iOS 26 Call Screening not working

Me too — ‘Ask Reason for Calling’ doesn’t work on iOS 26 when Low Power Mode is on. It works fine once I turn Low Power Mode off.

Third update: After being on the iOS 26.0.1 update for nearly two weeks now, I think it is basically working as expected finally. If it doesn’t prompt an unknown caller now, it seems to simply be that they disconnect before they get to the point of a prompt. On the rare occasion that someone unknown does call me and they actually let it ring long enough, they are prompted as they should be.

It seemed to resolve shortly after updating to iOS 26.0.1 but not immediately after, so I almost feel it may have also been something on the carrier side 🤷🏻‍♂️

I face the same issue, contacted Apple Support, they advice me to change the language setting in the region setting..

Iphone 16 Pro Max, iOS26.1

Region: Hong Kong, Preferred Language: English... would not work

Region: Hong Kong, Preferred Language: Cantonese... would work

What if someone who could not read Chinese / Cantonese who live in Hong Kong? I seriously hope that Apple will look into this and solve the problem accordingly. Some of the apps available to the particular region ONLY...

when I'm on low power mode, it doesn't work, but once I turn low power mode off, then it works for me

Call Filtering--Unknown Callers: Turning this on will act as what you've described.

I think you guys are asking how to turn on Screen Unknown Callers--Ask Reasons For Calling.

To enable this, your display language has to be aligh with the region of your choice.

For example:

English (US) / US --- would work.

Japanese / Japan --- would work.

English / Japan --- would not work.

I have that same exact issue. It no longer gives me the option to ask for more information, the spammer (usually a robo caller) states whatever scam they’re up to and the call comes through as if it were a normal call with only the options to answer or decline. I don’t get the option to type back anything like before. I’ve gotten so annoyed with the constant spam no matter how many numbers I block, which I know doesn’t matter since they spoof an infinite amount of numbers, that I’ve turned the feature off and have my phone set to a special focus mode that only allows my apps and chosen contacts to have 24/7 access to notify me. I know silence unknown callers is an option as well, but then all day I’d be getting constant “silenced unknown caller” notifications. Literally the dumbest thing too because I don’t want a notification that a spammer has been silenced, that’s why I silenced them!

I wish this feature and other features to mitigate spam actually worked instead of having to create a custom focus. Then it especially is tough if I am expecting a call from someone like a medical office or possible interviews and have to allow all calls which means dealing with the spam all over again.

Currently having the same issue in the US. I have it set to ask reason for calling, but it never gives me the prompt where I can type back because it either goes right to voicemail or it pushes the call through anyway without asking me anything. Really annoying because I am constantly getting spam callers. I don’t want to change my number I’ve had for 10 years because I’m sure I’ll just get spammers and scammers there as well. I hope there’s a patch soon that addresses this and makes call screening more reliable.

Similar situation. Just found that my region had defaulted to my old residence with English as the language. Call screening didn't appear as an option. Switched to the US and everything's cool now. And I realized why some pages or apps were defaulting to the old region when I have a new phone.

I’m seeing essentially the same thing. I live in the US and have the region set to US and English and instead of asking the caller why they are calling, their call just goes to voicemail.

I’m running iOS 26 on an iPhone 13 mini and have rebooted it at least once after the update.

iPhone 17 ProMax. Main language in English. I am in Los Angeles. The Screen Calling feature in iOS 26 worked well the first 6-7 days. I got the phone the first day that came out on 9/19/25. It's been two weeks of phone use today. The last 6-7 days the Screen Calling feature is not working at all. I have done everything to make it work. All unknown numbers now go through. Hopefully it's fixed it soon. Apple? What else can I possibly do fixe this on my end? Or will it have to be a software update? Thanks.

Update: so now I’m on iOS 26.0.1 and I did mange to get one call that worked correctly, very nice feature.

unfortunately I think that was it. Not sure that the other calls, even after the update, have been consistently asking the caller questions. Will give it some more time and see. But at least one call after the minor update seemed to behave correctly.

Just want to update and say that downloading the recent patch also didn’t help the issue. I got another unknown caller that was sent straight to voicemail and then right after another unknown caller was sent straight through without answering the prompts. Disappointing because I want this screening feature to work to mitigate spam calls.

iOS 26.2.1 Ask reason is letting spammers right through after stating they are trying to help me with my google account. Is this feature completely broken now? Call's not accepted by me should be going straight to voicemail and not ringing, and with the first version it did, but updates broke this feature.

Mac-City wrote:

iOS 26.2.1 Ask reason is letting spammers right through after stating they are trying to help me with my google account.

That's not the way it works. The caller is asked for their name and the reason for their call. If they give it, you have the option of taking the call. So far, the robocallers can't seem to respond and the call just ends.

Is this feature completely broken now? Call's not accepted by me should be going straight to voicemail and not ringing, and with the first version it did, but updates broke this feature.

You can still have that if you want. Settings>Apps>Phone>Screen Unknown Caller>Silence.

I am also having calls routed to voicemail when I have the call-screening activated.

iOS 26.0

iPhone 17 Pro