As long as you use iOS 7 and above, you can block calls and messages from unwanted contacts. One question we receive a lot from users is can a blocked number leave a voicemail and are those voice messages still accessible?
The short answer is YES. Voicemails from an iOS blocked contact are accessible. When an iOS blocked number calls you, your iPhone automatically routes them to voicemail. That’s the way Apple handles blocking–all iOS blocks calls and automatically routes them to your voicemail.
This means that blocked number may still leave you a voicemail but you will not know they called or that there is a voice message. Note only mobile and cellular carriers are able to provide you with true call blocking.
How to Check for Voicemails from Blocked Numbers on your iPhone
It’s easy to check if blocked callers left voicemails!
When a blocked caller leaves a voicemail, your iOS automatically creates a category in your voicemail called Blocked Messages.
To see if you have any voicemails from blocked callers, open the Phone App
Tap the Voicemail tab at the bottom right of the page
Look down the list to find the Blocked Messages category (usually below Deleted Messages)
Tap it and either delete or listen to those messages
Can you block someone from leaving a voicemail?
Currently, the only way to block a caller from leaving a voicemail is via your carrier. Not all carriers support this feature and of course, it usually adds on another service fee.
Carrier blocking services (for US)
AT&T offers Smart Limits, a parental control feature that lets you block calls and texts
Sprint users can set up call blocking from My Sprint
Verizon customers can block five numbers for free or pay an additional monthly fee for additional blocking options
T-Mobile blocks all text messages for free and their Family Allowances option blocks up to 10 numbers
If you’re receiving a lot of voicemails from blocked callers, check with your carrier and see if they provide any options.
How-To Block Your Callers on iOS
Open the Phone app and look under Recents, then tap the blue” i” next to the phone number or contact that you want to block. Scroll to the bottom of your screen, then tap Block this Caller.
Blocking callers via your iOS results in a block on all phone calls, text messages, and FaceTime calls from people are your block list. However, even when you block a phone number or contact, they can still leave a voicemail, but you won’t see any notifications.
This feature is available for the following models: the iPhone 4 and later, iPad 2 and later, iPad Mini, and fifth-generation iPod touch.
Does the Blocked Caller Know That They’re Blocked?
No, any contacts or numbers you block will NOT get a notification that the call or message was blocked.
Silencing unknown callers
Starting in iOS13, Apple added a feature to automatically silence callers from number not recognized or known.
The feature is desgined to silence spam and robo calls, sending those calls straight to voicemail.
To see all the phone numbers and contacts you’ve blocked from Phone, FaceTime, or Messages, go to Settings > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification.
For FaceTime go to Settings > FaceTime > Blocked. And for Messages go to Settings > Messages > Blocked.
Block Your Callers Via Your Carrier
If you have the numbers blocked in the carrier’s system, they are not able to leave a voicemail. A carrier block intercepts that call, and the caller hears a recording that the person they called has a block on. The only way a person whose number can leave a voicemail is if they use a different phone to call.
Be aware that some callers, particularly sales calls, are able to manipulate what phone number appears on an incoming call. The industry calls this spoofing, created using a computer or a third party application.
Blocking Services by Carrier
Most carriers in your region offer a call blocking service for postpaid customers, and some offer it for prepaid customers too. There are often conditions, so make sure you understand those before signing up.
Some carriers offer this service for free, and others charge a monthly fee. Check your account to see if this is a provided service and if there is an associated cost. If the information isn’t readily available, call your mobile carrier and ask them about their Call Blocking Services.
Have a Third-Party
Another option is using a third-party app to block and manage your contacts. We all probably hate those robocallers and want to block telemarketers, spam calls, etc. Unfortunately, iOS call blocking and your carrier blocking services do not prevent these types of callers automatically.
So if you want to block these annoying callers, your best bet is a paid third-party app. These apps maintain and regularly update databases of telemarketers, robocallers, and spam calls and so their software tends to block most of these calls automatically.
We don’t have a particular app recommendation but instead encourage you to visit the App Store and search for call blocking apps. Read the user reviews and make your decision based on what others say.
