How to block and unblock numbers on Android mobile phone and iPhone

Blocking mobile numbers has to be the easiest way to prevent spammers and unknown numbers from bugging or reaching out to you. Both Android mobile phones and iPhones come with various methods to red flag a number so that you no longer get calls or messages from it. These methods have been discussed at length in this article. So, without any further ado, let’s check out how to block mobile numbers on an Android mobile phone and iPhone or unblock a number if it was blocked accidentally.

How to block mobile numbers on Android

Most Android phones come pre-installed with Google Phone and Contacts. Meaning the process to block mobile numbers across phones from various brands should be the same. That said, let’s take a look at various ways to block numbers on Android.

Through call log

At times, continuous calls from spammers and unknown callers can be annoying. Here’s how to block them directly from the call log.

• Launch the Phone app on your Android mobile phone
• From the ‘Recents’ tab press and hold on the mobile number you wish to block
• Now select the ‘Block/report junk’ option
  
• Next, check or uncheck the ‘Report call as spam’ option
  
• Hit ‘Block’ to no longer receive calls from the mobile number

Through contacts app

Blocking a contact through the Contacts app on Android is a simple and straightforward process. Here’s how.

• Open Contacts on your Android phone
  
• Tap on the contact you wish to block
• On the next screen, select the ‘3-dot menu’ at the top right corner, and from there tap on ‘Block numbers’
  
• Next, check or uncheck the ‘Report call as spam’ option
• Lastly, hit ‘Block’

Through Phone app settings

Use this method to block particular mobile numbers which you have not previously saved.

• Open the Phone app
• Next, tap on the ‘3-dot menu’ at the top right corner, and from there tap on ‘Settings’
  
• Now tap on ‘Block numbers’
• Select ‘Add a number’ and enter the mobile number you don’t wish to receive calls from
  
• Once done, hit ‘Block’ and you’re good to go

Through SMS

Android users can get rid of spammy and promotional SMSes by simply blocking them on the Messages app. Here’s how

• Open Messages on your Android phone
• Tap and hold on the chat or contact you want to block
  
• Several options will appear at the top
• Hit the ‘block’ icon
  
• On the next window popup, check or uncheck ‘Report as spam’
• Lastly, tap ‘OK’ to block the chat

How to unblock mobile numbers on Android

Unblocking mobile numbers on Android is just as straightforward as blocking one. The several ways to unblock someone are as follows.

Through Contacts tab

Saved contacts can be unblocked by following the same process used to block them. Here’s how

• Open the Phone app
• Tap on the ‘Contacts’ tab at the bottom
• Now select or search the blocked contact.
• From here, tap on the ‘3-dot menu’ up top and select ‘Unblock numbers’
  
• On the next prompt hit ‘Unblock’
  

Through Phone app settings

The Phone app settings constitute a list of all the previously blocked mobile numbers on your Android phone. Here’s how to remove the blocked contacts and numbers from that list.

• Firstly, open the Phone app
• Next, tap on the ‘3-dot menu’ at the top right corner, and from there tap on ‘Settings’
  
• Now tap on ‘Block numbers’
  
• From the list, simply tap on the ‘cross’ to unblock the numbers
  

This method also unblocks the SMS’ from saved and unsaved mobile numbers.

How to block mobile numbers on iPhone

Just like Android, there are a couple of different ways to block mobile numbers on iPhone. Let’s take a look at them one by one.

Through call log

Also known as ‘Recents’, a mobile number can be directly blocked from the call log on an iPhone. Here’s how.

• Firstly, open the Phone app
• Next, tap on the Recents tab
  
• Now find the number you wish to block and tap the encircled ‘i’ on the right side
• On the next screen, select ‘Block this caller’ option and the number will be unable to call you
  

Through contacts tab

iPhone users can also block saved contacts through the Phone app itself. Here’s how.

• Launch the Phone app
• Go to the ‘Contacts’ tab
• Find and select the contact you wish to block
  
• Now scroll down a bit and hit ‘Block this Caller’ option 

Through Messages

Annoyed by spammy SMS on your iPhone? Follow the below-mentioned steps to block saved and unsaved contacts.

• Open the Messages app on your iPhone
• Now open the chat you wish to block
  
• Tap on the name or mobile number at the top
• Select the ‘info’ button on the next screen
  
• Finally, select ‘Block this Caller’

How to unblock mobile numbers on iPhone

The go-to method to unblock a mobile number or contact on iPhone is through the Settings app. Below is the step-by-step procedure on how to go about it.

• Open ‘Settings’ on your iPhone
• Next, scroll down and tap on ‘Phone’
• On the next screen select ‘Blocked Contacts’
• From here you will be able to unblock the contacts as per your will

FAQs

Can someone tell when you block them?

When a blocked mobile number tries to call you, the other person will always get a busy line irrespective of the device they own. This will indicate that you have blocked them.

Can you see if a blocked number has tried to contact you?

There’s no way to tell whether a blocked number calls you unless you unblock them and they try to reach you again.

What happens when you block a person from Android to iPhone?

When a blocked person tries to reach you through a call, they will not be able to connect since the call will be declined automatically. They will hear the busy line message on their end. However, that’s not the case when you try to call a blocked mobile number as the call will call through as it is supposed to.

Will SMS be delivered if blocked on Android or iPhone?

You will not receive SMS from blocked numbers and contacts irrespective of the device you or the other person owns. The blocked person won’t know they are blocked although the SMS will be delivered from their end.

Does blocking a contact on iPhone or Android block on all devices?

If the blocked contact is synced on your Apple ID, they will be blocked from all your devices logged in with the same Apple ID. Similarly, blocking a saved number from an Android device blocks the contact on all your devices that are signed in with your Gmail account.

How do you know if you are blocked on Android from iPhone?

In case you are blocked by a certain contact, the call will never go through. You will always hear a busy line each and every time you try to call them.