How to block numbers on iPhone SE after iOS 26 update?

georgevargas wrote:

Good point. The solution to this problem is not about the pointlessness of blocking spam calls. For those of us looking for the solution to this specific problem, pointing out that you have hundreds of blocked numbers on your phone is, well, pointless in and of itself. If you, or anyone in this thread has a solution to the actual problem of the block option no longer being available to some users please post it here so that we can have it addressed as is our preference. “Just don’t use it”, isn’t a solution. The block option shows up intermittently on some of our phones when we hit the home button so something is clearly wrong and may be an indication of a much bigger issue. Ignoring it or using a work around is not the solution either. It would be AWSOME to address the issue as stated by the original poster before sharing unsolicited advice or points of view that detract from the original poster’s question.

As mentioned earlier, I have no problem blocking numbers. I tap on the i next to an entry in Recents, and I clearly see Block Contact at the bottom of the contact card image (This was a spam call; the number is a fake generated number):

If you don’t see Recents at the bottom (as I have) tap the icon in the upper right corner of the screen and change to Classic view.

That doesn’t change the fact that it is pointless to block spam calls; just delete them.

Now that I confirmed the issue on both my iPhone SE 2 and 3 on iOS 26.01 and 26.1 respectively, I am having trouble updating my phones to iOS 26.2 because of a lack of disk space. My Mac Mini is full too and once I made disk space to try to backup my phone the software server kept falling on my Mac Mini. Has anyone with the issue of the Block Caller option not rendering on their iPhone updated to iOS 26.2 yet, and if so did it resolve the issue? Hopefully I will be able to get all my updates done over the weekend and report back on my findings. I know someone mentioned they updated to iOS 26.2 and the issue started for them at that point. Just curious if anyone that had the issue first and then updated to iOS 26.2 had a different experience.

In Classic mode I toggled between All and Missed in the recent calls list and when I swiped far left i finally saw the white hand in the orange circle to block numbers. It only appeared with phone numbers that were not on my contact list. I switched back to Unified mode and it would also only appear on phone numbers that were not in my contact list. Have no clue as to the rhyme or reason. This method is not working on my iPhone SE 2.

Agreed, Double tapping allows you to close the app but nothing else. If you open it, the same icons (ie without the orange one) are there.

The idea of going to Settings/Phone/Block numbers and having to add the number manually is ridiculous - and the only way I can see to do it is by writing the number down on a piece of paper. That is so 1980s - Apple everything should be easy, and automatic. Why change something that worked?

Using iPhone SE with 26.2.1

Ian_in_Norfolk wrote:

The various suggested solutions just do not work for many people, and it is time that this was acknowledged an Apple fixed it.

Apple doesn't respond here in this user-to-user forum. Nor do they read here for feedback or suggestions. You can let them know your thoughts here:

Product Feedback - Apple

Medl25 wrote:

and this issue continues on IOS 26.3.1(a) which was the Security upgrade. Not sure how disabling users from blocking unwanted callers easily is an upgrade. Would be great to have Apple support advise on the easiest method to do wha we could before - block a caller in a simple two step process

Then the great thing to do would be be to contact Apple support.

Same problem

…looks like a bug from 26.2 t 26.3

hitting ‘i’ and blocking doesn’t work

Hoping it gets fixed on next update

frankly, it’s very frustrating with all the political texts that get through the spam filter 🤦🏼‍♂️

🤷🏼‍♂️

The "block calller" button is definitely not available in iOS 26.4.

Every Apple update solves one problem, adds two useless functions, and breaks three things that worked fine before. Leave things alone!!!!!

YES I have an iPhone SE third generation (2022) and it does work. Make sure to swipe all the way left on the phone number in Recents (in Classic Mode)

SE3 user. No sign of the block contact option. I have now had to edit these numbers and rename them ' do not answer'.. How is this progress in 2026.

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

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.

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