And remember that these apps are handy as paid app subscriptions–the free versions do not receive the updated caller databases.
DO IT YOURSELF!
Some users handle call blocking on their own with a little diy. The process is to set up your voice mail to use Google voice. Use the blocked feature on the phone to reject the call and send it to voicemail. Then block the caller in Google voice. They hear one of the standard messages telling them the number has been disconnected or is no longer in service.
Obsessed with tech since the early arrival of A/UX on Apple, Sudz (SK) is responsible for the original editorial direction of AppleToolBox. He is based out of Los Angeles, CA.
Sudz specializes in covering all things macOS, having reviewed dozens of OS X and macOS developments over the years.
In a former life, Sudz worked helping Fortune 100 companies with their technology and business transformation aspirations.
If that deleted voicemail isn’t in your Deleted Messages box (Phone App > Voicemail tab > scroll to the end of the list and locate Deleted Messages and tap it, then those messages are not recoverable. However, you could contact your carrier and ask–just in case those messages are still stored on their servers.
Sorry to hear about these calls to your wife. That’s an awful thing to experience.
At this time, iOS only offers that blocking service. Open Messages, open one of these conversations, tap the contact at the top of the conversation, and tap info icon. Finally, tap the phone number or name, scroll to the bottom of the screen, and tap Block this Caller.
When you block a number this way, they can still leave a voicemail, but you won’t get a notification. Messages that are sent or received won’t be delivered. Also, the contact won’t get a notification that the call or message was blocked.
Another thing to do in Messages is filter unknowns, go to Settings > Messages and turn on Filter Unknown Senders. Once enabled, all unknown numbers (people not in your wife’s contacts app) go into a separate tab for any texts.
There are also some third-party paid apps that offer better blocking services and many carriers also offer this service.
Coming in iOS13 is an updated and better call blocking feature that silences all unknown numbers–it’s located in the Phone app and called Silence Unknown Callers.
How can I receive a call or text that is blocked with sprint? Can I spoof it to show a different incoming number? I checked my blocked numbers under settings-phone-text and the numbers not listed
Greetings, thanks for the info. I was wondering why blocked callers were still leaving vmails. Oh well, I guess swipe to delete still gets rid of them.
When a blocked caller leaves a voicemail, your iOS automatically creates a category in your voicemail called Blocked Messages.
To see if you have any voicemails from blocked callers, open the Phone App. Tap the Voicemail tab at the bottom right of the page. And look down the list to find the Blocked Messages category (usually below Deleted Messages.) Tap it and either delete or listen to those messages.
This helped me know why my blocked numbers keep sending me voicemails. I’m calling my mobile company to see if they can do anything to assist. Thanks for the tips.
My bro bookmarked this web page for me and I have been going through it for the past several hours. This is really going to assist me and my classmates for our class project. By the way, I like the way you write.
It’s possible but unlikely. Usually, when someone blocks your email, it goes into the spam or trash folder for deletion. However, someone can set-up a rule or filter and create a custom message and blocked sender auto-response for any blocked email. So it is possible that your email is blocked and that recipient created a rule to send you the message that their email box is full.
Creating these rules and filter takes effort and it’s not a one-step process. So again, it’s possible.
I keep getting calls and voicemails for another person (that I don’t know) saying they owe money to some business–it’s been happening for months and it’s driving me bananas! I block each number that calls–but I still get these increasingly threatening vmails. I’ve had my number for like 10 years so I know it’s not from a previous owner of that number.
Anyway, I really really want to block all vmails and call…so thanks for the explanation. I’ll try my carrier (Verizon) and see if I have luck there. If not, at least I know why blocking those numbers isn’t blocking their voicemails.
This article helped me understand why after blocking my old girlfriend (okay, ended badly…another story) is still leaving vmails. Would love to be able to block everything! It’s not fun to start or finish your day with some old flame cursing you out…and worse.
that totally defit the purpose of blocking someone on your phone if they can still leave vm, I don’t want them to think I’m simply not responding to whatever message they left but I don’t get them I blocked you
This article helped me understand what I need to do to make sure a certain person cannot call me or leave me any messages or voicemails. Thx for the tips! Saved my sanity!
