Spam calls and unwanted messages can be a real nuisance, even on your iPad Air. While you might not use it as your primary phone, calls and texts still come through if you have a cellular model or use Wi-Fi calling. Blocking numbers is straightforward and works across calls, messages, and FaceTime.
Block a Number from Your Recent Calls List
Open the Phone app on your iPad Air and tap the Recents tab. Find the spam number in your list and tap the (i) info icon next to it. Scroll down the contact page and tap Block this Caller. Confirm by tapping Block Contact.
That number is now blocked. Any future calls will go straight to voicemail, and you won't receive their text messages or FaceTime requests.
Block a Contact Directly from a Text Message
If the spam is coming via iMessage or SMS, open the conversation in the Messages app. Tap the contact name or number at the top of the screen, then tap the (i) info button. Scroll down and select Block this Caller to confirm.
This is a quick way to stop persistent text spam. Once blocked, their messages will no longer be delivered to your iPad.
Block Someone Saved in Your Contacts
To block a person you've saved, open the Contacts app. Find and tap their name to open their contact card. Scroll all the way to the bottom and you'll find the Block this Caller option.
This action blocks every phone number and email address listed on that contact card. It's useful if you need to block someone you know across all the ways they might try to reach you.
Review and Edit Your Blocked List
To see who you've blocked or to unblock someone, go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts. You'll see a complete list there. To unblock a number, swipe left on the entry and tap Unblock.
You can also tap Edit in the top corner to remove multiple blocked contacts at once. This list is universal for calls, messages, and FaceTime on your iPad.
Silence All Calls from Unknown Numbers
For a more aggressive approach, you can silence every call from a number not in your contacts. Go to Settings > Phone and turn on Silence Unknown Callers.
When this is on, unknown calls are sent directly to voicemail without ringing your iPad. You'll still see the missed call notification and can check any voicemail they leave. I'd use this cautiously, as it will also silence calls from businesses or delivery services you haven't saved.
Report and Block Junk Text Messages
When you get a spam text from a number not in your contacts, you can report it. Open the message and look for the Report Junk link below the text. Tapping it reports the sender to Apple and your carrier and blocks them immediately.
You can also automatically filter messages from unknown senders. Go to Settings > Messages and turn on Filter Unknown Senders. This keeps those conversations in a separate list, away from your main messages.
What Actually Happens When You Block a Number
From the blocked caller's perspective, a call will ring once or twice before going to voicemail. They can leave a message, which gets filed in a special "Blocked Messages" section at the very bottom of your voicemail list.
They won't receive any notification that they've been blocked. For text messages and iMessages, the messages are simply not delivered to your device, and the sender gets no indication of the block.
Block Unwanted Email Senders in the Mail App
Spam isn't limited to calls. If you're getting junk in the Mail app, you can block those senders too. Open an email from the address you want to block. Tap the sender's name at the top of the email, then tap it again in the pop-up window.
Select Block this Contact. Future emails from that address will go straight to your Trash. You can manage all blocked email addresses in Settings > Mail > Blocked.
