How to Block a Phone Number That Keeps Calling You on Your iPhone

When the same nuisance caller won't quit

Remember when a bothersome caller meant getting up from your chair, walking to the kitchen wall, and hanging the receiver back on its cradle a little harder than usual? Today's pests are more persistent. The same unknown number rings you Monday morning, Wednesday afternoon, and again on Saturday during your show.

The good news: your iPhone has a built-in way to slam the door on any number you choose. Once you block it, that caller can ring all day and your phone will stay silent. Here's how to do it in about thirty seconds.

Blocking a number you just got a call from

The easiest time to block a number is right after it calls you. You don't even need to know the number by heart — your phone remembers it for you.

1. Tap the green Phone icon on your home screen (the one that looks like an old telephone handset).
2. At the bottom, tap Recents. You'll see a list of your recent calls, newest at the top.
3. Find the number you want to block. To the right of it, tap the small blue letter i inside a circle.
4. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Tap Block this Caller, shown in red.
5. A little box will pop up asking you to confirm. Tap Block Contact.

That's it. The next time that number tries to reach you, your phone won't ring, and the call will go straight to voicemail without disturbing you.

Blocking a number that hasn't called yet

Maybe a friend warned you about a scammer, or you spotted a suspicious number in the newspaper. You can block a number before it ever rings you.

1. Open the Settings app (the gray gear icon).
2. Scroll down and tap Phone.
3. Tap Blocked Contacts.
4. Tap Add New... at the bottom. Your contact list will open.
5. Choose the person you want to block. (If it's not already in your contacts, you'll need to add it first.)

Think of your blocked list like the little "do not accept" note you might leave for a house-sitter. Anyone on that list simply won't get through.

Checking or undoing your blocks

Blocking isn't permanent. If you change your mind — say, you blocked your cousin during a spat and now you've made up — you can lift it just as easily.

1. Open Settings, tap Phone, then tap Blocked Contacts.
2. You'll see everyone you've blocked. To remove someone, swipe your finger across their name from right to left, then tap the red Unblock button.

It's worth peeking at this list once in a while, just to make sure you didn't block someone by mistake.

A word about what blocking does and doesn't do

Blocking works only for that specific phone number. Scammers often switch numbers, so a new call from a different number can still slip through. If you keep getting junk calls from different numbers, that's a separate matter — your phone carrier (like Verizon or AT&T) usually offers a free spam-blocking service you can ask them to turn on.

But for a specific pest — that one number that keeps bothering you — blocking is quick, quiet, and completely under your control.

One thing to try today

Open your Phone app, tap Recents, and look through the list. If you spot even one number you never want to hear from again, tap the blue i next to it and block it. You'll feel a small satisfaction the next time your phone stays peacefully silent.

Need a hand with your technology? We're here to help. Give PorchSwing a call or book an appointment, and we'll walk you through it at your own pace — no rush, no jargon.