3 Easy Steps to Block All Calls on an iPhone

iPhone with Do Not Disturb turned on

Tired of unwanted phone calls disrupting your peace and productivity? Say goodbye to incessant interruptions with our comprehensive guide to blocking calls on your iPhone. In this article, we’ll delve into the various methods available to silence those annoying robocalls, spammers, and telemarketers.

To begin with, the most straightforward approach is to enable the “Silence Unknown Callers” feature. This option effectively filters out calls from numbers not saved in your contacts or recent call history. By toggling this setting on, you can significantly reduce the number of unsolicited calls you receive. Additionally, you can create a custom block list by manually adding specific numbers or contacts you wish to silence.

Furthermore, your iPhone offers the option to block calls from a specific area code or country. This feature is particularly useful if you’re frequently receiving unwanted calls from a particular region. To activate this feature, simply navigate to the “Settings” app and select “Phone,” followed by “Call Blocking & Identification.” From there, you can add specific area codes or countries to your block list. By implementing these techniques, you can effectively reclaim control over your phone and eliminate the annoyance of unsolicited calls.

Activate Do Not Disturb Mode

Do Not Disturb mode is an incredibly useful feature that allows you to silence all calls, notifications, and other interruptions while your iPhone is in use. This mode can be customized to meet your specific needs, and it’s easy to activate and deactivate. Here’s how to enable Do Not Disturb mode on your iPhone:

Manual Activation: From the Home screen, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open Control Center. Tap the moon icon to activate Do Not Disturb mode.
Scheduled Activation: You can also schedule Do Not Disturb mode to activate automatically during certain times of day. To do this, go to Settings > Do Not Disturb. Tap “Scheduled” and set the start and end times for Do Not Disturb mode. You can also choose to have Do Not Disturb mode activate during specific calendar events.

Allow Exceptions: By default, Do Not Disturb mode will silence all calls and notifications. However, you can allow exceptions for certain contacts or apps. To do this, go to Settings > Do Not Disturb > Allow Calls From. From here, you can choose to allow calls from all contacts, specific contacts, or no one. You can also allow notifications from certain apps by tapping “App Notifications” and selecting the apps you want to receive notifications from.

Use Focus Mode with Silent Notifications

Focus Mode is a powerful tool on your iPhone that allows you to customize how your device behaves in different situations. You can create different Focus modes for different activities, such as work, sleep, or personal time. Each Focus mode can have its own set of settings, including whether or not to allow notifications. To use Focus Mode with silent notifications, follow these steps:

Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Tap on “Focus”.
Tap on the “+” button in the top-right corner.
Select “Custom” from the list of Focus mode types.
Give your Focus mode a name and choose an icon for it.
Tap on “Notifications”.
Under “Allow Notifications From”, select “None”.
Tap on “Back”.
Tap on “Done” to save your changes.

Once you have created a Focus mode with silent notifications, you can enable it by swiping down from the top-right corner of your screen and tapping on the Focus mode icon. When Focus Mode is enabled, you will not receive any notifications, including calls.

In addition to the steps above, you can also use the following tips to minimize the number of calls you receive on your iPhone:

– Use the “Do Not Disturb” feature. Do Not Disturb silences all calls and notifications, except for those that you allow. You can schedule Do Not Disturb to turn on at a specific time each day, or you can turn it on manually.
– Block unwanted callers. If you are receiving calls from unwanted callers, you can block them so that they will not be able to call you again.
– Use a call blocker app. There are a number of call blocker apps available in the App Store that can help you to block unwanted calls.

Block Specific Numbers

iPhone provides an option to block specific phone numbers to prevent them from contacting you. This feature is useful for blocking unwanted calls, spam calls, or numbers from people you don’t want to hear from.

To block a specific number on an iPhone:

Open the Phone app and tap Recents.

Find the contact or phone number you want to block and tap the (i) icon next to it.

Scroll down and tap Block this Caller. A confirmation dialog box will appear.

Tap Block Contact to confirm.

Once a number is blocked, it will be added to the blocked contacts list and will not be able to call or send messages to your iPhone. You can view and manage blocked contacts by going to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts.

How to Unblock a Number

If you change your mind and want to unblock a number, you can do so by following these steps:

Go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts.
Find the contact or phone number you want to unblock and tap Edit.
Tap Unblock next to the contact’s name.
Tap Unblock again to confirm.

The contact will be removed from the blocked contacts list and will be able to call or send messages to your iPhone again.

