Manage Unwanted Calls With Call Screening

Spam calls waste time and break your focus. Apple knows this, which is why iOS 26 gives your iPhone a way to gatekeep them. With Call Screening, unknown numbers get asked to state their name and reason for their call. 

You can see a live transcription and then choose to answer the call or ignore it. No longer will you have to answer those spammy calls everyone always gets.

Here’s how to start using Call Screening:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down to the bottom and tap on Apps.
3. Scroll down again and tap on Phone.
4. Scroll down one more time, and under Screen Unknown Callers, turn on Ask Reason for Calling or Silence depending on what you want.

If you want extra protection, there’s also a screening option for the Messages app. Similarly, your iPhone will hide spam messages and messages from unknown numbers, so you don’t see them in your main inbox. Simply go to Settings > Apps > Messages and turn on Screen Unknown Senders and Filter Spam.