How to Block Spam Calls on iPhone (and Find Who Called)
Short answer: Turn on Silence Unknown Callers in your Phone settings to send unknown numbers to voicemail (Settings → Apps → Phone on iOS 26, Settings → Phone on earlier versions). Block a specific number from Phone → Recents → ⓘ → Block this Caller. To find out who is calling, install a caller ID app and switch it on under Call Blocking & Identification in the same Phone settings.
The phone rings, it's a number you don't know, and the next ten seconds are a small gamble. It might be your pharmacy. It might be a recorded voice about your car's extended warranty. Before installing anything, it's worth knowing what your iPhone can already do.
How do I stop spam calls on my iPhone without an app?
Three built-in options:
1. Silence Unknown Callers. Open your Phone settings (Settings → Apps → Phone on iOS 26, Settings → Phone on earlier versions) and choose Silence Unknown Callers. On iOS 26 you'll also see options such as Ask Reason for Calling and Call Filtering. Calls from numbers that aren't in your contacts (or that you haven't recently called or been messaged by) go straight to voicemail and show in your recents. The catch: a doctor's office, a delivery driver or a bank calling from a new number gets silenced too. Check voicemail and recents once a day if you use this.
2. Block a specific number. Open Phone → Recents, tap ⓘ next to the number, scroll down and tap Block this Caller. It's simple, but scammers rarely call from the same number twice.
3. Report junk texts. If a spam message arrives from an unknown sender, tap Report Junk under it in Messages.
Apple documents these options in Manage unknown callers on iPhone. The menus differ slightly between iOS versions, so check what your phone shows.
How do I find out who called me from an unknown number?
Search the number online, check recent reviews of that number on public lookup sites, or use a caller ID app. A caller ID app answers the question your phone can't: who is this, and do other people report them?
In general they work by keeping a list of numbers built from user reports and other sources, then using Apple's call-identification system to show a label when a matching number rings. You enable the app under Call Blocking & Identification in your Phone settings. If it isn't switched on there, it can't label your calls, which is the most common reason people think a caller ID app "doesn't work".
Which caller ID apps are in our library?
The two we list describe themselves like this:
- True CallerID: Spam Blocker advertises caller identification, automatic blocking of spam, telemarketing and robocalls, real-time spam alerts, reverse number lookup, a personal block list and a "do not disturb" mode for unknown numbers. It has a 4.3★ rating from 846 ratings.
- CallerID: True Number Search advertises caller name lookup, reverse phone lookup, spam call blocking, SMS spam protection and a blacklist/whitelist. It has a 4.29★ rating from 358 ratings.
Those are healthy sample sizes, so the ratings mean something, though a rating can't tell you how well a spam list covers your country. Spam lists are strongest where the app has the most users.
What should I check before installing a caller ID app?
- How does it look up numbers? Some apps check a list stored on your phone, others send the number to a server. Read the privacy policy so you know which.
- What does the free version do? Both listings mention a Pro subscription. Find out whether blocking works without paying, or only identification.
- Does it cover your country? One listing describes itself as aimed at the United States. Lists matter more than features.
- Is the contacts permission optional? An app that works without your address book is one less thing to worry about.
What habits protect me better than any app?
Spoofed numbers can look local, or even like someone you know. A few rules beat any software:
- Never read out a verification code to someone who called you. Banks and tech companies don't ask for them.
- Hang up and call back on the official number printed on your card or on the company's website, not the number that called you.
- Don't press a key to be "removed" from a robocall list. It tells them your number is live.
- Treat urgency as a warning. "Your account will close in an hour" is a scammer's favourite sentence.
Our take
If you get one or two unwanted calls a week, Silence Unknown Callers and the block button are probably all you need. If you take calls from unknown numbers for work, a caller ID app earns its place, as long as you're comfortable with its privacy policy and have confirmed that blocking works in the free tier.
Want to compare options? See our caller ID and spam call guide.
Related reading
- How to Remove Location From iPhone Photos Before Sharing
- How to Scan a Document to PDF on iPhone (Free, No App)
Sources and further reading
Frequently asked questions
How do I block all unknown callers on iPhone?
Open your Phone settings (Settings → Apps → Phone on iOS 26, Settings → Phone on earlier versions) and turn on Silence Unknown Callers. Unknown numbers go to voicemail instead of ringing. Be aware that legitimate calls from new numbers are silenced too.
Do caller ID apps work on iPhone?
Yes, if you enable them under Call Blocking & Identification in your Phone settings. They can label or block calls matching their spam lists, but they can't read your call history or listen to calls.
Are caller ID apps safe to use?
It depends on the app. Check whether it uploads the numbers you look up, what permissions it requests and what its privacy policy says before you install it.
How do I report a spam call?
You can block the number from your recent calls, report junk texts in Messages, and report scam calls to your country's consumer protection or telecom regulator.
True CallerID: Spam Blocker
CallerID: True Number Search