Introduction
Have you ever received an unsolicited call or message from a telemarketer, scammer, or an ex that keeps bothering you? Blocking a phone number is an easy and effective way to prevent them from contacting you. This article will guide you through the steps to block phone numbers for iPhone and Android devices.
Step-by-Step Guide
The process of blocking a phone number may vary slightly depending on your device’s operating system, but it usually involves navigating your device’s call settings and/or contacts app. Here are the general steps to block a phone number on iPhone and Android:
Blocking Phone Numbers on iPhone:
- Open the Phone app and go to your Recent calls list or Contacts app.
- Find the phone number you want to block and tap the ‘i’ icon next to it.
- Scroll down and tap ‘Block this Caller.’
- Confirm the block by tapping ‘Block Contact.’
Blocking Phone Numbers on Android:
- Open the Phone app and go to your Recents or Contacts list.
- Find the phone number you want to block and tap on it to bring up the contact information.
- Tap on the three-dot menu icon in the upper-right corner and select ‘Block number’ (or ‘Block/report spam’).
- Confirm the block by tapping ‘Block.’
It’s important to keep in mind that some of the newer Android phones may have slightly different options or display the settings in a different manner. Some manufacturers may reject the call automatically or allow you to report the number as spam.
Tips:
- On both iPhone and Android devices, once you block a number, you won’t receive any calls or messages from that contact. They won’t be able to leave voicemails either.
- If for any reason you want to unblock the number, follow the same steps as blocking the contact, but tap ‘Unblock’ instead.
- You can also block spam text messages by forwarding them to the shortcode 7726 (SPAM) or reporting it to your phone carrier. This method will help carriers to block such messages on your behalf in the future.
Using Third Party Apps
There are many third-party apps available on the App Store and Google Play Store that can help you address spam and unwanted calls. These apps offer more options than the built-in features of your device. Here are some popular apps you can use:
- Truecaller: Truecaller is a popular app that identifies the caller’s ID and allows you to block unwanted calls and messages. It also comes with a feature that blocks spam calls and SMS messages.
- Nomorobo: This app is an award-winning spam blocking service that identifies and blocks robocalls and telemarketers automatically. It also comes with a manual blocking feature.
- Mr. Number: Mr.Number is another app that blocks spam and scam calls on both Android and iPhone devices. It can block individual numbers or entire area codes.
- Hiya: Hiya is another caller ID and spam blocking app that alerts you to possible scams and fraudsters in real-time. It also lets you block unwanted calls and texts.
- Call Blocker: This app allows you to block unwanted calls and texts, blacklist telemarketers, and analyze your call traffic. It also has an SMS blocker feature.
Tips:
- Before downloading a third-party app, read the reviews and ensure the app doesn’t collect any unwanted personal data.
- Some apps may require you to purchase a premium subscription to unlock all the features.
Using Carrier Features
Many major phone carriers offer features and services that allow users to block unwanted calls and texts. These features may vary based on your location and service provider. Here are the most common carrier-provided features:
- AT&T Call Protect: Offers automatic fraud blocking, and suspicious spam alerts. Also, it allows you to block individual numbers or entire categories of calls like telemarketing, scam likely, and other spam calls.
- Verizon Call Filter: Offers spam blocking, caller ID, and enhanced call filtering. It also allows you to report spam numbers via the app.
- T-Mobile Scam Shield: T-Mobile’s app provides automatic scam protection and robocall blocking, identification, and reporting. It also offers a feature that allows you to choose if you want to block robo or spam calls entirely or limit them to business hours.
- Sprint Premium Caller ID: Provides caller ID, spam warnings, voicemail to text, and call blocking features.
Tips:
- Check with your service provider to see if they offer such features and if there are any charges.
- Carriers’ features may not be available in some areas/posts. Therefore, you can explore other apps or built-in features to block unwanted calls and texts.
Specific Devices
The process of blocking a phone number may vary depending on your device’s operating system, but here are the steps to block a phone number on specific devices:
Blocking Phone Numbers on iPhone:
- Go to ‘Settings’ and select ‘Phone.’
- Select ‘Blocked Contacts.’
- Select ‘Add New.’
- Find the contact you want to block and select it.
Blocking Phone Numbers on Android:
- Go to ‘Phone,’ tap on the three-dot menu icon and select ‘Settings.’
- Select ‘Block numbers.’
- Enter the phone number you want to block.
Creative Ways to Block Calls
There are other creative ways to block unwanted calls and messages that make the experience more customized and effective. Here are some examples:
- Customized Ringtones: You can assign custom ringtones to specific contacts to help you screen their calls. For instance, assign a silent ringtone to an annoying contact to avoid hearing their calls.
- Call Forwarding: Forward all calls from unwanted numbers to voicemail, or a friend’s number. This way, you don’t have to get disturbed by spam or scam calls while ensuring essential calls go through.
- Change Phone Number: As a last resort, you can change your phone number to avoid spam, telemarketers, or people who have your current number. It may be an inconvenience, but it ensures a fresh start and lets you avoid any further intrusions.
Conclusion
Blocking unwanted calls and messages is an integral part of protecting your privacy and maintaining control over your phone’s usage. This article showed you how to block phone numbers on iPhone and Android devices and went over the pros and cons of using third-party apps and carrier-based features. We also discussed some creative ways to block calls and avoid unwanted interactions.
By using these strategies, you can take control of unwanted calls and messages, and enjoy a peaceful phone experience.