Set up call blocking on any phone in 6 steps or less

Consumers receive more than one billion robocalls each month. These automated dialers bombard people with telemarketing pitches or fraudulent and misleading offers to trick them out of money. As technology advances, so do the tactics of these robocalls, making them harder to avoid.

Fortunately, call blocking is a simple and effective solution that is surprisingly easy to set up.

What are my options for blocking calls?

There are many ways to block unwanted calls. You can use features built into your phone, install third-party apps, or use devices designed specifically for landlines.

Smartphones, such as iPhones and Androids, allow you to block specific numbers in their settings. For more control and customization, a third-party app like RoboKiller is a more comprehensive solution.

Landline users can block up to 5,000 numbers with the push of a button with devices like the CPR V5000.

If your business receives a lot of unwanted calls, most VoIP systems offer automatic call blocking features. There's usually an option somewhere in your account. If you can't find it, contact your provider and ask them to turn it on.

How to set up call blocking on an iPhone

The iPhone is known for its simplicity and easy-to-use interface, and blocking calls is no exception. There are a few ways to do this depending on what you want to do.

Keeping certain people out

If you know which numbers you want to block, you can do so as follows:

1. Opening the Phone app.
2. Go to Favorites, Recents, or Voicemail.
3. Find the caller you want to block.
4. By tapping the i icon next to the contact or number.
5. Select Block this caller.

They will no longer be able to contact you by phone, FaceTime, or text until you unblock them.

To unblock a number, open the Settings app, scroll to Phone, select Blocked Contacts, and tap Edit. You can add or remove callers from the list.

Silence unknown spam calls

You can easily and automatically block spam calls, even if you don't know their number. All you have to do is:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap Phone.
3. Select Call Blocking & Identification.
4. If your carrier supports it, you'll see an option to silence spam calls. Toggle the switch to automatically silence calls your carrier identifies as spam or fraud.

Another useful setting is Business Caller ID, which you'll see on the same screen. When enabled, your phone attempts to verify the number and display the business name when they call. This makes it easier to spot legitimate calls.

You can also protect yourself further by automatically blocking calls from anyone who isn't in your contacts list. Tap the Back button, open Silence Unknown Callers, and toggle the switch on.

After enabling these settings, your phone will automatically silence unknown callers and send them straight to voicemail. You'll still see the call in your recent calls list, which is helpful if the call wasn't spam.

How to Block Unwanted Calls on a Samsung Android

All you have to do to block known numbers on your Samsung device is:

1. Open the Phone or Contacts app.
2. Go to the Contacts tab.
3. Press and hold their name or number and tap Block number.
4. Alternatively, tap a number in the Recents tab to open it. Select the option to block the number.

Anyone you block won't be able to contact you unless you unblock them, which you can do from the Phone app. Tap the three dots in the top right corner, tap Settings, then tap Blocked Numbers.

Here you can delete any number you want.

Use Samsung's Smart Call feature to automatically block unwanted calls

Samsung offers a smart call feature that blocks unwanted calls and provides call details before you answer. Here's how to activate it:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner.
3. Select Settings.
4. Select Block Numbers.
5. Turn on the spam protection switch.

This feature uses a database of known spam numbers to automatically block calls. It's not perfect, but it does a good job of minimizing the number of unwanted calls.

How to block calls on Google Pixel phones

To block a number on a Pixel phone, you can:

1. Go to your Phone or Contacts app.
2. Long press on the name or number to open the details.
3. Select Block Number in Contacts or Block/Report Spam in Phone. You'll see a warning that you will no longer receive calls or texts from them.
4. Press Lock to confirm.

This simple process prevents that number from calling or texting you again. Pixel phones also automatically identify calls from known spam numbers. When you receive one, you'll have the option to automatically answer, screen, or hang up.

Alternative 1: Use a call blocking app

Call blocking apps add an extra layer of protection if the above doesn't work. They're especially useful if you get a lot of calls or if your phone's automatic option didn't register the number as spam.

These apps use several methods to identify and block calls, including:

• Comparison with crowdsourcing databases.
• Analyze call patterns to identify potential spam numbers.
• Allow users to block or report spam calls manually.
• Block texts in addition to calls for full coverage.

Some popular call blocking apps are RoboKiller and Nomorobo. These apps can be found in the App Store for iPhone and the Google Play Store for Android.

SEE: Compare RoboKiller and Nomorobo to see which one is right for you.

Alternative 2: Temporary call blocking

If you don't want to permanently block specific calls or numbers, the Do Not Disturb feature is an easy, temporary way to get some peace of mind. It lets you silence calls, except for those from selected contacts or groups of contacts. You can also set it to silence notifications from other apps if you want.

The process may vary slightly from device to device, but here's the gist:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Look for Do Not Disturb mode. It may be a separate setting or under Sound & Vibration, depending on your phone. Toggle the switch on.
3. Locate the Allow Calls setting to allow calls from specific contacts.

Some phones also allow you to schedule Do Not Disturb mode so you can turn it on and off automatically throughout the day.

For landlines: Install a call blocking device

Blocking calls on landline devices isn't as easy as changing a few settings, but you're not completely lost.

Devices like CPR Call Blocker and Digitone Call Blocker connect to your phone line and use technology to identify and block spam numbers. Most allow you to whitelist approved numbers, ensuring that those you trust will always be able to get through.

The configuration depends on the make and model, but generally looks like this:

1. Use the supplied cables to connect it to your phone.
2. Program the device as needed. It will come with instructions on how to do this; you will likely need to press certain buttons in a specific order.
3. Whitelist numbers by adding them manually or by importing a contact list.
4. Please call from another device to make sure it is working normally.

You can buy these physical devices online or at places like Best Buy and Walmart. They can cost anywhere from $15 to $150, depending on what you need.