Can i still text a blocked number

Q: What happens if you text a blocked number?

If an Android user has blocked you, Lavelle says, your text messages will go through as usual; they just wont be delivered to the Android user.” Its the same as an iPhone, but without the delivered” notification (or lack thereof) to clue you in.

You can easily block phone numbers on your iPhone or iPad if you do not want to get calls or texts from those numbers. For example, you may want to block the same telemarketers that keep calling you, or there may be someone in your life you never want to contact again. Blocking enables you to take control and decide who can contact you. Sometimes, however, you may wonder if you can call or text the people you blocked. You may further wonder if you would need to unblock them before sending a text, iMessage or placing a call. In this article, I provide answers to these questions.

Table of Contents Show

Can you call a blocked number?
How to block or unblock a number or contact
Post navigation
Use a Different Phone Number
Use Instant Messaging or Social Media Apps
Text Messaging Apps
Use Anonymous Texting Services
Use an iMessage Address
Call the Person
Can you send a text to someone you blocked?
What happens if you text a blocked number?
Can you text a blocked phone number?

When a blocked number texts you, you won’t receive the message. However, you can still text the number, and the other person will receive the message. If they decide to respond to your text, you won’t get the reply. The reply won’t be delivered so long as the number is blocked. However, if you are sending an iMessage, your message won’t say Delivered or Read, as it would normally, because the Message app won’t get anything back to confirm the delivery or read receipt from the other party. You will still be able to send the message as an iMessage, so the message will have a blue bubble instead of green one if you are texting an Apple device.

Can you call a blocked number?

A blocked number can call you and leave you a voicemail, but your phone won’t ring, and you won’t receive any notifications; you won’t know about the call until you check your voicemail. When the blocked person calls, they won’t know that they are blocked. You can still call your blocked contacts. Their phone will ring as it normally would. It won’t go straight to voicemail. If they answer the phone, you can talk normally. You do not have to unblock them first to call a blocked contact.

How to block or unblock a number or contact

As I explained above, the blocking feature only blocks incoming calls or texts. Your outgoing calls or texts won’t be affected.

Your iPhone or iPad makes it very easy to block and unblock people or numbers. You can use the Phone, FaceTime or Messages apps. Just follow these steps:

From the Phone app: Open the Phone app, tap Recents, then tap the Info button (i) next to the phone number or contact that you want to block. Tap Block this Caller.
From FaceTime: Open the FaceTime app and tap the Info button (i) next to the phone number, contact, or email address that you want to block. Tap Block this Caller.
From the Messages app: Open the Messages app, then open the conversation and tap the contact at the top of the conversation. Tap the blue info button (this one looks like a blue dot with a person icon inside). Tap Block this Caller.

If you want to unblock a number, simply repeat the same steps, but this time, tap Unblock this Caller. You can also manage your blocked list:

Go to Settings > Phone and tap Blocked Contacts.
Go to Settings > FaceTime, and under Calls, tap Blocked Contacts.
Go to Settings > Messages, and under SMS/MMS, tap Blocked Contacts.

Related articles

What Will Happen When You Block Someone on Your iPhone?
How To Block or Unblock A Number Or Contact On Your iPhone
iPhone: How To Block “No Caller ID” Calls

Dr. Serhat Kurt worked as a Senior Technology Director. He holds a doctoral degree (or doctorate) from the University of Illinois at Urbana / Champaign and a master’s degree from Purdue University. Here is his LinkedIn profile.

Do you suspect that you can’t text someone because they blocked your phone number? We’ll show you alternate ways to get through to them.

Note that cellular network downtime sometimes prevents call and message delivery. Hence, verify that the person you want to text indeed blocked you before trying to text them via platforms. For more information, refer to our tutorial on telling if someone blocked your number.

If you’ve verified that your number is blocked, send them a text through the methods or platforms listed below.

Use a Different Phone Number

If you can’t contact someone from your primary number, send the text from a different phone number. Don’t have a secondary phone number? Buy a new SIM card or text them with a friend’s or relative’s phone (number).

You can also set up an additional phone number on your device using apps like Google Voice, Skype, etc. Get an anonymous burner phone number if you don’t want to use your “real” secondary number.

If someone using an Android device blocks your number, you can’t contact them via SMS, cellular calls, or RCS messaging. When an iPhone user blocks your number, you can’t reach the person via iMessage, FaceTime, cellular calls, and SMS messages.

Interestingly, you can still contact the person on third-party instant messaging and texting apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal. If the person has blocked you on these messaging apps, ask a mutual friend to add you and the person to a group chat.

You can also reach them via social media platforms like Facebook Messenger, Twitter, Snapchat, or Instagram. Text them from a different Facebook or Instagram account if they blocked your primary social media accounts.

Look up the person’s phone number or username on these apps and send them a message. They’ll receive your text if they haven’t blocked you on the platform.

Text Messaging Apps

Messaging and voice calling apps like SpoofCard let you create virtual phone numbers to protect your personal information. You can also use the virtual number to call or text people who blocked you. The SpoofCard app is available for download on the App Store and Google Play store. You can try the app’s features for free, but you’ll need to buy app credits to send text messages with your virtual number.

Use Anonymous Texting Services

You don’t need extra software or a new number to text someone who blocked you. Web-based services like AnonymousText.com lets you send anonymous text messages online to local and international numbers. With TextforFree, you can send free (anonymous) text messages to U.S. phone numbers for free. SendAnonymousSMS is another web-based texting service worth mentioning.

Both TextforFree and SendAnonymousSMS are free to use. Sending texts via AnonymousText requires a $1.49 one-time payment. If your text exceeds the 160-character limit, you’ll pay $0.50 for every additional 150 characters.

You can access these websites/services on your mobile phone, computer, or any internet-enabled device with a web browser.

Use an iMessage Address

If someone blocks your iMessage phone number, you can contact them via your Apple ID email address. But first, ensure your iPhone or iPad can start conversations from your email address.

Go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive and select your preferred iMessage email address. Afterward, select the email address again in the “Start New Conversations From” section.

Proceed to send the person a text when a checkmark appears next to the selected email address.

Note: Your messages may not deliver if the recipient doesn’t have your email address saved on your contact card on their device. Or if the recipient also blocked your email address on their device.

Call the Person

If you still can’t text someone, try calling them instead. If your call keeps going to voicemail, there’s a high chance that the person blocked you. You can still put a call through to the person, though. All you need to do is hide your caller ID.

If you have an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID and toggle off Show My Caller ID.

Hiding caller ID on Android phones varies depending on the device’s model and operating system version. However, you’ll typically find the option to hide caller ID in the phone or dialer app menu. Refer to your phone’s instruction manual or contact your device manufacturer for step-by-step instructions.

You could shoot the person an email if you have their email address and urgently need to contact them. If your emails don’t get delivered or you don’t get a response, they’ve likely blocked your email address, too.

Can you send a text to someone you blocked?

So Yes, you can surely text someone you have blocked. Because blocking someone means making them unable to text you, however, you will still be able to text them. You can send as many messages as you like. They will get all of your messages.

What happens if you text a blocked number?

If an Android user has blocked you, Lavelle says, “your text messages will go through as usual; they just won't be delivered to the Android user.” It's the same as an iPhone, but without the “delivered” notification (or lack thereof) to clue you in.

Can you text a blocked phone number?

If someone using an Android device blocks your number, you can't contact them via SMS, cellular calls, or RCS messaging. When an iPhone user blocks your number, you can't reach the person via iMessage, FaceTime, cellular calls, and SMS messages.