How to block a number on an iPhone or on an Android phone.

Having a phone in your pocket or purse is great: It sure beats having to find a payphone or run downstairs to catch that call. Problem is, your friends and family aren’t your only callers. Telemarketers, politicians, and crooks itching to steal your identity have your number on speed dial. The number of junk calls we get each day can be utterly maddening.

The good news is that you have tools for blocking those unwanted callers both on the carrier end and on your device. This guide shows you how to block a number on an iPhone or an Android phone with just a few simple steps.

Apple makes blocking calls on an iPhone a straightforward process as long as you’re using iOS 7 or later. Here’s how:

Block a spam call

Step 1: Tap to open the Phone app.

Step 2: Tap the Recents tab at the bottom.

Step 3: Tap the blue Info button next to the number you want to block.

Step 4: Tap Block This Caller.

Block a contact

Step 1: Tap to open the Phone app.

Step 2: Tap the Contacts tab at the bottom.

Step 3: Tap on the Contact you want to block.

Step 4: Tap Block This Caller.

If you’re using an older version of iOS, the instructions may be different. Check out how to block calls on an iPhone for more in-depth instructions.

Blocking a call on Android phones

Both iOS and Android offer easy options to stop unwanted calls, but since each Android Smartphone manufacturer has the option to create its own interface, the steps will be different. We start with stock Android 11.

If you’re using a phone running stock Android or that’s part of the Android One program, you have three different options to block calls.

Block a spam call

Step 1: Tap to open the Phone app.

Step 2: Tap the Recents tab at the bottom.

Step 3: Long-press on the number you want to block and tap Block/Report Spam on the pop-up menu.

Step 4: Check or uncheck the box next to Report Call as Spam and then tap Block.

Block a contact

Step 1: Tap to open the Phone app.

Step 2: Tap the Contacts tab at the bottom.

Step 3: Tap on the contact you want to block.

Step 4: Tap the three-dot More icon in the top-right corner.

Step 5: Tap Block Numbers on the drop-down menu.

Add and remove blocked numbers

Step 1: Tap to open the Phone app.

Step 2: Tap the three-dot More icon in the top-right corner.

Step 3: Tap Settings on the drop-down menu.

Step 4: Tap Blocked Numbers.

Step 5: Tap Add a Number or tap the “X” next to a number to unblock.

Use the Messages app

Step 1: Tap to open the Messages app.

Step 2: Long-press on the messenger you want to block.

Step 4: Tap the Block icon (a circle-backslash symbol) in the top-right corner.

Blocking a call on a Samsung Smartphone

For the most part, blocking calls on a Samsung is the same as on phones running stock Android. Here are three ways to block a number:

Block a spam call

Step 1: Tap to open the Phone app.

Step 2: Tap the Recents tab at the bottom.

Step 3: Tap on the number you want to block.

Step 4: Tap the Info icon on the expanded menu.

Step 5: Tap the Block icon in the bottom right corner.

Block a contact

Step 1: Tap to open the Phone app.

Step 2: Tap the Contacts tab at the bottom.

Step 3: Tap on the contact you want to block.

Step 4: Tap the Info icon on the expanded menu.

Step 5: Tap the three-dot More icon in the top-right corner.

Step 6: Select Block Contact on the drop-down menu, as shown above.

Add a number to block

Step 1: Tap to open the Phone app.

Step 2: Tap the three-dot More icon in the top-right corner. You do not need to tap a specific tab.

Step 3: Tap Settings on the drop-down menu.

Step 4: Tap Blocked Numbers at the top.

Step 5: Tap in a number and then tap the green plus symbol.

Note: Here you can also block numbers by tapping on the Recents or Contacts button. You can also block unknown numbers from this menu by toggling on Block Unknown Callers.

Blocking a call on an LG Smartphone

Compared to some other Smartphone manufacturers, LG makes blocking numbers fairly easy.

Use the Phone app’s Call Logs tab

Step 1: Tap to open the Phone app.

Step 2: Tap the Call Logs tab.

Step 3: Tap the Info icon displayed next to the contact or number you want to block.

Step 4: Tap Block.

Use the Phone app’s Dial tab

Step 1: Tap the Dial tab.

Step 2: Tap the three-dot Menu icon located in the top-right corner.

Step 3: Tap Call Settings.

Step 4: Tap Call Blocking & Decline with Messages.

Step 5: Tap Blocked Numbers.

Step 6: Tap the Add icon.

Step 7: Select one of three options:

Contacts — Tap on the contact you want to block and then tap Done.

Call Logs — Tap on the number you want to block and then tap Done.

New Number — Enter the phone number and then tap Block.

Blocking a call on an HTC Smartphone.

The experience on HTC phones is not much different than what you’ll find on a phone running stock Android.

Use the Phone app’s call history

Step 1: Tap to open the Phone app.

Step 2: Tap the Call History tab.

Step 3: Long-press on the contact or number you want to block.

Step 4: Select Block Contact or Block Caller.

Note: You can see a list of blocked contacts by tapping the three-dot icon in the top-right corner when the Call History tab is active. They’re listed under Blocked Contacts.

Use the Messages app

Step 1: Tap to open the Messages app.

Step 2: Long-press on the contact or number you want to block.

Step 3: Tap Block Contact.

Blocking a call on a Huawei Smartphone

Huawei offers two ways to block calls. Here’s how:

Block a spam call

Step 1: Tap to open the Phone app.

Step 2: Tap the three-dot More icon in the top-right corner.

Step 3: Tap Blocked.

Step 4: Tap the cog (Settings) icon.

Step 5: Tap Blocklist.

Step 6: Tap the “plus” symbol and enter the phone number you want to block.

Block a contact

Step 1: Tap to open the Phone app.

Step 2: Tap the Contacts tab at the bottom.

Step 3: Tap the contact you want to block.

Step 4: Tap the three-dot More icon.

Step 5: Tap Block Contact.