How to Identify and Block Spam Calls on Your iPhone

Spam calls are a persistent nuisance, but your iPhone offers several tools to help you identify and block them effectively. Here's how you can take control:

What Built-in Features Help Identify Spam Calls on iPhone?

Apple provides several built-in features to assist in identifying and managing spam calls:

• Call Identification: Your iPhone can identify incoming calls using information from Apple Business Connect, supported carriers, and call identification apps. To enable this:

1. Go to Settings > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification.
2. Turn on Business Call Identification and Call Identification Apps.

• Silence Unknown Callers: This feature silences calls from numbers not in your contacts, sending them directly to voicemail. To activate it:

1. Navigate to Settings > Phone.
2. Toggle on Silence Unknown Callers.

• Call Screening: Introduced in iOS 26, this feature prompts unknown callers to state their name and reason for calling before your phone rings. To enable it:

1. Go to Settings > Phone > Call Screening.
2. Select Ask Reason for Calling.

How Do Carriers Help Identify Spam Calls?

Many carriers offer spam detection services that label incoming calls as "Spam" or "Fraud Risk." This helps you recognize potential spam calls. To utilize this:

1. Ensure your carrier supports spam detection.
2. Enable the feature in your iPhone's settings under Settings > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification.

What Are Third-Party Apps for Blocking Spam Calls?

Third-party apps can provide additional layers of protection by maintaining databases of known spam numbers. One such app is Robokiller, which offers real-time spam call blocking and a comprehensive spam number database. To use such apps:

1. Download the app from the App Store.
2. Follow the app's instructions to enable call blocking and identification.

How Can I Block Specific Numbers on My iPhone?

To block individual numbers:

1. Open the Phone app and go to the Recents tab.
2. Tap the information icon ("i") next to the number you want to block.
3. Scroll down and tap Block this Caller.

What Should I Do If I Receive a Spam Call?

If you receive a spam call:

• Do Not Engage: Avoid answering or interacting with the caller.
• Report the Number: Use your carrier's reporting feature or a third-party app to report the number.
• Review Your Settings: Ensure your iPhone's spam filtering features are enabled.

By utilizing these built-in features and third-party apps, you can significantly reduce the number of spam calls you receive on your iPhone.

(support.apple.com)