While you may already be familiar with how to block someone that has called you, it’s possible that you want to pre-emptively block someone who might call you.
This can leave you looking for a method of how to manually block a number on iPhone 13.
This tutorial will provide you with instructions on how to manually or pre-emptively block a phone number that you don’t want to be able to reach you on your iPhone 13.
How to Add a Phone Number to Your iPhone’s Block List
- Tap the Phone icon.
- Select Contacts.
- Touch the + button.
- Enter a name and phone number, then tap Done.
- Choose Block this Caller.
- Tap Block Contact.
Our guide continues below with additional information on how to manually block a number on iPhone 13, including pictures of these steps.
Your iPhone provides you with a handful of options when it comes to blocking people.
You can block someone that calls you, texts you, or tries to make a FaceTime call, but all of those options require them to reach out to you initially.
While it’s fairly simple to decline a call or delete a text message, you might prefer that a number you know you won’t want to talk to never gets through to you in the first place.
Luckily there is a way to add a phone number to your block list on an iPhone if that person hasn’t tried to contact you at all yet.
Our guide continues below with more information on adding phone numbers to the block list on an iPhone.
Find out how to scan a QR code on iPhone if you’ve encountered them in the past and want to know how to use them.
How to Block a Number That’s Not a Contact on an iPhone (Guide with Pictures)
The steps in this article were performed on an iPhone 13 in the iOS 15.5. operating system.
These steps will show you how to block a number on an iPhone 13.
Step 1: Open the Phone app on your iPhone.
Tap the Phone icon.
Step 2: Choose the Contacts tab at the bottom of the screen.
Touch the Contacts button.
Step 3: Touch the + icon at the top-right corner of the screen.
Tap the plus button.
Step 4: Give the contact a name, add their phone number, then tap the Done button at the top-right corner of the screen.
Fill in the contact information and tap Done.
Step 5: Scroll to the bottom of the contact card and touch the Block this Caller button.
Scroll down and tap Block this Caller.
Step 6: Tap the Block Contact button at the bottom of the screen to complete the contact blocking.
Touch Block Contact to confirm.
Hopefully, the steps above have provided you with useful instructions on how to manually block a number on iPhone 13.
Our tutorial continues below with additional discussion about iPhone call blocking.
More Information on How to Block Numbers Manually on an iPhone
Another option for creating a new contact would be to type the number into the Keypad tab on the Phone app, then tap the Add Number option under that number and choose the Create New Contact option.
You can use this same method to block a contact that you already have on your phone. Instead of creating the new contact from the Contacts tab you would just select the existing contact and block them.
There is also a Contacts app on your iPhone if you would rather navigate to your contacts that way. You can either open Spotlight Search by swiping down on your Home screen and searching for the word “contacts” or you can go to your second Home screen, open the Extras folder, and tap the Contacts icon there. We discuss finding this app more in our where is the contacts icon on iPhone guide.
if you have Verizon then you can also block contacts with them, although you are limited in the number of contacts you can block that way.
If you want to view or manage your iPhone’s blocked caller list then you can go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts.
To block a number from your recent call list, go to the Phone app, select Recents, tap the i to the right of the number, then choose the Block this Caller option.
Frequently Asked Questions About How to Block a Number on iPhone 13
If I block someone on my iPhone 13, will they know?
No, any phone number or contact that you have blocked on your iPhone will not know that they are blocked.
All they will be able to see is that the message wasn’t delivered or read, which could be due to anything.
If I block a contact on my iPhone 13, will it stop them from calling me?
Yes, when you block a phone number on your iPhone they won’t be able to reach you by phone, text, or FaceTime calls.
However, this only blocks the specific phone number or contact. They will be able to get past the block if they use a different phone number that you haven’t blocked.
How do I block a recent call on my iPhone 13?
You are able to block people even if they aren’t a contact on your iPhone. One good way to do this is through the recent incoming or recent outgoing calls log.
1. Open the Phone app.
2. Select the Recents tab.
3. Tap the i to the right of the number to block.
4. Choose Block This Contact.
5. Touch Block Contact to confirm.
Now if this person calls you again, the call will go directly to voicemail.
How do I manage blocked contacts on an iPhone 13?
Once you have chosen to block phone numbers on your device they will be added to a list that you can use when you want to locate a blocked contact.
You can find this list if you open the Settings app, then scroll down and tap Phone.
From there you can tap Block Contacts and view all of your blocked phone numbers.
If you want to remove someone from this blocked contacts list you can tap Edit at the upper right corner of the screen, then tap the red circle to the left of the contact name or phone number.
Can I block someone through the Messages app?
Yes, if you open the Messages app and select the text conversation, you can tap the name or number at the top of the screen.
You can then tap the small information icon and choose the Block this Caller option. You will need to select Block Contact again to confirm.
You can manage blocked numbers the same way as if they were blocked through the call log, if you go to Settings > Phone and tap Blocked Contacts.
How do I silence junk callers on an iPhone?
Your iPhone has the ability to remain silent when you get calls from unknown numbers.
While this is not the same as an option that would silence calls identified as junk callers, it can be very useful when your phone isn’t ringing for all the calls that come from numbers not saved in your phone.
You will find this option if you go to Settings > Phone > and tap the Silence Unknown Callers option. Next you will tap Silence Unknown Callers again to activate the feature.
You can always turn this off if you are expecting an important call from an unknown number, but I am finding that I keep it on almost all of the time due to the prevalence of spam and telemarketing calls.
Additional Sources
Matthew Burleigh has been writing technology how-to articles and tutorials for over a decade. He has extensive experience in information technology both in small business and as a consultant.
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