How to block a number on Apple’s iPhone

Photo by Becca Farsace / The Verge

blocking someone's phone number can help you keep your privacy, whether you're trying to get rid of junk mail or not. Various methods of protecting yourself from annoyances have been covered. Blocking a number is the easiest way of shutting down unwanted digital intrusions.

When you block a number, you will no longer receive calls, texts, or requests for video chat from that number. The person at the other end will call you and leave a message, but this is their only clue that they have been blocked. Even though you don't have to deal with them, texts will still appear to go through.

The standard visual voicemail list won't show blocked numbers in it. They are separated into a blocked messages section that you can ignore completely.

There are many ways to block a number on an iPhone, but I'm going to cover two of the more popular ones.

How to block a number from the iPhone’s Phone app

• Open the Phone app.
• Tap on the Recents tab.
• When you see the number you wish to block, tap the encircled i on the right side of the screen.
• At the bottom of the next screen, you’ll see the option to Block this Caller. Tap on that, and the number will be unable to reach you.

How to block a number from the iPhone’s Messages app

It's easy to block a number from the Messages app if you want to stop someone from texting you.

• Tap the sender’s information at the top center of the conversation.
• Then tap on Info.
• Again, at the bottom of this page, you’ll see the option to Block this Caller in red text.

How to unblock a number on an iPhone

It is easy to remove any number from your blocked list.

• Open the Settings app.
• Then tap on Phone.
• Select Blocked Contacts.
• On the next screen, you’ll see a list of numbers you’ve blocked. There are two ways to remove one. You can either tap the Edit option and then the red minus symbol next to the number you wish to unblock, or, as a faster alternative, you can swipe left across any number to unblock it.