How to silence unknown callers on iPhone and Android

Learn how to silence unknown callers on iPhone and Android to automatically send spammers and calls from numbers you haven’t saved straight to your voicemail.

But why?

With spam calls continuously on the rise, you can use call identification and filtering apps or block phone numbers in bulk. Better yet, set your phone to automatically silence calls from people you haven’t saved as contacts, like spammers. iOS is smart to allow calls from folks you’ve recently called or texted, even if their mobile phone number isn’t saved in your contacts. It also taps into Siri intelligence to permit calls from numbers found in your emails, Messages chats and other apps.

A major drawback to this approach

Before you turn this feature on, be warned that all calls from unknown numbers will be blocked, including calls which might be important such as your delivery person, support agents, legitimate businesses, distant family members, and the like. If you’re expecting calls from such numbers, it’s best to temporarily turn off this feature.

Doesn’t apply to third-party calling apps

This feature only works with native cellular calls and FaceTime calls. It doesn’t silence unknown callers from third-party VoIP apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, or WhatsApp. Such apps may have an internal setting to silence unknown callers.

Silence calls from unknown callers on iPhone

1. Open the Settings app and tap Apps at the bottom.
2. Select Phone on the list of apps.
3. Tap Silence Unknown Callers.
4. Turn on the switch for Silence Unknown Callers.

Any calls from unknown numbers or numbers Siri hasn’t found in Mail and Messages (and whitelisted) go straight to your voicemail. Silenced calls don’t ring or show missed call notifications. If the silenced caller leaves you a voice message, you can listen to in your voicemail inbox. If someone you don’t know buzzes you for a legitimate reason, they’ll probably want to leave a voice message anyway.

You can also screen unwanted calls with a call-identification extension like Truecaller. Instead of sending unrecognized callers to your voicemail, such extensions label incoming calls from telemarketers, debt collectors, scammers, and automated systems as “Possible Spam” right on the Lock Screen and in the Phone app. However, these extensions will still allow such calls to ring.

Block phone calls from unknown numbers on Android

Android phones have a built-in feature to actually block unknown calls instead of sending them to your voicemail. Check with your device manufacturer for further information. For the steps below, I’m going to use an Android smartphone running stock Android.

1. Open the Phone app on your Android phone.
2. Hit the three-dotted menu in the top-right corner and choose Settings.
3. Select Blocked numbers.
4. Turn on the switch for “Unknown. Block calls from unidentified callers.”

Allow calls from unknown callers

As mentioned, silencing or blocking unknown callers is not without pitfalls. If you’re anticipating an important call from someone not in your contacts, be sure to turn off the Silence Unknown Callers setting. You can always turn it back on if you change your mind later.

You’ll also love these tips:

• How to receive fake calls on your iPhone to get out of bad situations
• Why you see “Maybe” before contacts on iPhone, and how to fix it
• How to merge or delete duplicate contacts on iPhone