How do I send a call directly to voicemail every time a specific number calls me?

Hi, I see this is an old post, but there are many similar request out there so here is a partial workaround, although a bit extensive.

Apple gives the option to block callers and texts, and from a callers perspective this would make it seem that the call went straight to voicemail, (and texts being sent) although nothing is cashed on the device and you would never be able to check who is disturbing you/how often as with voicemail.

If you for some reason only want a spesific person or group not to disturb you and also be able to check your treads and calls you can do the below:

The Do not Disturb function offers the option to Allow Calls From certain groups while activated, as Favorites, No One, etc. Although there is no native way to create new groups on the phone by yourself.

But there are plenty of apps that can sort contacts into groups that work with the native system. Groups is one example.

The extensive part is to create a new group that contain every contact in your adress book except the ones you want to go straight to voicemail. This could be a heavy manual job if you got a lot of contacts you want to recieve calls from.

When created, go to Settings > Do not Disturb > Enable Manual and Allow Calls From > choose your new group(s) and set silence to Always.

For texts it's a lot simpler as you only need to go to your spesific tread > Details and activate Do not Disturb for that tread.

And if you also do not want the sender getting read receipts for iMessages, go to Settings > Messages > and disable Send Read Receipts if this is activated.

What this achieves/pros:

• Able to send specific numbers directly to voicemail.
• You will see the call as a regular missed call the next time you access your phone.
• The caller will not know, in the same way the block function works.
• Texts will be silent but recieved as normal.

Cons:

• This also affects all unknow callers or people in your adress book where there are no phone number saved. (One of the pros depending how you look at it)
• You need to include new contacts to your group as you get them.
• Texts would still be in inbox.
• You have to stay in Do not Disturb mode always.
• A lot of hassle compared to just blocking the number.

I use IOS 8.3 - I do not know if this applies to older versions of IOS.

Hope this helps someone

Look for an app in the app store called "YouMail". It replaces the iPhones visual voice mail and adds a lot of new features. True call blocking is one of those features it adds.

There is no blocked call listing for the iPhone. True call blocking is only handled at the carrier level. Even as you describe the Android solution sends the call to voicemail, not actually blocking it. Check with your carrier and see if they provide blocking services. Most charge a fee for this service. A workaround similar to what you describe for the Andriod phone is setting a custom silent ringtone for the selected contact and thus you would not notice the phone ringing and the call would go to voicemail without any input from you. The only other solution is to press the sleep/wake button and that silences the ring and the call will go to voicemail, or press it twice and it goes straight to voicemail.

Dude, I'm just offering a solution to a problem that is still relevant with no decent answers out there as far as I know. I don't care what way people create their groups but there are no ways to make them on the phone so I just gave an example on how to solve it, - as my reply clearly says.

I do not know why you feel the need to try to damage the credibility of my reply, but even in the remote possibility that I had ties to the developers of this app there is no way you would need a disclaimer for something like that. It is not not biased or misleading in any way. If you have something relevant to add feel free.

Best regards

Because I know what I'm talking about when it comes to the iPhone and iPad. and information about call blocking was not available at the time this thread was started. It was implemented later. The comment about call blocking was valid at that time, and to be honest, true call blocking is only available at the carrier level. Calls blocked with iOS are still allowed through the carrier and to the phone to be blocked there.

You are correct in that your iPhone now shows a setting for blocking a caller from both calls and text messages, implemented in a later version of iOS that was not available at the time the thread was started.

Yes, I am using it. It redirects through their web site and then back to your carrier to your phone. You do have to set up an account on their site. From the site you can manage everything, including retrieving voice mail with any web browser.

I was nervous at first but it seems to be doing everything is says without any hitches. I've been using it for about 3 months now.

No, the information I provided is true. In Settings now there is a block choice, which was not there when this thread was started, but was added later. The phone's block does result in you not knowing the caller going in and does not go to voicemail, that is all correct, but it still goes through the carrier. Understand, this thread was started 4 years ago.

ChrisJ4203 Would you mind specifying why would we care about what happens at the carrier's level, as long as at a personal level the caller is blocked ... which seemed to be the point of the thread ? When was the the thread started is irrelevant in regards of its purpose.

Thanks.

There is no way technologically to block a call that has reached the phone. The best you can do is send it to voicemail. Actually blocking a call must be done in the carrier's network before the call is routed to the phone. Most carriers offer this as a service, usually for a monthly fee.

Thank you for this work around, the problem with it for me is that it only sends callers directly to voicemail if the phone is in 'lock'... If I'm doing anything on it, calls come thru normally.

People all over internet forums are looking for a way to just send select numbers straight to voicemail

without it ringing on their end (it's irrelevant why we want to do this), why won't Apple give us this option?

YYou can edit a post within 15 minutes of posting it.

I'm reading information from their website and I'm not so sure it is true call blocking. I cannot really tell, but it seems they are sending it to an alternative voicemail message. I don't believe 3rd party apps can access the API for the phone, so I'm not understanding how they are keeping the phone from ringing. The website also talks about "signing up" as if it is some type of servcie that requires a registration.

Are you using this application yourself and have personal knowledge of how it works?

Thank you. I am not in need of this, however, with any web service, there can always be a catch. What happens if the site goes down, what other access do they have regarding your phone. It seems they also have a pay service that can access your address book, and I'm very reluctant to share that personal data.

ergah-

Thank for for contributing to a very old thread.... yes, the problem still exists and I am hunting for a solution.

You're work around is a good, though a massive effort for someone with a large set of contacts.

Bummer that Apple hasn't thought to provide or prioritize 'call handling' at the individual phone number level.

I might be willing to implement your concept

but the person I'm getting the solution for wants a "send to voicemail" option like "Block This Caller"

Chrisj4203 does not (imo) damage your credibility but does give insight into his own thinking.

I'm wondering why he's even on an Apple discussion board when he's a self proclaimed Windows & MS product guru.

ergs, keep contributing, lots of people run across old treads when searching for solution and many old threads die without adequate resolution.

Additonally, Chrisj4203's comment that call blocking is only available at the carrier level is now untrue (don't know if it was true in 2012)

but my iPhone6+ shows a "Block This Caller" feature at the phone number level.