How to Block a Number on iPhone (and What They See)

Blocking a number on an iPhone stops calls, FaceTime calls and texts from that person or company reaching you. It takes a few seconds from the Phone app, and there are a few other places to do it too. What most people want to know next is what the other person experiences, and whether blocking stretches to WhatsApp and other apps. Here's the full picture.

Block a number from the Phone app

1. Open the Phone app and tap Recents.
2. Tap the number you want to block, or the info button next to it.
3. Scroll to the bottom and tap Block Caller.
4. Confirm by tapping Block Contact.

The number doesn't need to be saved in your contacts. Any number in your recent calls can be blocked this way, which is handy for spam callers.

Other places to block someone

Where	How
Messages	Open the conversation, tap the name at the top, scroll down, tap Block Caller
FaceTime	Tap the number or contact, scroll down, tap Block Caller
Contacts	Open the contact, scroll down, tap Block Caller
Mail	Open the email, tap the sender, View Contact Card, Block this Contact
Settings (iOS 26)	Privacy & Security, Blocked Contacts, Add Blocked Contact

What happens when you block a number

• Calls: they don't ring through. The caller can still leave a voicemail, but you won't get a notification about it.
• Texts and iMessages: they aren't delivered to you.
• The other person: Apple says they don't get any notification that they've been blocked.
• Email: blocked senders' emails go straight to the trash.

The voicemail point catches people out. Blocked callers' messages don't disappear; they land in a separate Blocked Messages section at the bottom of your voicemail list in the Phone app. That's useful if you ever need evidence of unwanted contact, and it means you can check it without hearing from them day to day.

Blocking works across your Apple devices

If your iPad and Mac use the same Apple Account, blocking someone on your iPhone blocks them there too. You don't need to repeat it on each device.

What blocking doesn't cover

Blocking only applies to Apple's own apps: Phone, Messages, FaceTime and Mail. WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook Messenger and other apps each have their own block button. If someone is contacting you in several places, block them in each app separately. Some people get round a block by calling from a new number or an internet calling app; my review of whether TextNow is safe explains how those second-number apps work.

Stop spam calls without blocking each one

Blocking one number at a time is slow against spam. Two settings help more:

• Silence Unknown Callers: Settings, Apps, Phone, Silence Unknown Callers. Calls from numbers not in your contacts go straight to voicemail.
• Filter unknown senders: in Messages settings, turn on Filter Unknown Senders so texts from strangers go into a separate list.

You can also report iMessages that look like spam using Report Junk under the message. If you need a separate number to give out to businesses so spam doesn't reach your main one, my review of whether the Burner app is safe looks at one option.

Changed your mind?

Unblocking is just as quick: go to the contact or number, scroll down and tap Unblock this Caller, or manage the full list in Settings. Messages sent while they were blocked won't arrive afterwards, though.

Block a hidden or No Caller ID number

You can't block a withheld number directly, because there's no number to block. Silence Unknown Callers is the fix here: calls with no caller ID, and from any number not in your contacts or recent outgoing calls, go straight to voicemail without ringing. If the calls are threatening, keep the voicemails and contact your carrier and the police; carriers can often trace and block nuisance callers at their end.

Block numbers you don't know yet

For business owners, the problem is often a stream of different sales numbers rather than one person. Blocking each new number is whack-a-mole. A better routine is: Silence Unknown Callers on, your real contacts saved, and a separate number on your website or social profiles so your personal number stays private. Check your voicemail once a day for anything real that slipped through as unknown.

Blocking for a child's iPhone

If you're setting up a phone for a child, Screen Time gives you more control than blocking. In Screen Time, Communication Limits lets you choose who they can call and message, rather than blocking people one by one after the fact. Set it up from your own iPhone with Family Sharing so they can't change it.

Blocking is quiet and reversible, so don't hesitate to use it for anyone who makes you uneasy. You can always undo it later from the same screens.

And if a blocked number keeps appearing under a new one, report it to your carrier as well.

My verdict

Phone, Recents, tap the number, Block Caller: that's all it takes, and the other person isn't told. Remember that voicemails still arrive in a hidden section, that blocking covers your other Apple devices automatically, and that every other messaging app needs its own block.

Frequently asked questions

How do I block a number on my iPhone?

Phone app, Recents, tap the number or info button, then Block Caller.

Does the person know I blocked them on iPhone?

Apple says they don't get a notification that they've been blocked.

Can a blocked number leave a voicemail?

Yes, but you won't be notified. It goes to Blocked Messages in your voicemail.

Does blocking on iPhone block WhatsApp too?

No. Blocking only covers Apple apps. Block them in WhatsApp separately.

Do blocked texts get delivered later if I unblock?

No. Messages sent while blocked aren't delivered.