How to screen or silence unknown callers on an iPhone

2 min read · 6 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

Calls from numbers that are not in your contacts are where most spam comes from. The iPhone can question these callers for you or keep them from ringing at all, while everyone in your contacts gets through as usual.

The picture is from iOS 26 on an iPhone 17. On older versions the rows are in the same place, with a slightly different look.

Step by step

1. 

   Open Settings and tap Apps

   Apps is at the bottom of the main list. Then tap Phone.

   Done

2. Find Screen Unknown Callers

   It has three options: Never, Ask Reason for Calling and Silence.

   Done

3. Choose Ask Reason for Calling

   The iPhone answers calls from unsaved numbers itself and asks the caller for their name and the reason for the call. Only then does your phone ring, and you see what they said.

   Done

4. Or choose Silence

   Calls from unknown numbers do not ring. They go to voicemail and appear in the list of recent calls.

   Done

5. Turn on Call Filtering

   On the same page, tap Call Filtering and switch on Unknown Callers. Missed calls and voicemails from unknown numbers are then collected in a separate Unknown Callers list. Switch on Spam as well, if your network supports it.

   Done

6. Find the filtered calls

   In the Phone app, tap the Filter button at the top of Calls (or Recents) and choose Unknown Callers.

   Done

Good to know

Save important numbers in Contacts before you turn this on: the doctor, the school, a delivery service. A call you are waiting for from an unsaved number would otherwise be screened or silenced.

Screening does not work while roaming abroad. After you call an emergency number, it is switched off for 24 hours so that a call back reaches you.

FaceTime has its own switch: Settings, Apps, FaceTime, Silence Unknown Callers.

To stop one particular number for good, block it: how to block a phone number on an iPhone.

In short: Settings, Apps, Phone, Screen Unknown Callers: Ask Reason for Calling or Silence. Call Filtering sorts the rest.