More Steps to Blocking Callers after IOS 26 update

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Level 1

12 points

More Steps to Blocking Callers after IOS 26 update

Before IOS 26 update, if I received a call from an unknown number that was definitely spam, I could select the "i" next to the number, go to the bottom of the screen and select "block caller".

Now, after IOS 26 update, that option is gone on my phone. Using the classic view, the "i" is still there, but I have to go to "Settings", "Apps", "Phone", "Blocked Contacts", "Add Blocked Contact", enter the phone number, then tap "Block Contact".

Why did Apple make it harder to block unknown callers???

iPhone SE, iOS 26

Posted on Oct 11, 2025 9:15 AM

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Answer 1

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blue23rose Author

Level 1

12 points

Dec 13, 2025 8:33 AM in response to blue23rose

YEAH!! I finally found a solution that worked! No thanks to Apple Support.

Found in this forum thread started by da klein - "Block Caller" option is missing in iOS 2… - Apple Community

SOLUTION FROM:

eileen224

Dec 10, 2025 8:32 AM in response to da klein

I have found a workaround for the fields to pop up. When you hit the information button and you go to the blank spot and it stays blank, just go to the home screen bring the app back up and all the fields will be there. There is no need to wait. I tried this several times and it worked every time.

I found that I did have to bring up the home screen twice in a few tries of doing this before I saw the "block contact" option, but hey, it works!!

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Answer 2

Nov 21, 2025 11:36 AM in response to blue23rose

I was so frustrated by this also but I just found the solution!!!

In your Recent Calls, simply swipe to the left on the number that you want to block. There will be 3 icons - an orange hand, a blue clock, and a red trash can. The orange hand will allow you to block the number directly from your recent call log without needing to save as a contact. Quick and easy, sorry for doubting you, Apple!

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Answer 3

Jeff Donald

Level 8

44,688 points

Oct 11, 2025 9:23 AM in response to blue23rose

I tap the i, scroll to bottom and block contact option is still there. Have you updated to iOS 26.0.1? Have you done a forced restart?

Product Feedback - Apple

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Answer 4

Dec 10, 2025 12:11 PM in response to blue23rose

iPhone SE3 ios 26.1 on a Verizon network. I restarted my phone and the Block Caller is available once again just like before.

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Answer 5

LD150

Level 10

100,023 points

Nov 21, 2025 11:48 AM in response to Jeff Donald

Jeff Donald wrote:

I tap the i, scroll to bottom and block contact option is still there. Have you updated to iOS 26.0.1? Have you done a forced restart?

Product Feedback - Apple

The bug, or design change, seems to be limited to hone button phones SE2 and SE3

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Answer 6

LD150

Level 10

100,023 points

Nov 21, 2025 11:50 AM in response to ritalhs16

ritalhs16 wrote:

I was so frustrated by this also but I just found the solution!!!

In your Recent Calls, simply swipe to the left on the number that you want to block. There will be 3 icons - an orange hand, a blue clock, and a red trash can. The orange hand will allow you to block the number directly from your recent call log without needing to save as a contact. Quick and easy, sorry for doubting you, Apple!

Is that on an iphone SE? I don't get the hand.

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Answer 7

LD150

Level 10

100,023 points

Dec 14, 2025 2:48 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

It still doesn't show on my SE3 with a particular provider unless I press Home button then the Phone app again, in which case the whole list is displayed, including Block Contact

Blue23rose offered this workaround and at time of writing enjoys Top Ranking reply status.

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Answer 8

jactac

Level 1

14 points

Dec 13, 2025 8:50 AM in response to blue23rose

Send a bug report to Apple.

The more that sends a report the sooner a fix will be issued .

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Answer 9

LD150

Level 10

100,023 points

Nov 21, 2025 2:01 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

IdrisSeabright wrote:

LD150 wrote:

The bug, or design change, seems to be limited to hone button phones SE2 and SE3

Good to know.

