6 Simple Steps to Turn Off Calls

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Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you were enjoying a quiet moment, only to be rudely interrupted by an unexpected phone call? In today’s fast-paced world, it’s more important than ever to be in control of our own time and attention. Fortunately, there are simple and effective ways to turn off calls on your devices, allowing you to regain your peace and quiet.

One of the most common ways to turn off calls is to use the Do Not Disturb feature. This feature, available on most smartphones, allows you to silence all incoming calls except for those from specific contacts or applications. To enable Do Not Disturb, simply go to your phone’s settings and toggle the switch to the “on” position. You can also customize the settings to allow certain calls to come through, such as those from family members or emergency services.

Another way to turn off calls is to use call blocking apps. These apps, available for both iOS and Android devices, allow you to block specific numbers or even entire area codes. Once an app has been installed, simply add the numbers you want to block to the app’s database. When a call comes in from a blocked number, it will be automatically silenced and sent to voicemail. Call blocking apps can be particularly useful for blocking spam calls or calls from unwanted numbers.

Disable Calls on Specific Devices

If you want to disable calls on a specific device, such as a smartphone or landline, you can do so through the device’s settings. The steps to disable calls may vary depending on the device, but typically you can find the call settings under “Settings” or “Phone.” Once you’re in the call settings, you should be able to find an option to disable calls or block incoming calls from specific numbers.

Here are some specific instructions on how to disable calls on different types of devices:

Device	Steps to Disable Calls
Smartphone	Go to “Settings” > “Phone” > “Call Blocking and Identification” > “Block Calls From Unknown Numbers”
Landline	*60 (most landlines)
Google Voice	Log in to your Google Voice account > click on the gear icon > “Settings” > “Calls” > “Call Blocking”
Skype	Click on your profile picture > “Settings” > “Privacy” > “Call Blocking”

Turn Off Calls from Unknown Numbers

Tired of robocalls and spam texts? Learn how to block unwanted calls from unknown numbers and protect your privacy.

Here are some methods to turn off calls from unknown numbers, depending on your device and carrier:

Device	Steps
iPhone	Open the Settings app. Tap “Phone.” Toggle on “Silence Unknown Callers.”
Android	Open the Phone app. Tap the three-dot menu icon. Select “Call Settings.” Tap “Spam and Call Screening.” Toggle on “Filter spam calls.”
Carrier-specific	Contact your service provider and inquire about call blocking options. They may offer a dedicated app or service that specifically targets unknown numbers.

Block Calls from Specific Contacts

To block calls from specific contacts, you can use the following steps:

1. Open the Phone app.

Tap the Phone app icon on your home screen or in the app drawer.

2. Tap the Recent tab.

This tab will show a list of your recent calls.

3. Find the contact you want to block.

Scroll through the list of recent calls and find the contact you want to block. Tap on the contact’s name or number.

3a. Tap the “Block” button.

A menu will appear with the option to “Block”. Tap on this option.

3b. Confirm that you want to block the contact.

A confirmation dialog will appear. Tap on the “Block” button to confirm that you want to block the contact.

3c. The contact will now be blocked.

The contact will no longer be able to call you or send you messages.

Set Up Do Not Disturb Mode

Do Not Disturb mode, available on most smartphones, allows you to silence all incoming calls and notifications during specific times or in certain situations. To activate Do Not Disturb mode:

Go to your device’s Settings.
Tap on “Do Not Disturb” or “Sound & notifications”.
Activate the “Do Not Disturb” mode.
Configure the settings to your preference, such as setting specific quiet hours, allowing certain contacts to bypass the silence, or choosing whether to silence only calls, notifications, or both.

Exceptions for Do Not Disturb Mode

You can choose to allow certain calls or notifications to bypass the Do Not Disturb mode. For example, you might want to allow calls from your favorites or emergency contacts. Here’s how to set exceptions:

Navigate to the Do Not Disturb settings on your device.
Look for the “Exceptions” or “Allowed interruptions” section.
Select which contacts or apps are allowed to bypass the silence, such as “Favorites,” “Priority contacts,” or “Important notifications.” You might also have options to allow repeated calls or messages from the same sender to break through the silence.

Customizing Do Not Disturb Mode

Some devices allow you to further customize the Do Not Disturb mode. For example, you can set different schedules for different days of the week, or create multiple modes with varying levels of silence. Here’s how:

Go to the Do Not Disturb settings on your device.
Look for options like “Create a schedule” or “Custom modes”.
Set up the desired schedules or modes, specifying the times and days when the mode should be active, and the level of silence you want.

Disable Calls in Airplane Mode

In airplane mode, all wireless connections are disabled, including calls. This is because airplane mode is designed to prevent interference with aircraft navigation and communication systems. To disable calls in airplane mode:

Turn on Airplane Mode: Go to your device’s Settings and toggle Airplane Mode to the “On” position.
Confirm Airplane Mode Activation: Look for the airplane icon in the status bar to confirm that Airplane Mode is active.
Check Phone App: Open the Phone app and attempt to make a call. You should see an error message indicating that calls are disabled.
Check Third-Party Apps: Ensure that any third-party apps that use phone calling are closed or disabled.
Restart Device (Optional): If you’re still experiencing issues, restart your device to ensure that all connections are refreshed.

Additional Information

Call Status	Airplane Mode Status
Incoming calls disabled	On
Outgoing calls disabled	On
Calls enabled	Off

Note: Disabling calls in Airplane Mode does not affect other apps or features that rely on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connections.
To enable calls again, simply turn Airplane Mode off.

Check Your Phone’s Accessibility Options

Many smartphones come with built-in accessibility features that can help you turn off calls more easily. To access these options, follow these steps:

Open the “Settings” app on your phone.
Scroll down and tap on “Accessibility.”
Find the “Hearing” section and tap on it.
Toggle the “Turn off calls” option to “On.”
You can also adjust the “Call Rejection Threshold” to determine how long a call needs to ring before it is automatically rejected.

Factory Reset Your Phone

Factory resetting your phone is a drastic measure, but it may be necessary if you can’t access the settings menu or if the issue is caused by a software glitch. Resetting your phone will erase all data, including apps, settings, and files, so be sure to back up anything important before proceeding.

The steps for resetting your phone may vary depending on the make and model of your device, but the following general steps will apply to most phones:

Turn off your phone.
Press and hold the Volume Up button and the Power button at the same time.
When the Android logo appears, release the Volume Up button but continue holding the Power button.
When the Android Recovery menu appears, release the Power button.
Use the Volume Down button to navigate to the “Wipe data/factory reset” option.
Press the Power button to select the option.
Use the Volume Down button to navigate to the “Yes” option.
Press the Power button to confirm the reset.
The reset process will begin, and your phone will restart once it is complete.
Set up your phone as a new device.

Caution:

Factory resetting your phone will erase all data, so be sure to back up anything important before proceeding.

How to Turn Off Calls

If you need to turn off calls for a period of time, there are a few steps you can take. First, go to your phone’s settings menu. Then, select the “Call” or “Phone” option. From here, you will see a list of options related to your phone’s calling features. Look for the option that says “Call Barring” or “Call Blocking.” Once you have found the appropriate option, select it and then select the “Turn On” or “Enable” button. This will turn off all incoming calls to your phone.

If you only want to turn off calls from certain numbers, you can add them to your phone’s blocked contacts list. To do this, go to your phone’s contact list and select the contact you want to block. Then, select the “Block” or “Add to Blocked Contacts” option. This will prevent any calls from that number from coming through to your phone.