To see blocked numbers on iPhone with iOS 26 or later, open Settings, tap Privacy & Security, then tap Blocked Contacts. Review the list without changing it, or select a contact, scroll down and tap Unblock Contact to remove that block. On iOS 18 or earlier, use the app paths below.
The short version
- Apple's list on iOS 26 or later: open Settings > Privacy & Security > Blocked Contacts.
- Older iPhones: check Blocked Contacts in the app's settings.
- Unknown numbers: open the Unknown entry to check numbers without saved contacts.
- Restricted communication: review Screen Time > Communication Limits.
- App and carrier blocks: check that service's own controls before changing Apple's list.
| Method | What it does | Time | Use it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple blocked list | Shows Apple app blocks | Under a minute | You blocked calls or texts |
| Screen Time | Checks allowed contacts | A few minutes | Communication is restricted |
| Shows WhatsApp blocks | Under a minute | The missing contact uses WhatsApp | |
| Signal | Shows blocked Signal chats | Under a minute | The problem is in Signal |
| Google Account | Shows supported Google blocks | A few minutes | You use Fi, Voice or Meet |
| Verizon | Shows Call Filter Plus blocks | A few minutes | You blocked through Verizon |
| AT&T | Shows ActiveArmor blocks | A few minutes | You use ActiveArmor |
| T-Mobile | Checks Scam Shield controls | A few minutes | You use Scam Shield |
Open Apple's Blocked Contacts list
On iOS 26 or later
Start in Settings > Privacy & Security > Blocked Contacts, even if you originally blocked someone in Messages or FaceTime. A contact blocked in Messages is also blocked in Mail, Phone, FaceTime, Calendar and other Apple apps. You do not need to repeat the same change in each of those apps.
If you cannot find an unsaved number, tap the entry labeled Unknown to open that part of the list. Check the number before removing it, especially if several entries look alike. To unblock an unknown number, swipe left on it and tap Unblock.
For a saved contact, select the blocked contact, scroll down and tap Unblock Contact. Or tap Edit, tap the delete button beside the entry, then tap Unblock. Leave the entry alone if you only wanted to look up the number.
The Phone route is Settings > Apps > Phone > Blocked Contacts. For FaceTime, open Settings > Apps > FaceTime > Blocked Contacts; swipe left on the contact information and tap Unblock if needed. To add someone to the central list, tap Add Blocked Contact.
You can also search instead of navigating through menus. Open Settings, tap the search field, enter Blocked Contacts and select the matching setting if it appears. If search does not return it, use the full Privacy & Security path above.
On iOS 18 or earlier
On iOS 18 or earlier, there is no central list under Privacy & Security. For calls, open Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts; for texts, open Settings > Messages > Blocked Contacts under SMS/MMS.
For FaceTime, open Settings > FaceTime > Blocked Contacts under Calls. For email, open Settings > Mail > Blocked under Threading. If app settings are grouped under Apps, open it before choosing the app; iOS 18 uses Settings > Apps > Phone > Blocked Contacts for the Phone list.
If you are unsure which version your iPhone uses, open Settings > General > About. Check the version before choosing between the central list and the app settings.
Check Screen Time communication limits
Screen Time can prevent a call or message from going through because the person is outside your allowed contacts. This is a communication rule to review separately from a block you added in Phone or Messages. Check it when a number is absent from Blocked Contacts, especially if the restriction happens at certain times.
Open Settings > Screen Time > Communication Limits > During Screen Time. Review the choice between Contacts Only, Contacts & Groups with at Least One Contact and Everyone. On iOS 27, also check When Device Paused or Unavailable, where the choices are Always Allowed and Everyone.
On iOS 26 or earlier, check During Downtime instead of the paused-device setting. You can choose Specific Contacts there and review who is allowed during downtime. Choose the option that fits your intended restrictions rather than allowing everyone just to solve one missing conversation.
For a child in your Family Sharing group, open Settings > Family, tap the child's name, then tap Screen Time. Review the child's communication restrictions there. The current parental controls include Allowed Contacts and Always Allowed, so the child's screen can differ from your own communication settings.
Review blocked contacts in WhatsApp
Open WhatsApp and tap Settings or your profile picture, then tap Privacy > Contacts > Blocked to see everyone you blocked in the app. Review this list when the problem concerns a WhatsApp contact rather than a regular phone call.
