How to Block Spam Calls on Android and iPhone

How to Block Spam Calls on Android and iPhone

Spam calls and robocalls are more than annoying - many are scams that pretend to be a bank, a delivery company or tech support. You can't stop every one of them, but both iPhone and Android have built-in settings that catch most of them before your phone rings. This guide covers those settings, how to block a single number, and what to do when a spam call gets through.

Menu names change a little between versions, so where iPhone or Android differ by version or phone maker, the options are noted.

Before You Start: Three Rules for Any Unknown Call

1. Don't answer numbers you don't recognise. A real caller will leave a voicemail.
2. If you do answer, don't press any key and don't say "yes". "Press 1 to be removed from our list" usually does the opposite.
3. Never give codes, passwords or payment details to someone who called you. Hang up and call the company back on the number from its official website or your card.

iPhone: Silence or Screen Unknown Callers

Apple offers this setting on recent iOS versions. Where it lives depends on your iOS version:

1. Open Settings > Apps > Phone (on older iOS: Settings > Phone).
2. Look for one of these:
3. Silence Unknown Callers - turn it on.
4. Screen Unknown Callers (newer iOS) - choose Silence, or choose the option that asks callers for their name and reason before your phone rings.
5. Calls from numbers that aren't in your contacts, recent outgoing calls or Siri suggestions then go straight to voicemail and appear in your recent calls.

Trade-off: a new doctor's office, a school or a delivery driver may also be silenced. Check your voicemail and Recents list every day while you get used to it.

iPhone: Turn On Call Filtering

On newer iOS versions, Settings > Apps > Phone also has a Call Filtering section. Turn on the options for unknown callers and spam if you see them. Filtered calls are kept in a separate list - in the Phone app, tap the Filter button to see them.

iPhone: Use a Call-Blocking App

Your carrier or a trusted call-blocking app can add its own spam list. After installing one from the App Store, turn it on in Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification. Only use well-known apps, and read what data they collect before allowing access.

iPhone: Block One Number

1. Open the Phone app and tap Recents.
2. Tap the info (i) button next to the number.
3. Scroll down and tap Block Caller, then Block Contact.

Blocked callers can still leave voicemail; those messages go to a Blocked Messages list at the bottom of your voicemail.

Android: Turn On Spam Protection

Most Android phones use the Google Phone app (Pixel and many other brands). Samsung phones use Samsung's own Phone app with similar options.

Google Phone app

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap the three dots (or your profile picture) and choose Settings.
3. Open Caller ID & spam (on some versions: Spam and Call Screen).
4. Turn on See caller & spam ID.
5. Turn on Filter spam calls to stop suspected spam calls from ringing. They still show in your call history.

Some Pixel phones in some countries also offer Call Screen, which can answer unknown callers for you and ask why they are calling. If you see it in the same menu, you can set it for spam or unknown numbers.

Samsung Phone app

1. Open the Phone app and tap the three dots > Settings.
2. Look for Caller ID and spam protection and turn it on.
3. Choose to block high-risk or all spam and scam calls if the option is shown.

The exact names change between One UI versions. If you don't see these, search Settings for "spam".

Android: Block One Number

1. Open the Phone app and go to Recents.
2. Tap and hold the number (or tap it and then the info icon).
3. Choose Block or Block/report spam. Tick Report call as spam if it was spam - this helps protect other people too.

Ask Your Carrier

Many mobile carriers offer free spam-call blocking or labelling, sometimes with a paid upgrade. Search your carrier's website or app for "spam call protection". Stick to your carrier's own app or website - not a link sent to you by text.

Report Spam and Scam Calls

Reporting doesn't stop the next call immediately, but it helps regulators and phone companies track down the callers:

• United States: add your number to the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov (it stops legitimate telemarketers, not criminals) and report scam calls at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Elsewhere: your country's telecom regulator or consumer protection agency usually has a reporting page.
• Spam texts: many carriers let you forward the text to 7726 (spells "SPAM").

A Spam Call Got Through - What Now?

If you already talked to a scammer:

• Gave a password or code? Change that password now and turn on two-factor authentication.
• Gave card or bank details? Call your bank on the number on the back of your card.
• Installed an app or remote-access tool because the caller asked? Disconnect from the internet, uninstall it, and scan your device. Our guide to the fake virus warning scam explains how these "tech support" scams work.
• Scam calls and scam emails often go together - see how to spot a phishing email.

Still Getting Too Many Calls?

Combine the settings: turn on your phone's spam filter, add your carrier's protection, and block and report every number that gets through. If a caller claims to be from GetQuickTechSupport or any other support company and you didn't contact them first, hang up - real support teams don't cold-call you about a virus on your device.

---

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Similar Posts : How to Block Spam Calls on Android and iPhone, How to Forget a WiFi Network on Any Device, Phone Hotspot Connected But No Internet, Google Play Store Not Downloading Apps How to Fix It,

See Also:spam calls android iphone