Filter Unknown Callers

Silence Unknown Callers is an iOS feature that can effectively filter out unwanted calls from unknown numbers. Here’s how to activate and configure this feature:

Enable Silence Unknown Callers

1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.

2. Tap on “Phone.”

3. Scroll down and toggle on “Silence Unknown Callers.”

Configure Additional Settings

Allow Calls From Contacts

To ensure that calls from known contacts are not mistakenly filtered out, you can add exceptions to the Silence Unknown Callers feature. Here’s how:

1. Tap on “Contacts” in the Phone settings.

2. Select the contacts you want to allow calls from.

3. Tap on “Edit” in the top-right corner.

4. Check the box next to “Phone Calls” to allow incoming calls from these contacts.

Send Unknown Calls to Voicemail

If you prefer to have unknown calls go directly to voicemail, you can enable this option:

In the Phone settings, under “Silence Unknown Callers,” tap on “Send to Voicemail.”
Toggle on “Send Unknown Callers to Voicemail.”

Disable Visual Voicemail Transcriptions

If you have visual voicemail enabled, unknown callers can leave transcribed voicemails. To disable this feature:

iPhone Model	Steps
iPhone 14, 13, 12, 11, or XS	Settings > Phone > Visual Voicemail > Toggle off “Show Transcriptions”
iPhone XR or earlier	Settings > Phone > Disable “Voicemail Transcription”

Silence All Calls

Silence all incoming calls by turning on Do Not Disturb mode. This mode silences all calls, notifications, and alerts, allowing you to focus on other tasks.

1. Go to Settings > Do Not Disturb.

2. Enable “Do Not Disturb”.

3. Choose when Do Not Disturb should be active:

Scheduled: Set specific times when Do Not Disturb will be active.
Until Tomorrow: Enable Do Not Disturb until the following morning.
For 1 Hour: Enable Do Not Disturb for one hour.

4. Allow calls from certain contacts:

Favorites: Allow calls from contacts marked as favorites.
All Contacts: Allow calls from all contacts.
No Contacts: Block calls from all contacts.

5. Customize Do Not Disturb settings:

Setting	Description
Allow Repeated Calls:	If enabled, the same caller can call again within 3 minutes.
Bedtime Mode:	When enabled, Do Not Disturb mode is automatically activated during the bedtime hours you specify.
Silence Unknown Callers:	If enabled, calls from unknown numbers will be silenced.

Set Call Forwarding to Voicemail

If you want to forward all of your phone calls to your voicemail and avoid them ringing through to your phone, follow these steps:

Open the Phone app on your iPhone.
Tap the “Keypad” tab at the bottom of the screen.
Dial the call forwarding code for your carrier. (See the table below for a list of codes.)
Tap the “Call” button.
You will hear a message confirming that call forwarding has been activated.
To disable call forwarding, dial the same code again and tap the “Call” button.

Call Forwarding Codes
Carrier	Code
AT&T	21
Verizon	*72
T-Mobile	#21#
Sprint	*72
U.S. Cellular	*72

Once call forwarding is activated, you will receive a notification on your phone whenever you receive a call. The call will automatically be forwarded to your voicemail, so you will not have to answer it.

Call forwarding can be a useful way to avoid receiving unwanted calls or to manage your voicemail more efficiently. However, it is important to note that call forwarding can incur additional charges from your carrier, so be sure to check with your carrier before activating it.

Enable Airplane Mode or Turn Off Cellular Data

Set Your Phone to Airplane Mode

Airplane mode disables all wireless communications on your iPhone, including cellular data and Wi-Fi. This is the most effective way to block all incoming calls.

Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to open the Control Center.
Tap the airplane icon.

Disable Cellular Data

If you want to disable only cellular data and still allow other wireless connections, you can do the following:

Go to the Settings app.
Tap Cellular.
Toggle off the Cellular Data switch.

Additional Tips

1. Use a Third-Party Call Blocking App

There are a variety of third-party call blocking apps available in the App Store. These apps can filter out unwanted calls based on criteria such as phone number, name, or area code.

2. Register with the National Do Not Call Registry

The National Do Not Call Registry is a free service that helps reduce unwanted telemarketing calls. You can register your phone number at donotcall.gov. However, this may not block all calls, as some telemarketers ignore the registry.

3. Block Specific Numbers

You can block specific numbers directly on your iPhone:

Go to the Phone app.
Tap Recents.
Find the contact you want to block.
Tap the contact’s name.
Scroll down and tap Block this Caller.

