How to Block a Number on iPhone and Android in 2026

Key Points:

• The easiest and fastest way to block numbers on iPhone and Android in 2026 is to go through the Recents list in your Phone app's call log and block the specific number there.
• If you need a greater level of protection, you can completely silence unknown calls through Apple's Phone app settings or Android's Caller ID and Spam Protection measures.
• Alternative methods to block unwanted calls and texts would be to utilise Do Not Disturb / Focus modes or utilise a carrier-specific or third-party application instead.

As great as modern smartphones are at keeping us connected, some of the calls we get can be less than desirable. Whether it's someone we're trying to distance ourselves from or suspected spam calls, knowing how to block a number on iPhone or Android is a pivotal way to ensure your talk time is spent properly with your Talkmobile SIM-Only plan. We're going through all confirmed, working methods for both Apple and Android hardware that you can use in 2026 with our easy-to-follow guide.

The fastest and easiest method to block unwanted calls on both platforms. Here's how to do it for both iPhones and Android smartphones in 2026.

For iPhones:

• Open the Phone app and tap Recents
• Find the phone number or contact you want to block
• Tap the info icon next to the number
• Scroll to the bottom of the screen and tap on "Block this Caller"
• Confirm by tapping "Block Contact"

For Android:

• Open the Phone app
• Tap Recents
• Tap and hold on the specific number you want to block
• Select Block/report spam (which is sometimes known as Details > Block number)
• Confirm the action when prompted to

Use a combination of phone number-specific blocking from the recent calls tab in the Phone app and Do Not Disturb / Focus mode before making the decision to silence (or block) all unknown numbers, as you could miss otherwise important phone calls then. 

If spam calls are particularly frustrating, then a better option than manually selecting one or two at a time may be to wholesale block any numbers you don't recognise. Here's how to do that.

For iPhones:

• Open Settings
• Scroll down and tap on Phone
• Tap on Silence Unknown Callers
• Toggle the switch to On
• This will send anyone who isn't in your contacts list to voicemail, including silencing Siri suggestions and recent outgoing calls too

For Android:

• Open the Phone app
• Tap the three dots in the top right corner and select Settings
• Tap on Caller ID and spam (sometimes called Block numbers)
• Toggle Filter spam calls to on or turn on Block calls from unknown numbers

You can also block unwanted or spam texts and SMS messages similarly through your Apple or Android settings quickly and easily. Here's the fastest way to achieve this.

For iPhones:

• Open the Messages app and tap the thread of the number you want to block
• Tap on the contact icon or the phone number at the top where displayed
• Tap on Info
• Tap Block this Caller at the bottom of the screen

For Android:

• Open the Messages app and open the text thread
• Tap the three dots in the top right corner
• Select Block and report spam

While these methods are proven to be effective, they may not get absolutely everything covered. Sometimes you may need an extra layer of protection and support, and that's where these three alternative methods can come in handy.

• Carrier-level blocking apps: Some network providers offer specific protection apps that can block or filter out additional texts or calls before they arrive on your phone.
• Third-party blocking apps: There is a wealth of call and text blocking applications available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, such as Call Blocker and Hiya.
• Focus / Do Not Disturb: Utilising your phone's Do Not Disturb feature is a temporary method that sends all calls to voicemail and mutes all notifications until they are re-enabled.