This appears to be a rather flimsy “blocking” of a caller because the caller can still leave a voicemail THAT WILL NEVER BE HEARD!…but the caller assumes it will be heard!
C’mon Apple, that’s unacceptable!
The blocked caller can leave a message that is an APOLOGY! Now that my caller has asked for forgiveness in the voicemail, and I cannot hear the voicemail, the caller now knows the ball is in MY court!
And two years pass and nothing changes. She’s asked to be forgiven, and I have not forgiven her because i don’t know she has asked for forgiveness!!!!!!
Or my blocked caller’s voicemail could have been about a death in the family…..and so on.
Clearly improvements should be made on the part of manufacturers and cell phone providers. Listen to your customers already and make some changes people or your customers will make some changes of their own.
I have iphone6 and tried blocking my other cellphone. It rang two times calling from that phone. What happen to one ring? This makes a caller think I’m swiping to ignore the call. And is there a way to delete blocked vlicailes without listening to them?
100% agree. You’re not blocking the call if you let them communicate with you. I’m actually stunned that in this day and age you can’t do something that simple.
If i block a caller for any reason, I do not want to be notified that the caller attempted to call again. And I certainly do not want the iPhone to allow the blocked caller to leave a voicemail. And finally, I do not want to be notified that the blocked caller attempted to leave a voicemail. In short, when I block a caller I do not want that party to have ability to communicate with me again in any form or fashion.
i have a iphone 5c.
on iphones, “Blocked callers” can leave a voice message.
it goes to voice message upon calling u. there is no ringtone for it, i Wish there was, or an alert setting. but it goes silently into ur voicemail. -so, scroll to bottom of all ur voicemails (saved ones),and u will see at bottom of all those saved voicemail measaages a folder called “blocked messages” (if the caller hasn’t caught on yet they are blocked cause they will continuously keep getting ur voicemail), it’s ur option whether u want to listen or not, keep the messages for proof of harassment (if necessary), or just delete them.
i wish there was an alert setting for “blocked messeages” when they come in.
Come on Apple. You’re supposed to be so damn smart fix this on ALL iPhones. Blocked out to prevent them from even leaving a voicemail. Starting to think I need to move to Samsung.
You Guys have answered my question I want to be able to block calls and voicemails too Thought iphone6+ had this option Yes when you block on android theyre truly blocked Wish apple iphone had this after all Block means Blocked
Actually I’m finding on my iPhone 5s that a blcoked caller can leave a voicemail and I am receiving the notification of the voicemail and able to listen to it. They should not be able to leave a message and I should not be able to listen to it.
Mine does the same thing and I HATE it!!! I blocked this person for a reason and defiantly do not want to have an option to listen to the harassing voicemails!
A feature I miss after having used a Samsung Note for many years. I don’t know about other Android phones but on the Note, if you blocked someone, the phone would ring once for them and then they would be disconnected. No ringing on my phone and they weren’t allowed to leave messages. I was surprised a blocked person was still able to hear my outgoing vm message AND leave me a message.
There is a very simple and effective fix for this problem. 1 – Place phone on hard surface 2 – get hammer from tool shed 3 – bash phone many times with hammer. Until Apple find a real solution to this problem, this is the best alternative…
You guys are all missing the point. “Block calls” means, I want them to be completely block and never hear from them one way or another… Like on an android device, there is an app called “Mr. Numbers”. You would select your contact you want to block and they take care of picking up the call and immediately hanging up on them. However, the set back with this will reduce your call count on your plan.
Does this mean my boyfriend may be telling the truth that he is still getting vmails from ex girlfriend even though he’s blocked her? But would it still show up on top where the circles are as a recent call? He claims he’s not calling her back and that he doesn’t know how she’s appearing in recent calls. I’ve looked and she is blocked, but I want to make sure I’m not fooling myself or that maybe it IS just his phone.
