You can block a number directly in the Messages app or through your phone settings

iPhone gives you two straightforward ways to stop texts from a specific number. The fastest method is to open the conversation, tap the sender's name or number at the top of the thread, scroll down, and tap "Block this Caller." The second method is to go to Settings > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification, tap "Block Contacts," and add the number manually. Both methods prevent that number from texting you, calling you, or reaching you through FaceTime.

Once you block a number, their messages still arrive on Apple's servers but do not show up on your phone. You will not see notifications, and the messages go into a hidden folder you can access only by searching for the blocked contact's name. This matters if you ever need proof that someone contacted you — the messages exist in your account, just hidden from view.

Blocking works the same way whether the incoming text is from a person you know or a stranger. The person who is blocked will not receive a notification that you blocked them, though they may figure it out if their messages never get a read receipt and calls go straight to voicemail.

Key Takeaways

  • The fastest way to block is to open a text from that number, tap the sender's name at the top, and select "Block this Caller."
  • Blocked messages still arrive on Apple's servers but are hidden from your inbox and do not trigger notifications.
  • You can unblock a number anytime by going to Settings > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification > Block Contacts and swiping left on the name.
  • Blocking a number prevents texts, calls, and FaceTime requests from that contact, but does not stop them from leaving voicemails.
  • If you block someone by accident, you have no time limit to undo it — just find them in your blocked list and remove them.

Blocking from a text conversation

Open the Messages app and find the conversation with the number you want to block. Tap the sender's name or number at the very top of the screen — not the message itself, but the header area where their contact information appears. A menu will open showing their name, phone number, and several options.

Scroll down in this menu until you see "Block this Caller" in red text. Tap it. A confirmation message will appear asking "Block [number]?" — tap "Block" again to confirm. The conversation remains in your Messages app, but you will no longer receive notifications from that number, and any new messages from them will be hidden.

Blocking through your phone settings

If you want to block a number without having an existing text from them, or if you prefer to manage all your blocked contacts in one place, use your phone settings. Go to Settings > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification. Tap "Block Contacts" at the bottom of the screen.

Tap the plus sign (+) in the top right corner. Your contacts list will appear. Find and tap the person or number you want to block. They will be added to your blocked list when ready. If the number is not in your contacts, tap "Block Contact" at the top, then type or paste the phone number directly.

What happens when you block a number

When you block someone on iPhone, they cannot reach you by text, phone call, or FaceTime. However, they can still leave voicemails — those go to your voicemail inbox but do not trigger a notification. If they try to call or text, they will not see an error message; the call or message straightforward fails to go through on their end after a delay, which may make them think your phone is off or you are not responding.

The blocked person will not receive a notification saying "you have been blocked." However, if they are paying attention to patterns — no read receipts, calls going to voicemail, messages never going through — they may suspect you blocked them. There is no way to block someone invisibly; blocking is blocking.

Messages from blocked numbers are not deleted. They are moved to a hidden section of your Messages app. If you search for the blocked contact's name in Messages, their old conversation will appear, and you can read everything they sent before you blocked them. This is useful if you need to review past messages for evidence or context.

Unblocking a number if you change your mind

You can unblock someone at any time with no time limit or penalty. Go to Settings > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification > Block Contacts. Find the number you want to unblock and swipe left on it. A red "Unblock" button will appear — tap it. The person can now text and call you again, and you will receive notifications from them.

Unblocking does not restore old messages or conversations. If you had deleted the conversation before blocking, it stays deleted. If you had kept it, the conversation will still be there after you unblock, showing all the messages up to the point you blocked them.

When blocking is not enough

Blocking works well for people you know or for occasional unwanted texts. It does not stop spam texts or robocalls from new numbers — spammers often use different numbers each time they contact you, so blocking one number does not prevent the next one from getting through.

If you are receiving many spam texts, consider enabling "Filter Unknown Senders" in Settings > Messages. This moves texts from numbers not in your contacts into a separate tab, so they do not clutter your main inbox. You can also report spam texts to Apple by opening the message, tapping "Report Junk" (or the three dots menu, then "Report Junk"), and selecting "Junk." Apple uses these reports to improve its spam detection.

For texts related to account security — like two-factor authentication codes or password reset links — blocking the sender is dangerous. These texts often come from legitimate services you use. If you are worried about a text claiming to be from your bank or email provider, contact that company directly using a phone number or website you know is real, rather than replying to the text or clicking links in it.

Blocking across other Apple devices

If you use multiple Apple devices — an iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch — blocking a number on your iPhone does not automatically block them on your other devices. You will need to block them separately on each device. However, if you use the same Apple ID across devices and have iMessage enabled, blocking someone in Messages on one device may sync to your other devices after a few minutes.

The safest approach is to block the number in Settings > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification on your iPhone, then repeat the process on any iPad or Mac you use regularly. This ensures consistent blocking across all your devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I blocked them?

They will not receive a notification, but they may figure it out if their calls go to voicemail every time and their messages never show as delivered. There is no way to block someone without them eventually noticing the pattern if they keep trying to reach you.

Do blocked messages get deleted?

No. Blocked messages are hidden but still stored on your phone. Search for the blocked contact's name in Messages to see the hidden conversation. If you want to permanently delete messages, you must delete the conversation manually before or after blocking.

What if I block someone by accident?

Go to Settings > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification > Block Contacts, find their name, swipe left, and tap "Unblock." There is no time limit — you can unblock them when ready or weeks later.

Will blocking stop two-factor authentication codes?

Yes, if you block the number sending the code, you will not receive future authentication texts from that service. Only block numbers you are certain are spam or unwanted. If you need codes from a service, do not block that service's number.

Can I block a number that is not in my contacts?

Yes. Go to Settings > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification > Block Contacts, tap the plus sign, then tap "Block Contact" at the top and type the phone number directly.