On iOS 18
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps, then Phone.
- Scroll down and tap Silence Unknown Callers.
- Turn the switch on, so it shows green.
On iOS 26
With Ask Reason for Calling, your iPhone answers for you and asks the caller for their name and why they are calling. You see their answer on screen and decide whether to pick up. Robocalls usually hang up at this point.
- Open Settings, then Apps, then Phone.
- Find Screen Unknown Callers.
- Choose Silence to send unknown callers straight to voicemail, or Ask Reason for Calling.
Who still gets through
- Anyone saved in your Contacts.
- Numbers you called recently.
- Numbers your iPhone found in your texts or email, like a pharmacy that texted you.
- Silenced calls still show in Recents, and callers can leave a voicemail.
Do not miss the calls you want
Before you turn this on, save the numbers of your doctors, pharmacy, bank, and anyone helping you with repairs or deliveries. A doctor's office or hospital may call from a number you have never seen. If you are waiting on an important call, check your voicemail more often or turn the setting off for the day.
Extra help from your carrier
Each major carrier also has its own call-blocking app: AT&T ActiveArmor, T-Mobile Scam Shield, and Verizon Call Filter. They can label or block likely spam calls before your iPhone ever sees them. Search for your carrier's app in the App Store.
Stuck on a step?
Text Uncle at +1 208 214 0093 and tell him what you see on your screen. He walks you through it in plain words, one step at a time.
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Written by the Textuncle team. Last updated October 3, 2026.
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