Ive had a stalker for a number of years, blocked his phone number after calling the police… HE’s back.. Today I received a voice mail notification – odd my phone didn’t ring and YUP the stalker who’s blocked left a voice mail and I got a notification of new voice mail… your boyfriend is telling the truth
My wife gets calls from her former husband of many years
ago. He is persistant. She has blocked his phone number,
but the fact that he can still hear her voice, via voicemail
message, just prolongs his infatuation with her….
I strongly believe a blocked caller should get a generic,
or custom, voicemail that says person being calls is
not taking calls at this time… (in a generic voice)
…come on apple seeds … make it so!
Is there any way to prevent getting those voicemails from blocked callers? I may not get the call (I’ve been blocking robocall numbers), but they’re going to my voicemail and I do get those messages–which means I have to log into my voicemail and listen to at least part of it to delete it–which is almost as much of a nuisance as answering the phone in the first place.
Definitely misleading. Blocked a contact to avoid lengthy antagonistic messages. Days later person even more upset … stating he’d left several messages & why did I not call him back. Leaving the person even more antagonistic, making you out to be inconsiderate, etc & defeating the purpose of the block. Maybe Apple could modify the informational message that comes up before blocking with “While” at the beginning and “they can still leave a voice message, it will not show on your phone and you won’t be able to retrieve it” or something like that. What happens when blocked contact sends a text?
In iOS 8 blocking a caller on an iPhone is basically like setting Do Not Disturb for that caller. They can call and leave a message, but your iPhone will not alert you to any of it – your phone won’t ring/vibrate and the call won’t show up in the badge count of the Phone app as a missed call or message. The blocked caller needs to be in your Address Book for this feature to work. The voicemail of a blocked call IS accessible to the user, they are filed in a folder named Blocked Calls in the Voicemail section of the Phone app. One downside to this system is that the blocked voicemails take up space in your voicemail box. It’s up to you to delete these voicemails yourself. True blocked calls, where the call does not go thru at all, can only happen at the carrier level.
This information is absolutely NOT TRUE. AT&T conned me into upgrading the operating system on my phone (which turns out to be incomatible, now bluetooth device won’t work – $75 down the drain!) so I could “block” numbers from calling me. These were FORGED CALLER-ID calls to “lower student loan” (I’m 62, never had one!). By forged, I mean if you call back the number, you get a recording saying it is “not a working number”. So now I get 6-8 messages per day, which is this stupid CRIMINAL OUTFIT, a recording, filling up my voicemail. I have to delete them every day just to keep space for REAL MESSAGES, and I get a tone notifying me there is a message. So all in all, I was better off when I could just refuse the call 6-8 times/day and had a working hands-free phone! AT&T is the most evil company on the planet.
I blocked a friend over the summer, and I noticed weeks after that I had a voicemail from her..i never got the call but obviously she was able to leave a voice mail..
I forgot to mention when you block a number via the phone carrier, at least with verizon, it is a 90 day block. So you can call them again and put on another 90 day block or otherwise if you have an online account you can go into the settings and features yourself and replace the block.
What is the point of blocking a caller if they can still leave you a voicemail. It fills up my voicemail and other people cannot leave voicemails because my voicemail is full. It says I will no longer receive messages and a voicemail is a message.
Here is how it works. I just tested all the different options with my verizon phone carrier. If you actually do NOT want a certain number to be able to call your iPhone you must do it through the carrier. Otherwise you are correct the person will be able to leave a message that will take up storage in your voicemail. Although you cannot visually see that the message came in, it is still accessible for you to hear or simply delete without listing by dialing *86 which is the back door access to voicemail. If have verizon and choose to block via the phone carrier, the person calling will receive a message saying they have been blocked from calling your number; and as a result they obviously can’t leave a message.
if i have blocked a contact on my iphone, yet i wanted to know if they have tried to contact me by leaving a message, is that possible?
Broken in the latest IOS!
A blocked number still rings on the phone, and their message shows up in the main menu.
Try to block the number and one finds that it is already blocked.
Hi, I was wondering if you could recover a deleted voicemail from a blocked number?
Carly,
If that deleted voicemail isn’t in your Deleted Messages box (Phone App > Voicemail tab > scroll to the end of the list and locate Deleted Messages and tap it, then those messages are not recoverable. However, you could contact your carrier and ask–just in case those messages are still stored on their servers.