To remove a WhatsApp block, swipe left on the contact's name and tap Unblock. Check that you have selected the right person before changing the list. If you only need to see who is blocked, stop after opening the list and leave its entries in place.
Review blocked chats in Signal
Open Signal Settings > Privacy > Blocked to see blocked chats. Select the contact or group you want to allow, then confirm with Unblock. Check this screen if the missing communication is in Signal rather than a regular phone call or an Apple Messages conversation.
Removing a Signal block does not bring back messages sent while that chat was blocked. Ask the sender to send anything important again after you unblock them. That avoids mistaking missing earlier messages for evidence that the block is still active.
Check your Google Account blocks
If you use Google Fi, Google Voice or Google Meet, open Gmail, tap your profile picture or initial and choose Manage your Google Account. Go to People & sharing, find Contacts and tap Blocked. Follow Google's blocked account settings instructions if you need help reaching that screen without Gmail.
Phone numbers blocked in Fi, Voice or Meet appear in the account's Blocked users section. Numbers you blocked in the iPhone Phone app do not show up in this Google list. If you have several Google accounts, start with the one used for the affected calls rather than changing unrelated accounts.
Check Verizon Call Filter Plus
Open Verizon Protect, then go to Services > Call Filter > Manage and tap Blocked. Select a phone number to review it. To remove its block, tap Unblock number and then Confirm.
These personal block list controls require Call Filter Plus. Check your subscription if you cannot find the list, and keep that distinction in mind before searching through Apple's settings again. A block made through Verizon needs to be managed through the Verizon controls that created it.
Check AT&T ActiveArmor
Open AT&T ActiveArmor and look on the Calls tab for My Block List. This is your personal block list, where you can review numbers you chose to block. Start here when you remember adding a caller in ActiveArmor rather than using Apple's blocking controls.
If the caller is absent, review the app's call routing choices as well. Fraud calls are blocked by default, and spam calls can be allowed, blocked or sent to voicemail. A missing call can therefore involve a category rule rather than a number you manually added to My Block List.
Check T-Mobile Scam Shield
Open T-Life, select the Manage or Account tab and choose Scam Shield under the devices. Review the blocking controls for your line. Blocking calls and texts from specific numbers requires Scam Shield Premium, so a personal block list is a Premium feature.
Scam Shield in T-Life requires a postpaid account and is unavailable for T-Mobile Prepaid. On a Prepaid line, dial #662# to turn on Scam Block instead. That enables scam protection rather than opening a list of numbers you personally blocked.
Why a missing call does not always mean a block
Call Blocking & Identification includes caller identification features and supported identification apps. If a spam-blocking app is enabled under Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification, it can also block calls itself. Check that app's own block list as well as Apple's Blocked Contacts.
Screening and filtering can also explain missing alerts without a personal block. In Phone, open Calls in Unified layout or Recents in Classic layout, tap the Filter button, then tap Spam or Unknown Callers to review filtered calls. The Spam list includes calls silenced and sent to voicemail.
If your goal is to decide which unknown calls should reach you, follow the steps to set up call screening on iPhone. For unwanted or filtered texts, the steps to stop spam text messages on iPhone explain the relevant Messages controls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I find a blocked number on my iPhone?
On iOS 26 or later, check the Unknown entry in Apple's list before looking elsewhere. Then review Screen Time and the app or carrier service where you remember blocking the person.
Does blocking someone in Messages also block calls?
Yes, a contact blocked in Messages is also blocked in Phone and FaceTime. On iOS 26 or later, the block also applies to Mail, Calendar and other Apple apps, so review the shared list before making changes.
Can I see iPhone blocked numbers from a Mac?
Yes, Apple blocks apply across devices signed in to the same Apple Account. On macOS 26 or later, choose Apple menu > System Settings > Privacy & Security > Blocked Contacts. On macOS 15 or earlier, check the blocked list in FaceTime, Messages or Mail settings.
Is Call Blocking and Identification where blocked numbers are listed?
Use Blocked Contacts to see the entries you blocked through Apple's apps. Call Blocking & Identification handles identification and enabled calling apps, whose own blocking controls may need a separate check.
Can someone I blocked still leave voicemail?
Yes, a blocked phone number or contact can still leave voicemail. You will not receive a notification for that voicemail, so its existence does not mean you accidentally unblocked the caller.
Will unblocking someone in Signal restore earlier messages?
No, Signal does not resend messages sent while the contact or chat was blocked. Ask the person to send the missing information again after you unblock them.