Please help! There had to be a way to block calls again without putting them in my contact list! This started recently within the last 3 updates. Blocking the numbers of the spam calls is one of the best reasons to have an iPhone and it’s gone. Has anyone gotten the iPhone to block numbers the old way again - or is there a way I can go back to an older version of iOS?
Open the phone app. If you use the Unified view, tap the call, scroll down, tap "Block Contact".
In the classic view, tap the "I" to the right of the call, scroll down, tap "Block Contact".
There is no need to actually add the callers to your contacts.
Open the phone app. If you use the Unified view, tap the call, scroll down, tap "Block Contact".
In the classic view, tap the "I" to the right of the call, scroll down, tap "Block Contact".
There is no need to actually add the callers to your contacts.
Found the answer finally I had to enable “allow apps to request to track” in privacy and security settings and reboot iPhone. It’s giving me the “block caller” ability back. Yay!
"Lost ability to easily block calls without putting them in contacts: Please help! There had to be a way to block calls again without putting them in my contact list! This started recently within the last 3 updates. Blocking the numbers of the spam calls is one of the best reasons to have an iPhone and it’s gone. Has anyone gotten the iPhone to block numbers the old way again - or is there a way I can go back to an older version of iOS?"
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Report this Phone Calls Not in Contact List:
So, are you being required to put those you want to block on your Contacts list? If so, it sounds like a glitch to me. So, report it, as provided below.
Which Apps to Use and How to Report this:
Use the three items I've mentioned in this thread's reply: How do I clean and protect my iPhone from unwanted issues and hackers? - Apple Community
Report this to Apple:
Do your Part: Provide Apple with feedback on this, letting them know about this issue. Apple may not get back to you directly, but the more feedback they receive on this, the more they will know what is occurring, and what bug fixes to include in updates to come. Apple will know nothing of this, if you don't report it to them.
I have a whole pile of numbers tied to a contact “Spam”, with a silent ringtone set, etc.
Not that number blocking is at all reliable, as the numbers are routinely spoofed.
Bouncer app works well for reducing the interruptions from spam texts.
Enabling “allow apps to request to track” and rebooting did not fix my inability block email recipients after upgrading to iOS 26.4.2 on my iPhone 16e, nor upgrading to iPadOS 26.4.2 on my iPad 11. Perhaps Apple fixed their “contacts are always blocked” problem by simply disabling blocking altogether? Or, perhaps some wealthy spammer- advertiser paid a lot of money to Apple to make sure their nuisance email stayed in front of our eyes.
I am not amused.
Lost ability to easily block calls without putting them in contacts