Liz
We are receiving obscene calls on my wife’s phone. She blocks the calls but they then text or call via another number. How can we stop this pattern?
Hi Andy,
Sorry to hear about these calls to your wife. That’s an awful thing to experience.
At this time, iOS only offers that blocking service. Open Messages, open one of these conversations, tap the contact at the top of the conversation, and tap info icon. Finally, tap the phone number or name, scroll to the bottom of the screen, and tap Block this Caller.
When you block a number this way, they can still leave a voicemail, but you won’t get a notification. Messages that are sent or received won’t be delivered. Also, the contact won’t get a notification that the call or message was blocked.
Another thing to do in Messages is filter unknowns, go to Settings > Messages and turn on Filter Unknown Senders. Once enabled, all unknown numbers (people not in your wife’s contacts app) go into a separate tab for any texts.
There are also some third-party paid apps that offer better blocking services and many carriers also offer this service.
Coming in iOS13 is an updated and better call blocking feature that silences all unknown numbers–it’s located in the Phone app and called Silence Unknown Callers.
Liz
How can I receive a call or text that is blocked with sprint? Can I spoof it to show a different incoming number? I checked my blocked numbers under settings-phone-text and the numbers not listed
Hi Kevin,
If the number is blocked by Sprint, contact Sprint to unblock that particular number.
As far as we know, if the number is blocked at the carrier level there is no way to spoof it to show a different number.
Thanks. This post helped me understand how I was blocked and how I could block a person on my iPhone
Greetings, thanks for the info. I was wondering why blocked callers were still leaving vmails. Oh well, I guess swipe to delete still gets rid of them.
If blocked callers can still leave voicemail, how do I delete these messages?
Hi Mary,
When a blocked caller leaves a voicemail, your iOS automatically creates a category in your voicemail called Blocked Messages.
To see if you have any voicemails from blocked callers, open the Phone App. Tap the Voicemail tab at the bottom right of the page. And look down the list to find the Blocked Messages category (usually below Deleted Messages.) Tap it and either delete or listen to those messages.
Sam
Your information is really helping me figure out blocking numbers. Thanks for advance, and I will bookmark it now!
This helped me know why my blocked numbers keep sending me voicemails. I’m calling my mobile company to see if they can do anything to assist. Thanks for the tips.
My bro bookmarked this web page for me and I have been going through it for the past several hours. This is really going to assist me and my classmates for our class project. By the way, I like the way you write.
If u call someone and it keeps saying (mailbox is full), could they possibly be blocking you?
Hi Lauretta,
It’s possible but unlikely. Usually, when someone blocks your email, it goes into the spam or trash folder for deletion. However, someone can set-up a rule or filter and create a custom message and blocked sender auto-response for any blocked email. So it is possible that your email is blocked and that recipient created a rule to send you the message that their email box is full.
Creating these rules and filter takes effort and it’s not a one-step process. So again, it’s possible.
SK
I keep getting calls and voicemails for another person (that I don’t know) saying they owe money to some business–it’s been happening for months and it’s driving me bananas! I block each number that calls–but I still get these increasingly threatening vmails. I’ve had my number for like 10 years so I know it’s not from a previous owner of that number.
Anyway, I really really want to block all vmails and call…so thanks for the explanation. I’ll try my carrier (Verizon) and see if I have luck there. If not, at least I know why blocking those numbers isn’t blocking their voicemails.
Thx
This article helped me understand why after blocking my old girlfriend (okay, ended badly…another story) is still leaving vmails. Would love to be able to block everything! It’s not fun to start or finish your day with some old flame cursing you out…and worse.
Thx for the info
that totally defit the purpose of blocking someone on your phone if they can still leave vm, I don’t want them to think I’m simply not responding to whatever message they left but I don’t get them I blocked you
Thanks for this article. I was able to get more clarity on how to block numbers and people that I don’t want calling or leaving vmail.
Jonny B
This article helped me understand what I need to do to make sure a certain person cannot call me or leave me any messages or voicemails. Thx for the tips! Saved my sanity!
