Although phone companies and governments try to reduce unwanted phone calls, it’s not always an easy task. Scammers and people with bad intentions don’t care about the rules and use various tricks to bypass security measures.
It’s a global issue, with these individuals often not even in the same country as the people they are targeting, which makes punishing them difficult or sometimes impossible.
If you have an iPhone, there are several ways to filter your phone calls. Some methods can save you the hassle of answering unnecessary calls, while others can completely block these calls.
How To Silence All Unknown Callers
The best way to avoid unwanted and marketing phone calls is to use the Silence Unknown Callers feature. This feature blocks calls from anyone you’ve never spoken to before, except those whose numbers are saved in your contacts, those you’ve texted, or those whose numbers you’ve shared in emails. If you dial an emergency number, this feature temporarily disables itself for 24 hours for safety reasons.
Be cautious when using this feature; maybe this feature blocks important calls from government agencies or job recruiters. However, if unwanted phone calls are making your life difficult, using this feature can be quite helpful.
To do this, follow these simple steps are below:
- Open Settings app.
- Select the Apps.
- Go to Phone > Silence Unknown Callers.
- Flip the toggle.
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How To Screen Phone Calls With Live Voicemail – Simple and Automatic
If your iPhone has iOS 17 or a later version, a feature called Live Voicemail is automatically enabled, provided your iPhone is set to a supported language and region. This feature is currently available in English, French, German, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese, and Brazilian Portuguese.
When someone leaves a voicemail, you see a real-time transcription on your lock screen, provided the unwanted caller is patient enough. If you miss viewing this live transcription, don’t worry. As long as Visual Voicemail is active, you can view the transcription along with the saved messages in the Voicemail tab of the Phone app.
To turn Live Voicemail on or off, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap on Apps > Phone.
- Look for the Live Voicemail option and toggle it on or off as needed.
This feature should already be on.
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How To Block Specific Phone Numbers – The Targeted Approach
As expected, you can block specific phone numbers, but it’s not as effective as you might think. Serious callers can easily change their numbers or use fake ones. This option is more useful for businesses that repeatedly bother you, but it may not stop determined scammers.
The easiest way to block someone is to do it immediately after receiving an unwanted call.
- Open the Phone app.
- Select the Recents tab.
- Tap on the info (i) button next to the caller’s entry.
- Tap on Block Caller.
You can also block someone through the Contacts app or by going to Settings > Apps > Phone, and finally, Blocked Contacts. This second option makes it easier to remove the block if needed.
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How To Screen Phone Calls Using Third-Party Apps – Your access may vary.
IPhones have allowed third-party apps to identify and block callers for quite some time. I rely on Hiya, a high-rated app that offers basic features for free, like flagging suspicious spam callers. However, the full features are hidden behind a paywall, and these apps only work with major U.S. carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, or Verizon. You may need to search the App Store for an app that matches your carrier.
The good news is that Apple’s limited ID service, called Business Connect ID, is completely free and already active. However, the big issue is that it’s only available to companies that are verified by Apple. This means it may miss small businesses and fail to catch scammers.
Final Thoughts:
In today’s world, unwanted phone calls have become a serious issue, but you can effectively deal with them. You can use Live Voicemail, enable the Silence Unknown Caller switch, block specific numbers, or rely on third-party apps. You can improve your privacy and peace of mind.
Note that each feature has its own benefits, so choose the right ones based on your situation and needs. If you save all important contacts and use these features carefully, you can enjoy a peaceful calling experience.
Take advantage of your iPhone’s features and improve your life.