How do you block a number on your phone

If you need to block a number on a cell phone, you may be able to do so through your system setting. If you have an iPhone, tap the small “i” icon next to the number in your contact list, then scroll to the bottom of the screen and click “Block this Caller.” If you have a newer Android model, go to your Settings, then Call, then Call Rejection. You can then enter the number you want to block. If that doesn’t work, you might need to contact your mobile provider. For tips on using an app to block certain numbers, keep reading!

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Maybe you're annoyed with relentless spam calls, or there's someone in your life you never want to speak to again. It's your phone. You decide who gets to call you, and who should not have that access. Luckily, blocking phone numbers on your iPhone is easy, and you should take full advantage of the feature.

Here we'll break down the steps to block a caller on your iPhone so that you no longer receive calls, FaceTime calls, and messages from that number.

1. Open the Phone app

Tap on the Phone app to block a number on iPhone. Credit: screenshot: Apple

The first thing you need to do is open up the Phone app on you iPhone. This is the app you usually use to make phone calls, and is probably located on your home screen. The icon for the phone app is green with a white phone receiver.

2. Tap on the "i" icon next to the caller's name or number

Click on the "i" icon to block a number on iPhone. Credit: screenshot: apple

Next, click on the "i" icon in the phone tab. This icon will appear under the Favorites, Recents, and Voicemail tabs on the Phone app on iPhone.

3. Scroll down and tap "Block this Caller"

Tap Block this Caller" to block the number. Credit: SCREENSHOT: APPLE

Once you tap into the caller's details, scroll down and tap "Block this Caller."

4. Tap "Block Contact"

Tap "Block Contact" to confirm. Credit: SCREENSHOT: APPLE

A confirmation will appear to block the number. Tap "Block Contact" and you're done! The number will no longer be able to call you, message you, or FaceTime call you.

Manage blocked callers

Here is how you manage blocked callers on iPhone Credit: Screenshot: Apple

To manage numbers that you have blocked, follow the following steps:

1. Tap settings on your home screen

2. Tap on the Phone app

3. Tap on Blocked Contacts to manage numbers you have blocked

Send all unknown callers to voicemail

Here is how you silence unknown callers on iPhone. Credit: Screenshot: apple

Now, if you really want to lock down your iPhone, Apple lets you send all unknown callers to voicemail. This is under the same Phone settings page from above.

1. Tap settings on your home screen

2. Tap on the Phone app

3. Tap on Silence Unknown Callers to toggle the feature on or off.

According to Apple, "Calls from unknown numbers will be silenced, sent to voicemail, and displayed on the Recents list. Incoming calls will continue to ring from people in your contacts, recent outgoing calls, and Siri Suggestions."

If you do decide to do this, remember to check your voicemail to make sure you're not missing something important!

Thanks to Android smartphones, getting in touch with family and friends is faster and easier. Not all calls are welcomed, though. Spammers, strangers, telemarketers, and other unwanted callers can get annoying. There’s a straightforward solution to stop specific callers, which is to block them. This guide will teach you how to block a phone number from your Android device.

Related: Android settings you should change

QUICK ANSWER

Block a phone number on Android by opening your Phone app and going to Recents. Tap and hold on to the number you want to block and select Block/report spam. Select whether you wish to Report as spam and then confirm by tapping on Block.

You can also find the contact you want to block by going into the Contacts tab, selecting the person, tapping on the three-dot menu button, and selecting Block numbers. Select whether you want to Report as spam and hit Block.

JUMP TO KEY SECTIONS

Some carriers make it simple

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

Do you want to get rid of those annoying callers? Doing it from your phone works, but what if you switch handsets often? Maybe you want this done more systematically? Some U.S. carriers, including the three major ones (Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile), allow you to block specific numbers on a service level. Terms and conditions apply — check out exactly what the big four carriers offer before moving forward.

How to block a phone number with different devices

Robert Triggs / Android Authority

Most Android phones nowadays have easy, native ways to block specific numbers. However, this wasn’t always the case, so many OEMs had to build the feature themselves. Depending on your device, you’ll have to work a little harder to thwart those telemarketers.

Needless to say, we can’t go into detail about the necessary steps for blocking calls on every single phone out there. We can, however, show you how to block callers on most of the top Android devices.

How to block a phone number on stock Android

Robert Triggs / Android Authority

You’ve come to the right place if you’re itching to block a phone number on a stock Android handset like the Pixel 6. Chances are, most phones have a similar process, too, which is why we decided to cover these devices first. There are three ways to do this.

