How to Block a Number on iPhone 13 (Calls, Texts, FaceTime, and Mail)

To block a number on an iPhone 13, open the Phone app, find the call in your call list, open its details, scroll down, and tap Block Caller. In the Classic layout, tap Recents, then tap the Info button next to the number. In the Unified layout, tap Calls, then tap the number or name. After you confirm, that number can’t call, text, or FaceTime you.

You can also block someone from Messages, FaceTime, Mail, or straight from Settings > Privacy & Security > Blocked Contacts. A block in one app applies across Phone, Messages, FaceTime, and Mail. To stop calls from numbers you don’t know at all, see how to block unknown numbers on iPhone.

These steps were checked on October 13, 2026, against Apple’s iPhone User Guide for iOS 26 and iOS 27 and Apple’s support article on blocking phone numbers, contacts, and emails. They work the same way on any iPhone model running those versions. If your iPhone runs an older version, see the version notes under each method.

Contents

• What blocking does
• Before you start
• Block a number from the Phone app
• Block someone from Messages
• Block a FaceTime caller
• Block an email sender in Mail
• Block a contact from Settings
• See and unblock blocked numbers
• What a blocked caller sees
• Troubleshooting
• Frequently asked questions

What blocking does

Blocking tells your iPhone to stop accepting calls, messages, and FaceTime calls from a specific phone number, email address, or contact. Apple’s Messages guide says that when you block a contact in Messages, that contact is also blocked in Mail, Phone, FaceTime, Calendar, and other apps. So you only need to block a person once.

Blocking only affects the person or number you pick. It doesn’t delete the contact card, your call history, or your old messages with that person.

If the problem is spam from many different numbers, blocking them one by one won’t keep up. Use your iPhone’s unknown and spam call filters instead. Our guide on blocking unknown numbers on iPhone covers those settings.

Before you start

• Check your iOS version. Go to Settings > General > About and look at iOS Version. The steps below are for iOS 26 and iOS 27. Notes for older versions are under each method.
• Know your Phone app layout. Starting with iOS 26, the Phone app has two layouts. The Unified layout shows a Calls tab. The Classic layout shows the familiar Recents tab. Apple’s guide says you can switch by tapping the Filter button in the upper-right corner of Calls or Recents and choosing a layout.
• Make sure it’s the right number. Blocking someone by mistake means you miss their calls and texts without any alert. You can undo it any time, though.

Block a number from the Phone app

This is the fastest method when the number has called you recently. It works whether or not the number is saved in your contacts.

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Find the call. In the Classic layout, tap Recents, then tap the Info button (a small “i” in a circle) to the right of the number. In the Unified layout, tap Calls, then tap the phone number or contact name.
3. The caller’s details screen opens. Scroll to the bottom.
4. Tap Block Caller.
5. Confirm if your iPhone asks. Calls, messages, and FaceTime calls from that number are now blocked.

To block a saved contact: in the Phone app, tap Contacts, tap the person’s name, then tap Block Contact. Apple lists this path in its iOS 26 and iOS 27 guides.

On iOS 18: open Phone, tap Favorites, Recents, or Voicemail, tap the Info button next to the number or contact, scroll down, and tap Block Caller. Older versions use the same idea, though the button may be labeled Block this Caller.

Block someone from Messages

Use this when unwanted texts or iMessages come from a number or contact.

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Open the conversation with the person you want to block.
3. Tap the person’s icon or name at the top of the conversation.
4. Tap Info, scroll down, and tap Block Contact. (Apple’s support article calls this button Block Caller. Use whichever appears.)
5. Confirm. New messages from that sender won’t be delivered to you.

You can’t block a group conversation. Apple suggests leaving the group or turning off its notifications instead. To deal with a group text, see the section on leaving a group in our guide to removing someone from a group text.

If the texts come from many unknown senders, see how to stop unwanted texts on iPhone.

Block a FaceTime caller

Apple’s iOS 27 guide gives three ways to block a FaceTime caller:

• While the call is ringing: tap the left side of the call notification, tap Join FaceTime at the top of the screen, then tap Block Caller.
• During a call: tap the email address or phone number, tap Block Caller, then tap Block. You may need to tap the FaceTime window first so the address or number appears.
• After the call: open the FaceTime app, tap the call in your call history, tap Block Contact, then tap Block.

For an unwanted Group FaceTime call, tap the people count at the top of the screen and choose Block All Participants (or Block Unknown Participants during a call).

