How to block unwanted calls and texts on iPhone?
Unsolicited calls are especially annoying, especially when they are repeated, especially cold calls that sometimes turn into harassment. Fortunately, it is possible to correct the situation by blocking calls. On the iPhone, it’s pretty simple. Here’s how to silence spam on your phone.
A radical solution: systematic blocking
To block a number from calling or texting you, simply… block a contact. Of course, this only applies to numbers that have already contacted you, but this solution is easy to set up. There is an option to “block this reporter” by clicking on the unwanted number and going to the bottom of his file. With one click, this number will no longer be able to call or text you. A two-in-one solution that turns out to be really practical, but unfortunately not enough for dozens of phone platforms.
If you ever want to unblock a correspondent, it’s as simple as this: the “blocked contacts” tab in the message or call settings allows you to familiarize yourself with the list of numbers that bother you a little too much. By clicking on one of them, you can unblock it and thereby allow it to call you again.
Services dedicated to your convenience
The French government created the Bloctel service in 2016, for which you need to register on the website of the same name. This allows anyone to choose not to be contacted by canvassers and cancel canvasser numbers to prevent future contact. Protection that works only halfway, but can be combined with services specific to mobile operators. The Orange Phone app can, for example, identify numbers that are considered spam. Malicious numbers are listed by the community so you know whether to pick up the call or not. We also note that there are third-party programs, such as Robokiller, which can be downloaded from the App Store; however, they usually have the major drawback of requiring a paid subscription.
© Screenshot / Les Numériques.
Finally, be aware that as of January 1, 2023, Arcep has banned cold calls to numbers starting with 06 and 07. A new security guarantee that will allow you to be more careful when receiving calls, especially starting with 09. , regardless of your smartphone. It should also be noted that from “Starting March 1, 2023, consumers will only be allowed to contact us by phone Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and holidays will be prohibited”.as reported by the government.
Prevention is better than cure: reserve notifications for known numbers
There is another solution to stop bothering with messages from unknown senders. It is indeed possible to filter received messages Parametersafter Writingswhere the selection appears Message filterwhere you will need to activate Filter unknown senders. So you will only receive notifications if the person who sent the message is in your contact list. If they’re not there, their messages will come, but you won’t be alerted, and they’ll go to a special box called “Filters”. A way to protect yourself while maintaining some control over receiving messages. However, remember to check the filter box often to avoid messages from contacts whose numbers you haven’t taken the time to save going unanswered.
Since iOS 13, the iPhone has a setting that allows you to silence unknown calls. Thus, an unknown number will not call your phone, which gives you some peace of mind. It’s almost similar to how filters for messages work, except that unwanted calls will be forwarded directly to your voicemail. Just go here to activate Parametersafter Phoneand finally Silent stranger calls.
