The short answer
On iPhone, go to Settings › Apps › Phone and choose how to screen or silence unknown callers. On Android, open the Phone app › Settings › Caller ID & spam and turn on spam filtering. Then turn on your carrier's free call-blocking app and add your number to DoNotCall.gov. Do this for older relatives too.
Spam calls aren’t just annoying. They’re one of the main ways scammers reach people, especially older adults who still answer the phone. The good news: both iPhone and Android have strong built-in tools, and it takes about ten minutes to set them up. Here’s how, step by step.
Menu names change a little between software versions and phone makers. The steps below are for recent versions. If you don’t see an option exactly as written, search for “unknown callers” or “spam” in your phone’s Settings.
On iPhone
1. Screen or silence unknown callers
On recent versions of iOS, Apple lets you decide what happens when a number that isn’t in your contacts calls you:
- Open Settings, tap Apps, then tap Phone.
- Scroll to Screen Unknown Callers and choose an option:
- Ask Reason for Calling: your iPhone answers for you and asks the caller who they are and why they’re calling, before it rings.
- Silence: calls from unknown numbers go straight to voicemail without ringing.
- Never: unknown calls ring as normal.
On older versions of iOS, the setting is under Settings › Phone › Silence Unknown Callers. Turn it on.
Apple notes that if you call emergency services, call screening is turned off for 24 hours so that responders can reach you.
2. Move unknown calls to their own list
In Settings › Apps › Phone, scroll to Call Filtering and turn on Unknown Callers. Missed calls and voicemails from unknown numbers go to a separate list, so your main list stays clean. To see them, open the Phone app, tap the filter button and choose Unknown Callers.
3. Turn on your carrier’s spam filter
Your carrier can identify likely spam calls. Download its free app (for example, from AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile), then turn it on in Settings › Apps › Phone › Call Blocking & Identification.
4. Block a specific number
In the Phone app, tap the info (i) button next to the call and choose Block Caller.
5. Filter texts too
Scam texts are just as common. In Settings › Apps › Messages, turn on Filter Unknown Senders, and use Report Junk on scam texts.
On Android
Android phones come with different Phone apps depending on the maker. These steps are for the Phone by Google app used on Pixel and many other phones. Samsung’s own Phone app has a similar setting called Caller ID and spam protection.
1. Turn on spam filtering
- Open the Phone app.
- Tap the three dots (More options), then Settings.
- Tap Caller ID & spam (or Spam and Call Screen on some versions).
- Turn on See caller ID & spam, then turn on Filter spam calls.
Filtered calls won’t ring, but they still appear in your call history.
2. Use Call Screen (on supported phones)
Some Android phones can screen calls from unknown numbers automatically, asking the caller who they are before your phone rings. Look for Call Screen in the same settings menu.
3. Block a specific number
Open Recents in the Phone app, tap and hold the number, then choose Block / report spam.
4. Turn on your carrier’s spam filter
As on iPhone, your carrier’s free app adds another layer of protection.
For everyone
Join the Do Not Call Registry
Register your number for free at DoNotCall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you want to register. It won’t stop scammers, but legitimate telemarketers must stop calling after 31 days. After that, any sales call you get is a warning sign in itself.
Never press a number or say “yes”
If you do answer a robocall, hang up. Pressing a key to “opt out” or talking to the caller just confirms your number is active.
Report spam calls
Report unwanted calls to the FTC at DoNotCall.gov or ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Reported numbers help carriers and the FTC track down the operations behind them.
Setting this up for a parent
Older adults are frequent targets of phone scams, from fake grandchildren to fake government agents. If you help with a parent’s or grandparent’s phone:
- Save the numbers of family, doctors and pharmacies to their contacts first, so they won’t be silenced.
- Choose Ask Reason for Calling (iPhone) or Call Screen (Android) rather than silencing everything. They’ll still hear from real callers who explain who they are.
- Show them how to check voicemail and the Unknown Callers list.
- Agree on a family safe word in case someone calls pretending to be a relative in trouble. Our guide to iPhone parental controls also shows how to manage who can contact a child.
Related guides
Many spam calls and texts try to get your passwords or codes. Turning on two-factor authentication protects your accounts even if someone gets a password. Setting up a phone for a parent or child? See iPhone parental controls or Android parental controls with Family Link.
The bottom line
You can’t stop scammers from dialing, but you can stop their calls from ringing. Turn on your phone’s spam filter, add your carrier’s protection, and help the people in your family do the same.
Frequently asked questions
Will silencing unknown callers make me miss important calls?
It can. Calls from numbers you haven't saved, like a doctor's office or a delivery driver, go to voicemail. Check your voicemail and missed calls regularly, and save important numbers to your contacts. Your iPhone also lets calls through from numbers you've recently called.
Does the Do Not Call Registry stop scam calls?
No. It stops calls from legitimate telemarketers who follow the law. Scammers ignore it. It's still worth joining, because it means that any sales call you get after 31 days is a red flag.
Why do spam calls show my own area code?
Scammers use a trick called spoofing to fake the caller ID, often showing a local number so you'll pick up. That's also why blocking single numbers doesn't help much: the next call will come from a different number.
Should I answer and press a number to be removed from the list?
No. Pressing a key or speaking just tells the caller your number is active, which can lead to more calls. Let unknown calls go to voicemail and block or report them.
Why you can trust this guide
- Based on official sources. The steps here are checked against the 4 official sources listed below, such as the help pages of the companies involved.
- Checked and dated. Last checked on November 10, 2026. We update guides when software or advice changes.
- Independent. No company paid for or reviewed this guide. We don't sell products, and ads never influence our advice.
- Open to corrections. Spotted an error? Tell us and we'll fix it. Read how we research.
Sources
- Apple Support — Manage unknown callers on iPhone
- Federal Trade Commission — How To Block Unwanted Calls
- FCC — Stop Unwanted Robocalls and Texts
- National Do Not Call Registry
This guide is general information. Menus and features can change with software updates, and steps may differ on your device or version. Back up important data before making big changes. Read our disclaimer.
