How to block an area code on an iPhone

apple-josh wrote:

Dear Apple (Bug Report):

This seems like a bug. I'm on an IPhone 13 Mini running 18.3.1. When handling blocked calls, it should be enough to have a single contact entry registered in the phone app's "Blocked Contacts" list and have every associated number for that contact be blocked. Currently, it seems that each associated number for the same contact must have its own entry in the "Blocked Contacts" list - which defies user expectations and is leading to a ton of confusion around a feature that would otherwise be an incredible tool in the fight against SPAM.

I'd also imagine that this bug is affecting people who block a contact and then add a new (or edit an existing) phone number to the contact. The new information doesn't get registered to the blocked contacts list even though the contact appears blocked from the contacts page.

Apple doesn't read here in this user-to-user forum for feedback or suggestions. You can, however, let them know your thoughts here:

Product Feedback - Apple

Tangogypsy wrote:

Post election (I thought they would go away) calls for money out of the area code where I used to live. Blocking them one by one doesn’t work as it seems they have bought a block of numbers and the message just rolls over too a new line and I probably get 30 calls a day via message not email. How to get them out of my life??

They don’t need to buy a block of numbers. They can make up any number they want to, even if it is in use by someone (isn’t modern technology wonderful?) That’s why you will frequently see a caller ID that doesn’t have anything to do with the scammer calling you. A common trick is to send a caller ID with the same area code as yours, so you are more likely to answer it.

Doesn't work on an Iphone 15 Pro - no option to block is available

App called Number Shield works well

Did you put in 872-###-####. I have 512-###-#### and it stops it from getting a ring but it still goes yo voice mail. Let me know if it works

I use it to stop calls from 512 area code. The call doesn’t ring the phone but they still get to voicemail. I enter 512-###-#### works every time

What does not add 1xxx to the blocked list. As 1 is a country code, it cannot be the first digit of a phone number.

I was sooo hopeful. These political spam texts are killing me! Like LatrinaCleanola mentioned, there IS NOT an option for blocking a caller or for blocking anything. The only option is “Delete Contact.”

I looked at the regular contact phone number and decided to take a chance on another way. I did what you said but added a + before the 1 like a regular number. So far, no texts from those area codes but fingers crossed. Will keep you posted.

It didn't work for me. I added 4 area codes as contacts. And then added these as blocked contacts. but I am still receiving calls from the 4 area codes that I tried to block!

But I did not add the #s after the area code. Perhaps that is the secret? I have tried it now ... and waiting to see whether it blocks the inevitable calls?!

‘Seems weird that you first have to add it to your Contacts list first to do it (as you’d think that would make a KNOWN contact out of it, thus defeating the ‘Silence Unknown Callers’ setting). But you CAN add it to the Blocked List this way.

Let’s review what words mean:

“Bug” is specifically some that doesn’t work as designed. As this works the way Apple designed it, this isn’t a bug. It is something that doesn’t work the way you want it to. That does not make it a bug.

You can add a feature request as suggested by IdrisSeabright.

Post election (I thought they would go away) calls for money out of the area code where I used to live. Blocking them one by one doesn’t work as it seems they have bought a block of numbers and the message just rolls over too a new line and I probably get 30 calls a day via message not email. How to get them out of my life??

Tangogypsy wrote:

Post election (I thought they would go away) calls for money out of the area code where I used to live. Blocking them one by one doesn’t work as it seems they have bought a block of numbers and the message just rolls over too a new line and I probably get 30 calls a day via message not email. How to get them out of my life??

See Lawrence Finch's suggestion 2/27 in this thread.

I am having a big problem with spam callers from one particular area code. I keep searching for a solution online and this is the one I am finding, but it does not work whatsoever. I’m doing everything right, but it just doesn’t do anything. it seems you can only block individual numbers.