Stop spam calls and texts on iPhone

Screen calls from numbers you don't know

Your iPhone can answer unknown numbers for you and ask why they're calling. Real callers say who they are; robocalls usually hang up.

Settings › Apps › Phone › Screen Unknown Callers

1. Open Settings, tap Apps, then Phone.
2. Tap Screen Unknown Callers.
3. Pick Ask Reason for Calling. Or pick Silence to send every unknown number straight to voicemail.

Silence is stricter: you'll miss the ring from a new doctor's office or a delivery driver, but they can still leave a voicemail. Screening doesn't run while you're roaming.

Turn on the spam call filter

This moves calls your carrier or Apple flags as spam out of the way, so they don't ring or clutter your call list.

Settings › Apps › Phone › Call Filtering

1. In the same Phone settings, scroll to Call Filtering.
2. Turn on the Spam filter.
3. Optional: turn on Unknown Callers to move missed calls from unsaved numbers into their own list.

To check what got filtered, open the Phone app, tap the filter button, then choose Spam or Unknown Callers.

Screen texts from unknown senders

Texts from people who aren't in your contacts go to a separate list, so scam texts stop landing next to your real conversations.

Settings › Apps › Messages › Unknown Senders

1. Open Settings, tap Apps, then Messages.
2. Scroll to Unknown Senders and turn on Screen Unknown Senders.
3. Also turn on Text Message Filter to sort promotions and transaction texts.

Expecting a code or a delivery text? Check the Unknown Senders list in Messages, or tap Allow Notifications in that setting to let time-sensitive texts through.

Report and block what still gets through

Reporting helps Apple and your carrier block that sender for everyone.

1. Spam text: open it and tap Report Junk under the message, or forward it to 7726 (SPAM).
2. Spam call: in the Phone app's call list, tap the ⓘ next to the number, then Block Caller.
3. Spam voicemail: tap the voicemail and choose Report Spam.

Don't reply to spam texts, even with STOP, unless you recognize the company. A reply tells the sender your number is real.