Need to block spam callers or an annoying contact—or maybe unblock someone you previously muted? Whether it’s a phone number, contact, or email, your iPhone 12 makes it easy to manage who can reach you.
Here’s a quick and simple guide to blocking and unblocking contacts using the built-in Phone app in iOS 14.
Block a Contact on iPhone 12
- Open the Settings app from your Home screen.
- Scroll down and tap Phone.
- Under the Calls section, tap Blocked Contacts.
- Tap Add New…
- Select a contact from your list that you want to block.
That’s it! The selected contact will now be added to your blocked list. They won’t be able to call, text, or FaceTime you.
Unblock a Contact
- Go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts.
- Tap Edit at the top-right corner of the screen.
- Tap the red minus (-) sign next to the contact you want to unblock.
- Tap Unblock to confirm.
Repeat this for any other contacts you’d like to remove from the blocked list. When you’re done, tap Done.
What Happens When You Block Someone?
- Calls go straight to voicemail (though the caller won’t be notified).
- Text messages won’t be delivered to you.
- Emails from blocked addresses go to the Trash if blocked via the Mail app.
Blocked contacts can still leave voicemails, but those messages will be stored in a separate folder and won’t trigger any notifications.
Still Getting Calls from a Blocked Number?
If blocked numbers are still ringing through, try the following:
- Update your iOS: Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any available update.
- Update carrier settings: Go to Settings > General > About. If an update is available, you’ll see a prompt to install it.
- Double-check that the number is actually blocked in Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts.