Spam calls and unwanted messages are a nuisance, but your iPhone 17 Pro Max running iOS 26 has several built-in tools to stop them. Blocking a number prevents all calls, texts, and FaceTime requests from coming through. Here's how to take control of who can contact you.
Block a Number from Your Recent Calls List
Open the Phone app and tap the Recents tab. Find the unwanted number and tap the (i) info icon next to it. Scroll down to the bottom of the contact card and tap Block this Caller. Confirm by tapping Block Contact.
Once blocked, calls from that number will go directly to voicemail. You also won't receive any text messages or FaceTime invites from them.
Block Someone Directly from a Text Conversation
If the spam is coming via iMessage or SMS, open the conversation in your Messages app. Tap the contact name or phone number at the top of the screen to bring up the details. Tap the (i) info button, then scroll down and select Block this Caller to confirm.
This action blocks all forms of communication from that sender. Their future messages will not be delivered to your iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Block a Contact You Have Saved
To block someone already in your address book, 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 blocks every phone number and email address listed on that contact card. It's a comprehensive way to cut off communication if needed.
Review and Edit Your Blocked List
To see who you've blocked, go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts. You'll see a complete list. To unblock someone, swipe left on their entry and tap Unblock.
You can also tap Edit in the top-right corner to remove multiple blocked numbers at once. This list is universal for calls, messages, and FaceTime on your device.
Silence All Unknown Callers Automatically
For a more aggressive approach to spam calls, enable the Silence Unknown Callers feature. Go to Settings > Phone and turn on Silence Unknown Callers.
When this is on, any call from a number not in your contacts, Mail, or Messages will be silenced and sent straight to voicemail. It's very effective, but be aware it will also silence calls from businesses or services you haven't saved.
Report and Block Spam Text Messages
When you get a suspicious text from an unknown number, you can report it as junk. Open the message and look for the Report Junk link below it. Tapping this will report the sender to Apple and your carrier and block the number simultaneously.
You can also organize messages by going to Settings > Messages and turning on Filter Unknown Senders. This keeps messages from unknown numbers in a separate list, making your main inbox cleaner.
What a Blocked Caller Experiences
From the blocked person's perspective, a call will ring once or twice before going to voicemail. They can still leave a message, which will be filed in a special "Blocked Messages" section at the very bottom of your voicemail list.
For texts and iMessages, the messages are simply not delivered. The sender won't receive a "not delivered" notification, and you won't see any alert or badge on your iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Block Unwanted Email Senders
If you're getting spam in the Mail app, you can block those senders too. Open the email, tap the sender's name at the top, then tap it again in the pop-up window. Select Block this Contact from the menu.
Future emails from that address will go directly to your Trash. You can manage all blocked email addresses in Settings > Mail > Blocked.
