I blocked a few numbers years ago and forgot who they were. Then someone said I had ghosted them. Turns out I'd blocked their old number. iPhone keeps the blocked list buried in settings. Finding it takes about 5 seconds once you know where to look.
Two places to check – one for calls and messages, one for FaceTime. Both are easy.
Find the blocked list in Phone settings
Open Settings. Scroll down to Apps (on iOS 18) and tap Phone. Older iOS just scroll to Phone directly.
Tap Blocked Contacts. You see the complete list of every number you've blocked. Some show names if they were in your contacts when you blocked them. Others just show the raw phone number.
Unblock a number from the list
On the Blocked Contacts page, tap Edit in the top right. Red minus icons appear next to each entry. Tap the minus next to the number you want to unblock, then tap Unblock on the right.
The number is gone from the blocked list. Calls and texts from that number will now come through normally.
Block a new number
Three ways to add a number to the blocked list:
- From the Phone app, tap Recents, tap the i icon next to a call, scroll down, tap Block this Caller
- From the Messages app, tap a conversation, tap the contact name at top, tap info, tap Block this Caller
- From Blocked Contacts settings, tap Add New at the bottom and pick someone from your contacts
The first two are usually easier because you're reacting to a real call or text. The settings approach is for proactively blocking someone you haven't talked to yet.
FaceTime has its own blocked list
FaceTime maintains its own list separate from Phone. Go to Settings then FaceTime. Scroll to Blocked Contacts. Same format as the Phone version.
When you block someone in Phone, they're usually blocked from FaceTime too. But not always. Worth checking both lists if you want to make sure someone can't reach you anywhere.
What blocked numbers experience
When a blocked person tries to call you:
- Their call goes straight to voicemail
- The voicemail tone they hear is the same as anyone else's
- They can leave a voicemail but it goes to a hidden "Blocked Messages" section
- Texts from them simply don't arrive on your phone
- They don't see "message not delivered" on their end – it just looks normal to them
So blocked people don't know they're blocked just from making one call. Over time they might suspect when you never call back or respond. But there's no notification.
Check blocked voicemails
Voicemails from blocked numbers go to a separate hidden section. Open the Phone app, tap Voicemail, scroll to the very bottom. Tap Blocked Messages.
Any voicemails from blocked callers appear here. Useful if you blocked a number for spam but a legitimate contact got swept up by accident.
Spam call blocking through carrier
If your blocked list keeps growing because spam calls keep coming from different numbers, your carrier offers better tools:
- Verizon Call Filter – free, blocks known spam
- AT&T ActiveArmor – similar service
- T-Mobile Scam Shield – includes Scam Block and ID
These work at the carrier level so spam never reaches your phone. Much more efficient than blocking one number at a time. All three have free tiers.
Anyone else have an embarrassingly long blocked list? Drop a count in comments. Mine is 47.