How to block a number on iPhone 13 and older models

You got your hands on your new iPhone 13, but you still have some work to do. It may be that you are tired of relentless spam calls, or someone in your life has made you feel uncomfortable in the past, and you want to block them out, just like my exes do. Because, you know, borderline people are so destructive.

You decide calls to you after all. Fortunately, blocking phone numbers on your iPhone is easy, and you should take advantage of it.

How to block a number on iPhone

We'll explain how to block a caller on your iPhone so that you don't receive phone calls, FaceTime calls, or messages from that number.

  1. First, you will need to open the Phone app on your iPhone. You likely use this app to make phone calls from your home screen. The icon looks like a green phone with a white receiver.
  2. Next, tap Contacts or Recents.
  3. After that, click on the “i” info icon next to a contact. This icon will appear under the iPhone's Contacts, Favorites, Recents, and Voicemail tabs.
  4. Once you tap into the caller's details, scroll down and tap “Block this Caller.”
  5. Finally, tap “Block Contact.”

You will be prompted to confirm blocking the number. Simply tap the “Block Contact” button, and your phone app will block the number. In the aftermath, you will no longer be able to be contacted, messaged, or FaceTimed by the number.

How to manage blocked callers on your iPhone

If you want to manage the contacts you have blocked on your iPhone, follow the steps below.

  1. This time you will have to go to your home screen and tap the Settings icon.
  2. Click on the Phone app inside your iPhone's Settings.
  3. You can manage blocked contacts by tapping on the Blocked Contacts button.

How to send all unknown callers to your voicemail

Apple now lets you send all unknown callers to voicemail if you want to lock down your iPhone. Go to the Phone settings page.

  1. On your home screen, tap Settings.
  2. Next, click on the Phone app inside Settings.
  3. Toggle Silence Unknown Callers on or off.

Incoming calls will continue to ring from people in your contacts, and recent outgoing calls and Siri suggestions will continue to ring.” Apple says, “Calls from unknown numbers are silenced, sent to voicemail, and displayed on the Recents list.”

Remember to check your voicemail if you decide to do this to ensure you don't miss anything!

How to unblock calls

To unblock calls on your iPhone 11, 12, or 13, you can follow the steps below:

  1. From your phone's home screen, tap Settings > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification > Edit.
  2. Next, tap the minus next to the number or contact you wish to unblock.
  3. Tap Unblock.

How to turn on unconditional call forwarding

With Call Forwarding Unconditional (CFU), all calls are immediately forwarded to another number without ringing the device.

  • Tap Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding from the Home screen.
  • Turn the white slider green by tapping it.
  • Next, tap Forward to.
  • Specify the number to forward calls to (you can use your number to forward calls to your voicemail).
  • Finally, tap Call Forwarding.

How to turn on conditional call forwarding

If you cannot answer an incoming call (no reply, busy, unavailable), Call Forwarding Conditional (CFC) diverts it to another number.

You cannot configure the CFC through the device menu. Please use the USSD codes to configure this feature.

How to Cancel call forwarding

  • Tap Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding from the Home screen.
  • To cancel call forwarding, tap the green slider to turn it white.

How to access your Caller ID settings

  • Tap Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID from the Home screen.
  • You can enable or disable Show My Caller ID by tapping the toggle next.

How to reset the call log on iPhone

  • Tap Phone > Recents > All > Edit from the Home screen.
  • Choose one of the following options:
    • You can delete individual call logs by tapping the minus sign.
    • To delete the entire log, tap Clear, then Clear All Recents.
Anastasios Antoniadis
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