Using the Contacts section from the Phone app:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Go into the Contacts tab.
3. Find the contact you want to block and tap on it.
4. Hit the three-dot menu button.
5. Select Block numbers.
6. Select whether you want to report the number(s) as spam or not.
7. Confirm by hitting Block.

Using the Recents section from the Phone app:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Go into Recents.
3. Long-press on the number you want to block.
4. Hit Block/report spam.
5. Check or uncheck the box that reads Report call as spam.
6. Select Block.

From the Phone app settings:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap on the three-dot menu button in the top-right corner.
3. Pick Settings.
4. Select Blocked numbers. This will also display a list of your blocked numbers.
5. Tap on Add a number.
6. Type in the number and hit Block.
7. Another good option is to use the Unknown setting above, which blocks all unidentified callers.

How to block numbers on Samsung phones

Robert Triggs / Android Authority

Samsung remains one of the biggest smartphone makers in the industry, holding over 21% of the smartphone market share. There’s a good chance this is the right section for you. You can block a number through the Contacts app or your Phone app.

Block in Contacts:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Tap on the contact you intend to block.
3. Tap the More menu, located at the bottom right corner.
4. Hit the Block contact button.
5. Tap Block again to confirm.

Block in the Phone app:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap the three-dot menu button.
3. Select Settings.
4. Locate and tap the Block numbers section.
5. Choose Add phone number. You can also pull numbers from Recents or Contacts.
6. Once you type the phone number, press the + button to add it to your contacts.
7. You can also toggle on Block unknown/private numbers to eliminate all unknown callers.

Note: These instructions were generated using a Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus running Android 12. Steps might be slightly different depending on your device and software version.

How to block calls on LG phones

We’ll now show you how to block a phone number if you own an LG phone. While there won’t be any new ones on the market, it’s important to know how to use the phone you’ve got. The process is similar to the other phone brands on this list, but slight differences exist.

Block from Recent section:

1. Open your Phone app and navigate to the Recent tab.
2. Tap on the recent number or contact.
3. Press the 3-dot More button in the top right corner and select Block number.
4. Confirm by selecting Block.

Block from your dialer:

1. Open your Phone app to the Dial screen.
2. Tap the three-dot menu button.
3. Go into Call settings.
4. Select the Call blocking & Ignore with the message option.
5. Go into Blocked numbers.
6. Tap the + button.
7. Pick whether you want to block a number from Contacts, Call logs, or New number.
8. Select or enter the number and follow the instructions.

Note: These instructions were generated using an LG Wing running Android 10. Steps might be slightly different depending on your device and software version.

Third-party apps for blocking phone calls

Joe Hindy / Android Authority

If your Android phone doesn’t have a built-in call-blocking feature, or if it does but you find it lacking, you might be wondering how to block a phone number using another method. Thankfully, you can choose one from the many third-party call-blocking apps on the Google Play Store. Of particular note are Mr. Number, Call Blocker, and Calls Blacklist.

Next: Check out these security apps too

Mr. Number is a free Android app that allows you to block unwanted calls and texts on your mobile phone. This app protects your phone from spam, allowing you to block calls from people and businesses.

You can block calls from individual numbers, an area code, and even an entire country. You can also block private and unknown numbers by sending them straight to voicemail and report spam calls to warn other people using the app. Download it via the link below if you want to give it a try.

Call Blocker works the same as Mr. Number and other call-blocking apps. It will block unwanted and spam calls and even comes with a Call Reminder feature that helps you identify unknown numbers. There’s also a whitelist available for storing numbers that can always reach you. Hit the button below to download it to your device.

Last but not least on our list is the free but ad-supported Calls Blacklist, a straightforward app for keeping a list of contacts you don’t want to allow to contact your phone. An ad-free premium version is also available for about $2.

To block calls with Calls Blacklist, launch the app and add a contact number to the Blacklist tab. You can add a number via your Contacts, call logs, messages log, or add numbers manually. That’s it — contacts saved under Blacklist won’t be able to reach your Android phone anymore.

Will I have to reblock phone numbers if I switch devices?

It depends. You’d have to reblock numbers if you blocked them at a smartphone level, such as using the Phone app or a third-party app. If you blocked a number using your carrier, you’re doing it at a network level, so it should transfer over to other devices you switch to.

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