Spam calls have become an increasingly frustrating nuisance for iPhone users. Whether it’s an unsolicited telemarketer, a scammer attempting to defraud you, or a robocall delivering pre-recorded messages, these unwanted calls can disrupt your day and invade your privacy. Thankfully, Apple has implemented various features and tools to help you combat spam calls and regain control over your iPhone’s calling experience. In this guide, we will explore some effective methods to stop spam calls on your iPhone and minimize the disruptions caused by these intrusive callers. By following these steps, you can enjoy a more peaceful and uninterrupted communication experience on your iPhone.
How to Block Spam Calls on the iPhone
There are built-in spam protection filters on your iPhone, and your cellular carrier may also offer a scam block service.
To block callers on your iPhone:
- Open the Phone app
- Tap Recents or Voicemail
- Select the blue (i) icon next to the number you want to block.
- Scroll to the bottom and tap Block; this caller
After following the steps above, the phone number you’ve blocked will no longer be able to reach you.
Manage your blocked callers:
You can easily reverse this process if you’ve blocked the wrong individual.
- Open the Settings app
- Tap Phone
- Scroll and tap on Blocked Contacts
Here you’ll find a list of all the contacts you’ve previously blocked, and you can quickly remove them from the list by swiping left and tapping Unblock.
Automatically Send Spam Calls to Voicemail
Certain cellular carriers have a helpful feature that supports call blocking and sends those calls directly to voicemail. I’m a T-Mobile user, so what follows is their process.
T-Mobile/Sprint
If you’re a T-Mobile/Sprint customer, you may have noticed that when you receive a call that’s likely spam, it will receive a “Spam Likely” designation. It’s possible that this call could be legitimate, but it’s unlikely. However, you can send these calls directly to your voicemail on the iPhone.
- Open the Phone app
- Tap Keypad at the bottom
- Enter #662#
- Now press the call button
If you’re uncertain whether you’ve activated this service enter #787# and tap the call button.
To turn off the service, enter #632#.
Turning this service on will block “Scam Likely” calls from getting through but might not block all spam calls. Still, turning this service on may be worth it if you don’t want to block all unknown callers.
Reach out to your cellular provider to see what spam services they offer.
Silence Unknown Callers
Another great feature on the iPhone that you may need to be made aware of is Silence, Unknown Callers. Once this is set up, any unknown number that tries to reach you will go straight to voicemail, but you won’t see the incoming call notification. Doing this will silence all incoming calls not included in your contacts, recent, outgoing calls, or Siri suggestions.
To set this up:
- Open the Settings app
- Tap on Phone
- Select Silence, Unknown Callers
- Toggle on the Switch
Take Note that if you’re expecting a call from the doctor’s office or other important callers, you may miss that call if they aren’t listed in your Contacts. I still use this feature and know I can pick up any calls that leave a message in a voicemail.
Conclusion
Apple’s spam filtering features have improved over the last few iOS updates, so there is less need for third-party spam-blocking apps.
Stopping spam calls through these features is another step towards taking control of those annoying spam callers.
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