Block an email sender in Mail

1. Open the Mail app and open an email from the sender.
2. Tap the sender’s name at the top of the email.
3. Tap View Contact Card.
4. Tap Block this Contact.

Apple says email from a blocked address goes to the Trash, and email blocking works across all your Apple devices.

Block a contact from Settings

You can add someone to your block list without finding an old call or message first. Apple’s iOS 26 and iOS 27 guides give this path:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Privacy & Security, then tap Blocked Contacts.
3. Tap Add Blocked Contact.
4. Pick the contact you want to block. The person now appears in the Blocked Contacts list.

This method works with people saved in your Contacts app. To block a number that isn’t saved, use the Phone or Messages method above, or save the number as a contact first.

See and unblock blocked numbers

Your full block list is in Settings:

1. Open Settings, tap Privacy & Security, then tap Blocked Contacts.
2. To unblock someone, tap their name, scroll down, and tap Unblock Contact. You can also tap Edit, tap the red delete button next to the entry, then tap Unblock, or swipe left on it and tap Unblock.

Apple’s call screening page also lists the list under Settings > Apps > Phone > Blocked Contacts. If you don’t see it under Privacy & Security, look there, or type “Blocked Contacts” in the search field at the top of Settings.

FaceTime only: Apple also lists Settings > Apps > FaceTime > Blocked Contacts, and you can unblock from the FaceTime call history by tapping the call, then Unblock Contact.

On iOS 18: go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Blocked Contacts. On iOS 17 or earlier: go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts.

Unblocking only affects future calls and messages. Messages sent while the person was blocked weren’t delivered, so don’t expect them to show up after you unblock.

For more detail, see how to unblock a number on iPhone and how to find blocked contacts on iPhone.

What a blocked caller sees

Apple documents these effects:

• Calls: a blocked caller can still leave a voicemail, but you won’t get a notification for it.
• Messages: messages they send aren’t delivered to you.
• Email: email from a blocked address goes to your Trash.
• No alert: the blocked person isn’t notified that their call or message was blocked. Apple’s Messages guide says a sender can’t find out if they’re blocked.

Apple doesn’t describe exactly what the caller hears, such as how many rings before voicemail. That can depend on the carrier, so don’t rely on any specific pattern.

Blocking works on your device and your Apple Account. It doesn’t stop the person from calling or texting other numbers, and it doesn’t report them anywhere. For a spam text or iMessage, you can also use Report Spam in Messages.

Troubleshooting

I don’t see Block Caller. Make sure you opened the caller’s details screen, not just the call list, and scroll all the way down. In the Unified layout, tap the number itself. If the number is hidden (No Caller ID), there’s nothing to block. Use the unknown caller filters instead.

A blocked number still gets through. Check that you blocked the exact number. The same person may call from a different number. If that number isn’t on the contact card you blocked, block it too.

Texts from a blocked person still appear. If the person also messages you from an email address, block that too. Group conversations can’t be blocked.

I blocked someone by accident. Unblock them from Settings > Privacy & Security > Blocked Contacts. Anything they sent during the block won’t appear.

I can’t find the Blocked Contacts list. Search Settings for “Blocked Contacts.” The location changed between iOS versions, as noted above.

Frequently asked questions

Does the blocked person know they’re blocked?

Apple says the contact won’t get a notification that a call or message was blocked, and that a sender can’t find out if they’re blocked.

Can a blocked number still leave a voicemail?

Yes. Apple says a blocked caller can still leave a voicemail, but you won’t be notified about it.

Does blocking a number delete the contact?

No. The contact card stays in your Contacts app. Only calls, messages, and FaceTime from that person are stopped.

Can I block a number that isn’t saved in my contacts?

Yes. Block it from your call list in the Phone app or from the conversation in Messages. The Add Blocked Contact option in Settings picks from saved contacts.

Does blocking work on my other Apple devices?

Apple says email blocking works across all your Apple devices. Apple doesn’t say the same for calls and messages in the pages we checked, so if you also use an iPad or Mac, check its Blocked Contacts list too.

Can I block a call so it doesn’t show up at all?

Blocked calls don’t ring and don’t alert you. To keep unknown numbers out of your Recents list, turn on the Unknown Callers filter in Settings > Apps > Phone.

Can I hide my own number instead?

Yes, that’s a different setting. See how to hide caller ID on iPhone 13.

Next step

Once the number is blocked, look at your call filtering settings so new spam numbers don’t take its place. For Apple’s own instructions, see Block phone numbers, contacts, and emails on your iPhone or iPad and Screen and block calls on iPhone.