Trace
Thanks for this information. I was not receiving vmails, turns out I blocked a few folks inadvertently.
This appears to be a rather flimsy “blocking” of a caller because the caller can still leave a voicemail THAT WILL NEVER BE HEARD!…but the caller assumes it will be heard!
C’mon Apple, that’s unacceptable!
The blocked caller can leave a message that is an APOLOGY! Now that my caller has asked for forgiveness in the voicemail, and I cannot hear the voicemail, the caller now knows the ball is in MY court!
And two years pass and nothing changes. She’s asked to be forgiven, and I have not forgiven her because i don’t know she has asked for forgiveness!!!!!!
Or my blocked caller’s voicemail could have been about a death in the family…..and so on.
Hasn’t Apple thought of these?
Clearly improvements should be made on the part of manufacturers and cell phone providers. Listen to your customers already and make some changes people or your customers will make some changes of their own.
I have iphone6 and tried blocking my other cellphone. It rang two times calling from that phone. What happen to one ring? This makes a caller think I’m swiping to ignore the call. And is there a way to delete blocked vlicailes without listening to them?
100% agree. You’re not blocking the call if you let them communicate with you. I’m actually stunned that in this day and age you can’t do something that simple.
Sheesh!! I can do this on my Landline easier……I had no clue the Block this Calller button should really read Block this Caller; well, sort of!!
If i block a caller for any reason, I do not want to be notified that the caller attempted to call again. And I certainly do not want the iPhone to allow the blocked caller to leave a voicemail. And finally, I do not want to be notified that the blocked caller attempted to leave a voicemail. In short, when I block a caller I do not want that party to have ability to communicate with me again in any form or fashion.
Yea Fix this feature now Apple got blocked peeps but can still leave voicemails WTF
i have a iphone 5c.
on iphones, “Blocked callers” can leave a voice message.
it goes to voice message upon calling u. there is no ringtone for it, i Wish there was, or an alert setting. but it goes silently into ur voicemail. -so, scroll to bottom of all ur voicemails (saved ones),and u will see at bottom of all those saved voicemail measaages a folder called “blocked messages” (if the caller hasn’t caught on yet they are blocked cause they will continuously keep getting ur voicemail), it’s ur option whether u want to listen or not, keep the messages for proof of harassment (if necessary), or just delete them.
i wish there was an alert setting for “blocked messeages” when they come in.
Come on Apple. You’re supposed to be so damn smart fix this on ALL iPhones. Blocked out to prevent them from even leaving a voicemail. Starting to think I need to move to Samsung.
You Guys have answered my question I want to be able to block calls and voicemails too Thought iphone6+ had this option Yes when you block on android theyre truly blocked Wish apple iphone had this after all Block means Blocked
Actually I’m finding on my iPhone 5s that a blcoked caller can leave a voicemail and I am receiving the notification of the voicemail and able to listen to it. They should not be able to leave a message and I should not be able to listen to it.
Mine does the same thing and I HATE it!!! I blocked this person for a reason and defiantly do not want to have an option to listen to the harassing voicemails!
A feature I miss after having used a Samsung Note for many years. I don’t know about other Android phones but on the Note, if you blocked someone, the phone would ring once for them and then they would be disconnected. No ringing on my phone and they weren’t allowed to leave messages. I was surprised a blocked person was still able to hear my outgoing vm message AND leave me a message.
There is a very simple and effective fix for this problem. 1 – Place phone on hard surface 2 – get hammer from tool shed 3 – bash phone many times with hammer. Until Apple find a real solution to this problem, this is the best alternative…
You guys are all missing the point. “Block calls” means, I want them to be completely block and never hear from them one way or another… Like on an android device, there is an app called “Mr. Numbers”. You would select your contact you want to block and they take care of picking up the call and immediately hanging up on them. However, the set back with this will reduce your call count on your plan.
Does this mean my boyfriend may be telling the truth that he is still getting vmails from ex girlfriend even though he’s blocked her? But would it still show up on top where the circles are as a recent call? He claims he’s not calling her back and that he doesn’t know how she’s appearing in recent calls. I’ve looked and she is blocked, but I want to make sure I’m not fooling myself or that maybe it IS just his phone.