4. Forward Calls to Voicemail

If you don’t want to block calls entirely, you can forward them to voicemail. This way, you won’t hear the phone ring, but the caller will leave a message.

Go to the Phone app.
Tap Settings.
Tap Call Forwarding.
Enter the phone number of your voicemail.
Tap Enable Call Forwarding.

5. Use Do Not Disturb Mode

Do Not Disturb mode silences all incoming calls and notifications. You can schedule Do Not Disturb mode to turn on at certain times of day or set it to turn on manually.

Go to the Settings app.
Tap Do Not Disturb.
Customize the settings as desired.

6. Check for Carrier Settings Updates

Your carrier may release updates to the carrier settings that can improve call blocking features.

Go to the Settings app.
Tap General.
Tap About.
If there is an update available, a pop-up will appear.
Tap Install.

Use a Call Blocking App

If you’re looking for a more comprehensive solution to block unwanted calls, consider using a call blocking app. These apps offer a range of features that can help you identify and block calls from specific numbers, area codes, or even entire countries. Here’s a closer look at the benefits of using a call blocking app:

Customizable Blocking Options

Call blocking apps allow you to create custom blocking rules based on specific criteria. You can block calls from individual phone numbers, area codes, or even entire countries. Some apps also offer advanced options, such as the ability to block calls based on the caller’s name, call type (e.g., spam, telemarketing), or even the time of day.

Real-Time Call Detection

Call blocking apps use advanced algorithms to identify and block unwanted calls in real time. When a call comes in, the app checks it against your blocking rules and automatically blocks it if it matches any of the criteria. This ensures that you never have to deal with unwanted calls again.

Caller ID Lookup

Many call blocking apps include caller ID lookup features that allow you to identify the caller before you answer. This is particularly useful for identifying and blocking spam calls, as it can show you the name and location of the caller and even display any negative reviews or complaints.

Easy to Use

Call blocking apps are designed to be user-friendly and easy to use. Most apps offer simple interfaces that make it easy to set up blocking rules and manage your blocked call list. They also typically integrate seamlessly with your phone’s native call blocker, ensuring that blocked calls are always routed to voicemail or rejected without ever ringing your phone.

Disable Cellular and Wi-Fi Calling

To disable cellular and Wi-Fi calling on your iPhone, follow these steps:

Go to Settings.
Tap Phone.
Tap Wi-Fi Calling.
Turn off the toggle switch.
Tap Cellular.
Turn off the toggle switch.

Additional Information

Disabling cellular and Wi-Fi calling will prevent you from making and receiving phone calls over a cellular or Wi-Fi network. You will still be able to make and receive FaceTime calls.

Here is a table summarizing the effects of disabling cellular and Wi-Fi calling:

Feature	Disabled Cellular	Disabled Wi-Fi Calling
Phone calls over cellular network	Disabled	Enabled
Phone calls over Wi-Fi network	Enabled	Disabled
FaceTime calls	Enabled	Enabled

Note that if you have an iPhone 6 or later, you can also disable cellular and Wi-Fi calling for specific contacts. To do this, follow these steps:

Open the Contacts app.
Select the contact you want to block from calling you.
Tap Edit.
Scroll down and tap the toggle switch next to “Cellular” and “Wi-Fi Calling”.
Tap Done.

Contact Your Carrier for Further Assistance

If you’ve tried all the above steps and you’re still receiving unwanted calls, you may need to contact your carrier for further assistance. They may have additional tools or resources that can help you block these calls.

When you contact your carrier, be prepared to provide them with the following information:

Your phone number
The phone numbers of the callers you’re trying to block
A description of the problem you’re experiencing

Your carrier may also ask you to try a few additional troubleshooting steps, such as:

Restarting your phone
Updating your phone’s software
Resetting your phone’s network settings

If you’ve tried all of the above steps and you’re still unable to block unwanted calls, your carrier may be able to provide you with additional assistance. They may have access to specialized tools or resources that can help you resolve the problem.

How to Receive No Calls on iPhone

If you’re tired of receiving unwanted calls, there are a few things you can do to block them. Here’s how to receive no calls on your iPhone:

Open the Phone app.
Tap the Recents tab.
Tap the info button next to the contact you want to block.
Scroll down and tap Block this Caller.

You can also block calls from unknown numbers by turning on the Silence Unknown Callers feature. To do this, go to Settings > Phone and turn on the Silence Unknown Callers switch.