Block Caller” option missing in iOS 26.1 on iPhone SE 3rd generation

Have had this issue on an SE3 since iOS 26 & just found a workaround online.

Press the (i) button next to the number to see the call details - initially I can only see Missed Call / Time & Call History.

Press the home button then return to the phone contact screen, press the home button again then go back to the phone contact screen. Eventually more options appear.

If the block contact option still doesn't show, repeat the button pressing.

A block contact button eventually appears in the place it used to be before iOS26.

It's by no means time-efficient but saved having to add unwanted numbers to contacts.

Just tested this on my iphone 13 on ios 26.1 -

phone app - calls - slightly swipe left on the phone number you see 3 icons - a orange circle w/hand, a blue icon with timer and red icon with trash.

If you click on the orange icon it gives you the option to block or block and report as spam.

Settings - apps - phone - scroll all the way down - block contact - click add blocked contacts.

I also have Screen unknown callers table open.

Hope I’m not speaking too soon, but after the 26.6 update, I can now see all the options including block caller without any button hopping!

The “Block Caller” option missing on iPhone SE (3rd gen) in iOS 26.1 is usually due to a UI bug or recent layout change. Try scrolling fully on the caller info screen, or block the number via Settings → Privacy & Security → Blocked Contacts → Add New. Restarting the phone can also restore the option temporarily.

You're swiping right to left and click on the orange icon with the hand and don't see the option below?

You can manually do it here Screen and block calls on iPhone - Apple Support

I found that on the call screen, where the 3 dashed lines are (top right) you can toggle between 'classic' view or 'unified' (I was finding that calls I were expecting were getting hidden) - so I switched back to classic view. However, I am unsure if this helps to let calls through that you are expecting!

It's such a clunky system, I am tempted to dig out my old Blackberry Curve!

None of that works.

I even did the latest update and the orange circle that was supposed to allow you to block (which did not allow any blocking, is now gone. There is still no block option as described. I cannot "add" the number to the blocked list manually because it won't accept direct typing or the copy-and-paste function.

If you have a problem blocking contacts on your iPhone you can do it through the phone app on your iPad (if you have one). Tap on the number and scroll down the contact card to the unblock tab. Absolutely mad you can’t do this on your phone anymore!

PaulineB101 wrote:

If you have a problem blocking contacts on your iPhone you can do it through the phone app on your iPad (if you have one). Tap on the number and scroll down the contact card to the unblock tab. Absolutely mad you can’t do this on your phone anymore!

Yes you can do it on your phone, as I've shown in my screenshots..

Try double clicking on the number you want to block on the caller log.

This opens a screen with caller log info.

if you now scroll down there is an option to block this number.

Very obscure compared to older iOS versions, was hard to find.

This worked after like the 10th round of doing the home button and phone loop. Interestingly, as I did it more options slowly appeared around the 7th time. By the 10th time, the block caller option showed up.

have iphone 2020se 2nd gen. keep getting call from internet provider name "XXXXX", but its a spam since i cant see the number if i log into my phone carrier account call log. called internet provider and they confirmed i am on the 'dont call telemarketing list' just to be sure. i got rid of this by "i" on the recent calls list--i dont answer unknown calls and i turned off my voicemail to get rid of these calls in voicemail--creating a new contact with name "XXXXXX Spam" saved the new contact, then went into Apps Phone "Blocked Contacts" where there is window coming up with To: so I typed in "XXXXX Spam" and it came up as the one with phone number I want to block and its now on the blocked callers list. if they call again from a different number, well...grrrr

JJL616 wrote:

I tried "add new" by adding the number, and it will do nothing. Ironically, it only adds recognized contact numbers, which is absolutely ridiculous and useless.

Remember that spammers generate spoof numbers and blocking them is probably futile.

Keep reporting it and they may fix it in ios27. https://apple.com/feedback

This works if done on the incoming call.

no we don't. Which is why we are all here saying we can't block callers.