Oh dear, I checked my wife's SE3 on ios26.1 and it still has the block caller action, mine doesn't. The only difference is cellular provider. Hmmmm

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Answer 10

Dec 3, 2025 6:24 AM in response to Steve-V-Vee

Steve-V-Vee wrote:

Another issue is blocking a number from a text message. There's no option to find the number in the recent calls list, then.

It still works the way it has for years on my phone. Go to the top of the page. Tap on the number that messaged you. Go to the bottom of the page. Tap on "Block Contact."

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Answer 11

Dec 14, 2025 11:33 AM in response to Rope89

Rope89 wrote:

NO orange hand appears when I swipe left and I note that many others this orange icon also does not appear. Can apple fix this?

To block MAIL contacts:

Swipe from right to left in the mail list
Tap on More
Scroll down and tap Block Contact

To block PHONE contacts:

Tap on the i next to the number in Recents
Scroll down and tap Block Contact

This is how it has always worked.

But I will raise the point again: You should only use this to block people you know who you do not want to contact you. There is absolutely no reason to block spam contacts, because spammers never use the same number or email a 2nd time. So you will end up with hundreds of blocked contacts who will never call or email you again.

If there is a pattern to calls the app Number Shield can block calls from a specific area code or other number pattern. As I don’t know anyone in the 609 area code, for example, I can block all calls from that area code (and I do). As they go to voicemail, any legitimate caller can still leave a message and won’t know you blocked them.

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Answer 12

blue23rose Author

Level 1

12 points

Oct 11, 2025 10:49 AM in response to Jeff Donald

Thanks, Jeff. Yes, I have done several forced starts since updating to iOS 26 and I updated to iOS 26.0.1 as soon as it came out hoping that would correct this issue.

I have a "potential spam" phone number in my recent call list now and when I tap on the "i" (which is now on the right-hand side instead of at the top even though I have the phone set up for classic mode), I scroll to the bottom but the "block caller" option is not there. My husband has the same phone and his is doing the same thing as mine.

Here is a picture of the number on my recent calls list:

And here is a picture of all that I see when I tap the "i". Even tapping on "edit" doesn't give me the option to block it. It just says "edit contact info". There is nothing past the "Contact Photo and Poster" line. Scrolling down is all blank. I have already manually entered this phone number in the blocked calls list to block it, so that is why it shows "blocked" in red. I also used to be able to tap on the "i" to unblock a number from this screen.

[Edited by Moderator]

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Answer 13

blue23rose Author

Level 1

12 points

Nov 23, 2025 9:21 AM in response to ritalhs16

Thanks for responding, ritalhs16. What model iPhone do you have? Someone else mentioned that it is a bug in the SE2 and SE3 versions. I have an SE2 and that may be the whole issue. I took the steps you mentioned, but do not see an orange hand in the list of incoming phone calls. All I see is a blue clock and a red trash can. Selecting the red trash can deletes the phone number immediately.

However, in my messages, when I slide the text to the left, I do see a blue "bell" and a red trash can. I click on the red trash can and get two options: "Delete" and "Delete and Block". So that part works, but this is a much less common problem that receiving unsolicited phone calls.

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Answer 14

Nov 24, 2025 6:43 AM in response to blue23rose

blue23rose wrote:

Thanks for responding, IdrisSeabright. I have an SE2 that is TracFone and carrier is Verizon 66.0. Maybe that is the issue.

I have Verizon and don't have this issue. I'm guessing the problem may lie with TracFone. MVNOs like TracFone can be problematic.

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Answer 15

Dec 3, 2025 6:15 AM in response to blue23rose

Another issue is blocking a number from a text message. There's no option to find the number in the recent calls list, then.

This used to be a rather intuitive task, but like several other iOS26 improvements, we took a few steps backwards. I'd really love to meet those in their infinite wisdom who made these "improvements"

We have 3 iPhones in the family 13Pro, 16Pro, SE3 and each of us regret iOS 26

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