Block Phone Numbers: Step-by-Step Guide

This guide shows you how to stop unwanted calls by blocking specific phone numbers on your smartphone. You’ll learn the exact steps for both iPhone and Android, plus how to block numbers from landlines and how to handle spam calls that keep coming from new numbers. By the end, you’ll be able to silence a persistent caller in under a minute.

What You’ll Need

• Your smartphone (iPhone or Android) with the latest operating system installed
• The phone number you want to block (you can find it in your recent calls or messages)
• If you’re blocking a number from a landline, you’ll need access to your phone’s keypad or your carrier’s online account

Step-by-Step

On iPhone (iOS 13 and later)

1. Open the Phone app (the green icon with a white phone).
2. Tap Recents at the bottom left. You’ll see a list of all incoming and outgoing calls.
3. Find the number you want to block. If it’s not in Recents, you can also go to Voicemail or Messages to find it.
4. Tap the blue “i” icon (info button) to the right of the number.
5. Scroll down and tap “Block this Caller”.
6. Confirm by tapping “Block Contact” in the pop-up.

Alternative: You can also block from Settings: Go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts > Add New… and choose a contact.

On Android (Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, etc.)

The exact steps vary slightly by manufacturer, but the general process is the same:

1. Open the Phone app (the dialer).
2. Tap the Recents tab (usually a clock or list icon).
3. Tap the number you want to block. This opens the call details.
4. Tap the “More” (three dots) icon, usually in the top right corner.
5. Select “Block numbers” or “Block/report spam” (wording varies).
6. Confirm when prompted. On some phones, you can also check a box to report the number as spam.

Alternative: Go to Settings > Blocked numbers (or Call blocking) and manually add a number.

On a Landline

1. Check your phone’s manual or the carrier’s website for the specific call-blocking code. Common codes are *60 (for Verizon) or *77 (for AT&T, but that blocks all unknown callers).
2. Dial the code, then the number you want to block, followed by #.
3. Listen for a confirmation tone or message.

If your landline doesn’t support this, contact your carrier to enable a call-blocking feature.

Common Mistakes

• Blocking the wrong number: If a spammer uses a spoofed number (a fake number that isn’t really theirs), you might block an innocent person’s number. Double-check the number before blocking.
• Not blocking on all devices: If you have a smartwatch or tablet linked to your phone, blocking on the phone usually syncs, but not always. Check your watch’s call settings.
• Assuming blocked calls go to voicemail: On iPhone, blocked calls go straight to voicemail and are marked as “Blocked.” On Android, they may be declined silently, and the caller hears a busy tone or a message that you’re unavailable.
• Forgetting to block the number in messages: Blocking a phone number in the Phone app does not automatically block text messages from that number. You need to block the number in the Messages app as well (open the message, tap the number, then tap Info > Block).

Tips

• Use the “Silence Unknown Callers” feature (iPhone): Go to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers. This sends calls from numbers not in your contacts to voicemail. It’s great for spam, but you’ll miss calls from numbers you don’t have saved.
• On Android, use “Caller ID & Spam” protection: Many Android phones have a built-in spam filter. Go to the Phone app > Settings > Caller ID & spam, and enable it. This will automatically block known spam numbers.
• Report spam numbers: When you block a number, also report it as spam. This helps your carrier and apps like Truecaller improve their databases.
• Block international numbers: If you’re getting calls from a specific country code (like +44 or +91), you can block all numbers starting with that code, but be careful—you might block legitimate calls from friends or family abroad.
• Keep a list of blocked numbers: If you block many numbers, write them down or keep a note. This helps if you ever need to unblock one.

Troubleshooting

Blocked calls still coming through?

• Check if you actually saved the block. Go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts (iPhone) or Settings > Blocked numbers (Android) and verify the number is listed.
• If the number is there but calls still come through, restart your phone. Sometimes the block list doesn’t update immediately.
• If the caller is using a different number each time (spoofing), blocking one number won’t stop them. Use the spam filtering features mentioned above.

Can’t find the block option?

• Make sure your phone’s software is up to date. Older versions of iOS and Android may have different menu layouts.
• On some Android phones (like Samsung), the block option is under Call settings > Block numbers, not in the recents list. Look for a gear icon in the Phone app.

Blocked a number by mistake?

• Go to the same block list and tap Unblock or the minus icon next to the number.
• If you blocked a contact, you can also edit the contact and remove the block.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does blocking a number notify the caller that they’re blocked?
A: No. The caller will hear a normal ring (or a busy tone on some Android phones), but the call won’t connect. They won’t know they’re blocked unless they try a different number and you answer.

Q: Can I block a number that’s not in my contacts?
A: Yes. You can block any number, whether it’s saved in your contacts or not. Just find it in your recent calls, voicemail, or messages.

Q: Will blocked calls show up in my call history?
A: On iPhone, blocked calls appear in your Recents list but are marked as “Blocked.” On Android, they typically don’t appear at all, or they show as “Blocked” in a separate section.

Q: Can a blocked number leave voicemails?
A: On iPhone, yes. Blocked callers can leave voicemails, but they go to a separate “Blocked Messages” folder in voicemail. On Android, it depends on the phone—some block voicemail entirely, others allow it.

Q: How do I block a number from my carrier?
A: Most carriers offer call blocking through their app or website. For example, you can log into your account and add numbers to a block list. This works even if you change phones.

Q: What if the spam calls keep coming from different numbers?
A: Use the “Silence Unknown Callers” feature (iPhone) or the spam filter (Android). You can also download a third-party app like Truecaller or Hiya, which automatically block known spam numbers.

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