How to Block Spam and Robocalls on iPhone in 2026

Blocking spam calls on iPhone: Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers (iOS 16+). This sends calls from numbers not in your contacts to voicemail. Additional options: carrier spam filtering, third-party apps (Hiya, Nomorobo), and individual number blocking.

Method 1: Silence Unknown Callers

Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers: toggle on. Calls from numbers not in Contacts, recent calls, or Siri suggestions are silenced and sent to voicemail. You see a missed call notification but the phone does not ring.

The most effective single step for spam reduction. Trade-off: legitimate unknown callers (doctor’s offices, delivery services, new clients) are also silenced. Check voicemail regularly.

Method 2: Carrier Spam Filtering

Most US carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile) offer free or paid spam call filtering. AT&T ActiveArmor: free, blocks high-risk calls automatically. Verizon Call Filter: free basic, $2.99/month for advanced. T-Mobile Scam Shield: free.

Enable in your carrier’s app or by calling carrier support.

Method 3: Third-Party Apps

Hiya (free/premium): identifies and blocks spam calls with a large crowd-sourced database. Shows caller ID for many spam numbers.

Method 4: Manual Blocking

After receiving a spam call: tap the number in Recents > scroll down > Block this Caller. Blocked numbers cannot call, text, or FaceTime you.

For Business Professionals

Silence Unknown Callers is too aggressive for anyone who receives calls from new clients, vendors, or contacts. Instead: use carrier spam filtering (catches most robocalls without blocking all unknowns) plus manually block repeat offenders.

Documenting Persistent Harassment

Standard spam blocking (Silence Unknown Callers, Screen Call) stops most unwanted calls. For persistent harassment — repeated calls from the same number, coordinated robocall campaigns — documentation becomes legally relevant.

Nemos provides the documentation layer. Screenshot the call log showing repeated calls from a number. Add a voice note with the date range, call frequency, and any relevant context. If you ever need to file an FCC complaint or take civil action, you have timestamped, searchable documentation.

For small business owners who receive threatening collection calls: document everything in Nemos. Business disputes where phone harassment is part of the pattern require contemporaneous records. Captures made at the time of the calls are more credible evidence than memory reconstructed later.