How to Stop Spam Calls on iPhone: Every Built-In Option

Quick answer: to stop spam calls on iPhone, go to Settings > Apps > Phone, set Screen Unknown Callers to Ask Reason for Calling or Silence, and turn on the spam filter under Call Filtering. Block repeat numbers, turn on your carrier’s spam blocking, and report scam calls to the FTC. No single setting stops every call, but together they cut most of them.

The rest of this guide walks through each built-in iPhone option, carrier tools and “Scam Likely” labels, the Do Not Call Registry, and what to do if you already answered.

Screen Unknown Callers (iOS 26 and later)

Since iOS 26, the iPhone can answer calls from numbers that aren’t in your contacts before it ever rings. Apple’s guide to managing unknown callers lists the current options:

1. Open Settings, tap Apps, then tap Phone.
2. Scroll to Screen Unknown Callers.
3. Choose one:
   • Never: unknown numbers ring like any other call.
   • Ask Reason for Calling: the iPhone answers, asks the caller for their name and reason, then rings and shows you the answer so you can decide.
   • Silence: unknown numbers are silenced, sent to voicemail, and listed in Recents.

Ask Reason for Calling is the best middle ground. Callers who won’t say who they are never get through, while a real delivery driver or doctor’s office still can. A few things to know: standard calling and data rates may apply, calls aren’t screened while you’re roaming, and calling emergency services turns screening off for 24 hours. Add the numbers you can’t afford to miss, like your doctor and your child’s school, to Contacts.

Silence Unknown Callers on iOS 18 and earlier

On older iOS versions, the same idea is a single switch. In iOS 18, go to Settings > Apps > Phone and turn on Silence Unknown Callers. Calls from numbers that aren’t in your contacts, your recent outgoing calls, or Siri Suggestions go straight to voicemail. In iOS 26 and later, this became the Silence option above.

Filter unknown and spam calls

Screening decides whether the phone rings. Filtering decides where those calls end up afterward.

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Phone and scroll to Call Filtering.
2. Turn on Unknown Callers to move missed calls and voicemails from unknown numbers into their own list.
3. Turn on the spam filter. Calls your carrier identifies as potential spam or fraud are silenced, sent to voicemail, and moved to a Spam list.

To review those lists, open the Phone app, tap the filter button, then tap Unknown Callers or Spam. If a legitimate number lands there, tap Mark as Known.

In the same settings, Call Blocking & Identification lets you turn on Business Call Identification and any third-party call identification apps you’ve installed. These spam call blocker apps check incoming numbers against their own lists. Some are free, some charge a fee, and some ask for access to your contacts, so read the privacy policy first.

How to block a number on iPhone

Apple’s guide to blocking numbers, contacts, and emails covers every app. For calls:

1. Open the Phone app and go to Calls (or Recents in the Classic layout).
2. Tap the number, or the Info button next to it in the Classic layout.
3. Scroll down and tap Block Caller.

In iOS 26 and later, you can also go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Blocked Contacts and tap Add Blocked Contact to type in a number.

Blocked callers can still leave a voicemail, but you won’t be notified, and they aren’t told they’re blocked. Blocking a contact in Messages also blocks them in Phone and FaceTime. The limit: scammers rotate through numbers, so blocking one rarely ends the calls.

Report spam texts too

Scam calls and scam texts often come from the same operation, and a call is frequently followed by a text with a link. In the Messages app:

1. Swipe left on an unopened message from an unknown sender, tap the button that appears, then tap Delete and Report Spam.
2. Or, in an open message, tap the Report Spam link at the bottom, then tap Delete and Report Spam.

Some iOS versions, and some of Apple’s own pages, call this Report Junk. You can’t report a message after you’ve replied to it, and reporting doesn’t stop the sender, so block the number too.

Focus and Do Not Disturb: the blunt option

If spam calls hit at night or during work, a Focus silences everything except the people you allow.

1. Open Settings, tap Focus, then tap Do Not Disturb (or another Focus).
2. Tap People and choose who can reach you.
3. Turn on the options to allow calls from certain groups and to allow repeated calls, meaning two or more calls from the same person within three minutes.

The trade-off is obvious: everyone you didn’t allow is silenced, spam or not. Use it for set hours, not all day.

Carrier tools and “Scam Likely” labels

When a call shows up as “Scam Likely” or a similar warning, that label comes from your carrier’s network, not your iPhone. Your carrier may offer call labeling and blocking services, and the FTC notes that some are free while others charge a fee. Turn them on through your carrier’s app or account settings, and use a phone number or website you already know is correct if you need to contact them. The iPhone’s spam filter above also relies on your carrier’s identification.

Labels aren’t perfect. A real call can occasionally be flagged, and scammers can fake caller ID to look like a real company’s number. If a caller claims to be your bank, Apple, or a government agency, hang up and call back on a number you find yourself.

The Do Not Call Registry: useful, but not for scammers

Signing up at donotcall.gov is free, works for cell phones, and never expires. Legitimate telemarketers have to stop calling, though the FTC says it can take up to 31 days for sales calls to stop.

Be realistic about what it does. The FTC states plainly that being on the registry won’t stop calls from scammers making illegal calls. It cuts down on legal sales calls, which leaves the scam calls easier to spot.

Report scam calls to the FTC

If a scam call cost you money or personal information, report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Apple’s own scam guidance points US users to the same site. If you didn’t lose anything and just want to report the call, the FTC’s shorter form at donotcall.gov is the place.

What to do if you already answered or shared information

• You answered and nothing else happened. Hang up. Don’t press any numbers, even to be “removed from the list.”
• You shared a password or code. Change that password right away and make sure two-factor authentication is on. Apple says it will never ask for your password, passcode, or verification codes, or ask you to turn off security features.
• You paid. Contact your bank, card issuer, payment app, or gift card company immediately and ask them to reverse the payment.
• You gave your Social Security number. Go to IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan.
• They sent a link. Don’t tap it. Touch and hold the link to preview where it goes, and read our guide to spotting suspicious links before you click. BlueHammer Security helps you check links and QR codes before you open them.
• They talked you into installing something on your Mac. Remove it, change your passwords, and run through the Mac security settings worth checking. Our guide on whether Macs need antivirus covers what else is worth doing.

Spam call tools compared

Tool	What it stops	Trade-off
Screen Unknown Callers: Ask Reason	Callers who won’t say who they are	Real callers face an extra step; not active while roaming
Screen Unknown Callers: Silence	Every call from a number not in your contacts	Can hide real calls from doctors, deliveries, or new contacts
Spam filter (Call Filtering)	Calls your carrier flags as spam or fraud	Only as good as your carrier’s detection
Blocking a number	Repeat calls from that exact number	Scammers switch numbers constantly
Focus / Do Not Disturb	All calls except the people you allow	Silences everything else, legitimate or not
Carrier blocking services	Calls flagged on the network	Some features cost extra; labels can be wrong
Do Not Call Registry	Legal telemarketing calls	Doesn’t stop scammers
Third-party blocker apps	Numbers on the app’s spam list	Some charge a fee or want contact access

What these settings can’t do

Nothing on this list stops every spam call. Scammers spoof caller ID, rotate numbers, and sometimes use numbers that look local. The strongest settings, like silencing all unknown callers, also catch calls you want.

A sensible setup for most people is Ask Reason for Calling, the spam filter turned on, your carrier’s free blocking enabled, and important numbers saved in Contacts. Pair that with a habit: when an unexpected call asks for money, codes, or urgency, hang up and call the company back yourself.