Ive had a stalker for a number of years, blocked his phone number after calling the police… HE’s back.. Today I received a voice mail notification – odd my phone didn’t ring and YUP the stalker who’s blocked left a voice mail and I got a notification of new voice mail… your boyfriend is telling the truth
My wife gets calls from her former husband of many years
ago. He is persistant. She has blocked his phone number,
but the fact that he can still hear her voice, via voicemail
message, just prolongs his infatuation with her….
I strongly believe a blocked caller should get a generic,
or custom, voicemail that says person being calls is
not taking calls at this time… (in a generic voice)
…come on apple seeds … make it so!
Is there any way to prevent getting those voicemails from blocked callers? I may not get the call (I’ve been blocking robocall numbers), but they’re going to my voicemail and I do get those messages–which means I have to log into my voicemail and listen to at least part of it to delete it–which is almost as much of a nuisance as answering the phone in the first place.
Any help for that?
Thank god for this option. My sweetheart/ex can still hear my voice, will miss my voice and can listen to it and this got us back …
Definitely misleading. Blocked a contact to avoid lengthy antagonistic messages. Days later person even more upset … stating he’d left several messages & why did I not call him back. Leaving the person even more antagonistic, making you out to be inconsiderate, etc & defeating the purpose of the block. Maybe Apple could modify the informational message that comes up before blocking with “While” at the beginning and “they can still leave a voice message, it will not show on your phone and you won’t be able to retrieve it” or something like that. What happens when blocked contact sends a text?
In iOS 8 blocking a caller on an iPhone is basically like setting Do Not Disturb for that caller. They can call and leave a message, but your iPhone will not alert you to any of it – your phone won’t ring/vibrate and the call won’t show up in the badge count of the Phone app as a missed call or message. The blocked caller needs to be in your Address Book for this feature to work. The voicemail of a blocked call IS accessible to the user, they are filed in a folder named Blocked Calls in the Voicemail section of the Phone app. One downside to this system is that the blocked voicemails take up space in your voicemail box. It’s up to you to delete these voicemails yourself. True blocked calls, where the call does not go thru at all, can only happen at the carrier level.
This information is absolutely NOT TRUE. AT&T conned me into upgrading the operating system on my phone (which turns out to be incomatible, now bluetooth device won’t work – $75 down the drain!) so I could “block” numbers from calling me. These were FORGED CALLER-ID calls to “lower student loan” (I’m 62, never had one!). By forged, I mean if you call back the number, you get a recording saying it is “not a working number”. So now I get 6-8 messages per day, which is this stupid CRIMINAL OUTFIT, a recording, filling up my voicemail. I have to delete them every day just to keep space for REAL MESSAGES, and I get a tone notifying me there is a message. So all in all, I was better off when I could just refuse the call 6-8 times/day and had a working hands-free phone! AT&T is the most evil company on the planet.
A feature that lets you block specific phone numbers from calling and leaving voice mail but still allows you to receive messages would be useful.
I blocked a friend over the summer, and I noticed weeks after that I had a voicemail from her..i never got the call but obviously she was able to leave a voice mail..
I forgot to mention when you block a number via the phone carrier, at least with verizon, it is a 90 day block. So you can call them again and put on another 90 day block or otherwise if you have an online account you can go into the settings and features yourself and replace the block.
What is the point of blocking a caller if they can still leave you a voicemail. It fills up my voicemail and other people cannot leave voicemails because my voicemail is full. It says I will no longer receive messages and a voicemail is a message.
Here is how it works. I just tested all the different options with my verizon phone carrier. If you actually do NOT want a certain number to be able to call your iPhone you must do it through the carrier. Otherwise you are correct the person will be able to leave a message that will take up storage in your voicemail. Although you cannot visually see that the message came in, it is still accessible for you to hear or simply delete without listing by dialing *86 which is the back door access to voicemail. If have verizon and choose to block via the phone carrier, the person calling will receive a message saying they have been blocked from calling your number; and as a result they obviously can’t leave a message.