How to Block Scam Calls and Robocalls on Your Phone

Do the same strange numbers keep calling you? You can stop a number from ever reaching you again, and you can ask honest companies to stop calling by joining the free national Do Not Call list. This guide shows you both, one step at a time. (Want your phone to catch spam calls for you, too? See How to Spot a Scam.)

The golden rule for robocalls

1. Don’t press any numbers. A recording that says “Press 1 to stop these calls” is a trick. Pressing a key tells the scammer your number is real, and you’ll get more calls.
2. Don’t say “yes.” If a caller asks “Can you hear me?”, stay quiet or just hang up.
3. Just hang up. Tap the round red button. You don’t owe a robot an answer.

iPhone: block a number that called you

Steps are for iOS 18. Newer iPhones look a little different, but the same words are there.

1. Go to your home screen. If an app is open, swipe up from the very bottom edge of the screen (or press the round button below the screen on older iPhones).
2. Tap the Phone app (green icon with a white phone).
3. Tap Recents at the bottom of the screen. (On newer iPhones it may be called Calls.)
4. You should see: a list of phone numbers and names that called you, newest at the top.
5. Find the number you want to block. Tap the small blue ⓘ (a letter “i” in a circle) on the right side of that line. Don’t tap the number itself, because that calls it back.
6. You should see: a page with details about that number.
7. Scroll down to the bottom of the page.
8. Tap the red words Block Caller (they may say Block this Caller).
9. Tap Block Contact to confirm.
10. You should see: the red words change to Unblock Caller. That number can no longer call you, text you, or FaceTime you.

Android (Google Pixel and most phones): block a number

These steps are for the Google Phone app.

1. Tap the Phone app (usually a phone handset icon at the bottom of the home screen).
2. Tap Recents at the bottom of the screen. (On some phones, your recent calls are on the first screen you see, so you can skip this step.)
3. Find the number you want to block.
4. Press and hold your finger on that number until a menu pops up.
5. Tap Block/report spam (it may just say Block).
6. If it was a scam, leave the check mark next to Report call as spam. This helps warn other people.
7. Tap Block.
8. You should see: a short message at the bottom saying the number is blocked.

Samsung Galaxy: block a number

1. Tap the Phone app (green or blue handset icon).
2. Tap Recents at the bottom of the screen.
3. Tap the number you want to block once. Tap the words, not the green phone icon.
4. You should see: a row of small buttons appear under the number.
5. Tap the ⓘ (a letter “i” in a circle) to open the details page.
6. Tap Block at the bottom of the screen. (Don’t see it? Tap the three dots (⋮) or More, then tap Block number.)
7. Tap Block again if your phone asks you to confirm.
8. You should see: the word Unblock where Block used to be.

Any phone: join the free Do Not Call list

This stops sales calls from honest companies within about a month. Scammers ignore the list, which is why blocking numbers helps too. Signing up is free and lasts forever. Anyone who asks you to pay to join it is a scammer.

The easiest way is by phone:

1. Using the phone you want to protect, call 1-888-382-1222.
2. Listen to the recording and follow its instructions. It will ask you to confirm your number.
3. You should hear: a message saying your number has been registered.

Or on the internet:

1. Open your web browser (Safari on iPhone, Chrome on Android).
2. Tap the address bar at the top, type donotcall.gov, and tap Go.
3. Tap the button to register your phone (it says something like Register Your Phone).
4. Type your phone number and your email address, then tap Submit.
5. Open your email. Look for a message from the National Do Not Call Registry.
6. Open that email and tap the link inside it. You must do this within 3 days, or it won’t count.
7. You should see: a page saying your registration is complete.

Report a scam call

1. Write down the number that called and what the caller said.
2. Go to reportfraud.ftc.gov or call 1-877-382-4357.
3. If you already paid or shared information, call your bank first, using the number on the back of your card.

💬 Stuck on something else? Ask the Calm Coach

Last reviewed: October 2026