- See your blocked numbers
- Unblock a number in Settings
- Unblock from the Phone or Messages app
- What comes back, and what doesn't
- Number still not getting through?
- Unblocking in other apps
- Tidy your blocked list now and then
- Find a number you blocked by mistake
- Unblocking a contact who changed their number
- Does the other person know you've unblocked them?
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
To unblock a number on an iPhone, open Settings, Privacy and Security, Blocked Contacts (on older iOS it's under Phone, Blocked Contacts), tap Edit, tap the red delete button next to the number and tap Unblock. Calls and texts from them come through again from that moment.
Unblocking is the step people go looking for after a falling-out is patched up, a business finally needs to reach you, or a number got blocked by mistake. The first job is finding your blocked list, which Apple has moved between versions of iOS. Here's where it lives, how to unblock in a couple of taps, and what does and doesn't come back afterwards.
See your blocked numbers
| Your iOS | Where the list is |
|---|---|
| iOS 26 and later | Settings, Privacy & Security, Blocked Contacts |
| Earlier versions | Settings, Phone, Blocked Contacts (also under Messages and FaceTime) |
The list shows every number, contact and email address you've blocked across Phone, Messages, FaceTime and Mail. On iOS 26, unknown numbers you blocked may sit under a separate Unknown contacts entry, so check there if a number seems to be missing.
Unblock a number in Settings
- Open Settings and go to your Blocked Contacts list as above.
- Tap Edit at the top right.
- Tap the red delete button next to the number.
- Tap Unblock.
You can also swipe left on a number in the list and tap Unblock, which is quicker if you're only removing one.
Unblock from the Phone or Messages app
If the number is in your recent calls or messages, there's a shortcut. In Phone, tap Recents, tap the info button next to the number, scroll down and tap Unblock this Caller. In Messages, open the conversation, tap the name at the top, scroll down and tap Unblock this Caller. For a saved contact, open it in Contacts and do the same.
What comes back, and what doesn't
- New calls and texts: arrive normally from the moment you unblock.
- Texts sent while blocked: Apple says they aren't delivered, so they won't suddenly appear. Ask the person to resend anything important.
- Voicemails left while blocked: these are still on your phone. In Phone, Voicemail, scroll to the bottom to Blocked Messages.
- Your other devices: unblocking on the iPhone unblocks them on your iPad and Mac too, if they use the same Apple Account.
Number still not getting through?
- Silence Unknown Callers is on. If the number isn't in your contacts, its calls go straight to voicemail. Save it as a contact, or turn the setting off in Phone settings.
- Focus or Do Not Disturb is on. Check Control Centre.
- Filter Unknown Senders in Messages may be putting their texts in a separate list. Look under Unknown Senders.
- They blocked you too. Blocking works both ways only if both people do it.
Unblocking in other apps
Your iPhone's blocked list only covers Apple's apps. If you also blocked the person on WhatsApp, Instagram or another app, you'll need to unblock them there separately. If you're keeping a second number for business calls to avoid all this, my look at whether TextNow is safe covers one way people do it.
Tidy your blocked list now and then
Over time the list fills with spam numbers, which is harmless, but it can hide the one person you meant to unblock. Scan it once in a while and clear out anything you don't recognise as a real person. Spam numbers change constantly, so keeping old ones blocked rarely makes a difference. A better long-term defence is Silence Unknown Callers, plus a password manager so you're not handing your number to every sign-up form; my review of whether LastPass is safe covers that side.
Find a number you blocked by mistake
If you're not sure which entry is the one you need, open Phone, Recents and look for the number there; recent calls from blocked numbers don't show, but your own outgoing calls to them do. Tapping the info button next to one of those shows Unblock this Caller if it's on your blocked list. For a business, search your email for their phone number, then compare it with the list.
Unblocking a contact who changed their number
Blocking is tied to the number or email address, not the person. If someone you blocked has a new number, they aren't blocked on it, and unblocking their old number does nothing useful. Update their contact card with the new number instead, and remove the old one from your blocked list to keep it tidy.
Does the other person know you've unblocked them?
No. Just as Apple doesn't tell people when they're blocked, nothing is sent when you unblock them. If you want them to know, send a message once you've unblocked them; that also confirms the connection works both ways.
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If you unblock someone and regret it, blocking them again takes the same few taps, and they still won't be told either way. There's no limit on how often you can switch it.
Give it a test: ask them to send a quick text so you both know messages are flowing again.
My verdict
Find Blocked Contacts in Settings (Privacy and Security on iOS 26, Phone on earlier versions), tap Edit, delete and Unblock. Calls and texts flow again immediately, but anything sent while they were blocked won't arrive, apart from voicemails waiting in Blocked Messages.
Frequently asked questions
How do I see blocked numbers on my iPhone?
Settings, Privacy and Security, Blocked Contacts on iOS 26, or Settings, Phone, Blocked Contacts on earlier versions.
How do I unblock a number on iPhone?
In Blocked Contacts, tap Edit, tap the red button next to the number and tap Unblock.
Will I get messages sent while the number was blocked?
No. Texts sent while blocked aren't delivered.
Can I hear voicemails from a blocked number?
Yes. They're in Blocked Messages at the bottom of your voicemail list.
Does unblocking on iPhone unblock on my iPad too?
Yes, if both use the same Apple Account.
