. Confirm your decision when prompted. The number is now blocked.

Blocking a Number or Contact from FaceTime

FaceTime is not just for video calls; you can also block unwanted contacts from here:

1. Open the FaceTime app.

2. Find the number, contact, or email you wish to block in your recent calls or search for them.

3. Tap the Info button (i) next to the contact or number.

   Alt text: The info icon displayed in FaceTime, crucial for accessing contact options including the ability to block unwanted callers and numbers.

4. Scroll down and tap Block this Caller.

5. Confirm to block the contact or number in FaceTime.

Blocking a Contact from Messages

Tired of unwanted text messages? Here’s how to block a number or contact directly from the Messages app:

1. Open the Messages app and select the conversation from the number or contact you want to block.
2. Tap on the contact name or number at the top of the conversation thread.
3. Tap Info button.
4. Scroll down and tap Block this Caller.

Blocking an Email Address from Mail

Dealing with spam emails directly in your inbox? Block senders right from the Mail app:

1. Open the Mail app and find an email from the sender you wish to block.
2. Tap on the sender’s name or email address at the top of the email.
3. Tap Block this Contact.

Adding Numbers or Emails Directly to Blocked List

You can proactively add numbers or email addresses to your blocked list through the Settings app. This is particularly useful if you want to block a number you haven’t contacted recently or an email address you know is spam:

1. First, ensure the number or email address is saved as a Contact on your device. If not, add the number or email address to your Contacts.
2. Go to Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
3. For phone numbers, navigate to Phone > Blocked Contacts > Add New. For email addresses, go to Mail > Blocked > Add New.
4. Select the contact you wish to block from your contact list.

Managing Your Blocked Numbers, Contacts, and Emails

Keeping track of who you’ve blocked is simple. iOS provides centralized lists for managing blocked contacts across Phone, FaceTime, Messages, and Mail:

Accessing Blocked Numbers in Phone

1. Open Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap Phone.
3. Tap Blocked Contacts to view and manage your list of blocked phone numbers.

Accessing Blocked Contacts in FaceTime

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap FaceTime.
3. Under the Calls section, tap Blocked Contacts.

Accessing Blocked Contacts in Messages

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Messages.
3. Tap Blocked Contacts to see the list of blocked numbers and contacts for messages.

Accessing Blocked Senders in Mail

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap Mail.
3. Under the Threading section, tap Blocked to manage blocked email addresses.

Filtering Messages from Unknown Senders

For an extra layer of message management, you can filter messages from senders not in your contacts. This helps to keep your main Messages inbox cleaner:

1. Go to Settings > Messages.

2. Scroll down to Filter Unknown Senders and toggle it on.

3. In the Messages app, you will now see a Filters option at the top left. Tap Filters and then Unknown Senders to view filtered messages.

Note: You won’t receive notifications for messages filtered into the Unknown Senders list.

Reporting Spam or Junk in Messages

Apple also allows you to report iMessages that appear to be spam or junk. This helps improve Apple’s spam detection and protect users:

1. If you receive an iMessage from someone not in your contacts, a Report Junk link will appear below the message.

2. Tap Report Junk, then tap Delete and Report Junk to confirm.

Important: Reporting junk does not automatically block the sender. To prevent future messages, you need to manually block the contact as described earlier. For SMS and MMS spam messages, contact your carrier to report them.

By utilizing these methods, you can effectively block a number and manage unwanted communications on your iPhone and iPad, leading to a more peaceful and productive mobile experience.