If you re the type who sighs every time your phone rings because you fear a sales call, spam, or simply someone you don t feel like talking to, this article is for you! Nowadays, receiving unwanted calls is almost as routine as checking your WhatsApp notifications or updating your smartwatch firmware. But have you ever wondered how you can take control and send those calls straight to the digital void? Here you ll discover how to block numbers on Android and iPhone, effortlessly and with all the tricks worthy of a true geek.
Why block a number? The invasion of phone spam
Commercial calls have evolved into genuine invaders of our privacy, interrupting meetings, breaks, or even those epic Nintendo Switch sessions. According to a Truecaller study, Spain is among the countries that suffer most from this kind of phone harassment, ranking no less than fifth worldwide. What s worrying is not only the frequency but also the nature of these calls: more than 20% are related to scam attempts. So, although many now choose to ignore any unknown number, there s a risk of missing important communications. That s why the native blocking feature offered by smartphones has become an essential tool to preserve our peace of mind.
It s not only about unknown numbers: you may also have personal reasons to avoid calls from certain known contacts. In both cases, turning to the blocked numbers list can be the definitive solution to keep at bay whoever you prefer, without having to rely on your carrier s support like in the old days.
How to block a number on Android: customize your digital shield
Android has evolved for years and now lets you block numbers directly from the Phone app. The process can vary slightly depending on the brand or system version, but the general path is usually like this: open Phone, go to Call History, locate the annoying number and tap it to see options like Block or even Mark as spam. If you prefer to go straight to advanced settings, enter Settings from the Phone app itself and look for the Blocked numbers section. From there you can manually add any numbers you want to keep at bay.
Are hidden or private numbers bothering you especially? Android also allows you to block all calls from unknown numbers via a simple option within Settings > Blocked numbers. Keep in mind this only affects unidentified calls; you will still receive calls from regular numbers not saved in your contacts.
Once a number is blocked, its call attempts will go straight to voicemail if you have it enabled and you won t receive any alerts or notifications. Changed your mind? Unblocking is just as simple: go to Blocked numbers inside the Phone app and remove the desired contact with a couple of taps. Easier than rebooting your router after an update!
Blocking contacts on iPhone: security made in Cupertino
Users in the Apple ecosystem can also easily protect themselves from unwanted calls on their iPhone. The most direct method is to go to Settings, then select Phone and access the Blocked Contacts section. From there you can add (or remove) contacts as needed.
What if the number isn t saved as a contact? No problem: just open the recent call history, tap the i (information) next to the annoying number and scroll until you find the Block Contact option. Doing so will automatically prevent that person from calling you by phone, sending you messages via iMessage, or attempting FaceTime with you; every attempt will go directly to voicemail if it s enabled. You can also easily check and manage who s blocked from that same menu.
Wouldn t it be great to have a kind of personal firewall tailored to your daily life? That s exactly what you achieve with these native tools on both Android and iOS. Whether to avoid persistent salespeople or to manage delicate personal situations, your smartphone thus becomes a true geek shield worthy of Cortana or Jarvis.
In short, blocking unwanted numbers today is a matter of a few taps: fast, intuitive and always reversible. There s no excuse to keep being bothered by people you don t want to answer. So the next time you get a suspicious or simply annoying calldon t you think it s time to customize your mobile experience like any good tech fan would?
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