Apple tucked a small but useful change into the latest iPhone updates: a single place to manage everyone you’ve blocked.
Instead of bouncing between Phone, Messages, FaceTime, and Mail, you’ll now find one list at Settings → Privacy & Security → Blocked Contacts. Add or remove numbers and email addresses there, and the block applies across Apple’s communication apps on that device.
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If you’re signed into the same Apple Account on multiple devices, your blocks carry over. Unblocking in one place also unblocks that contact everywhere.
Why it matters: it cuts friction for spam control and safety. It also pairs well with our guides on staying ahead of nuisance calls and texts.
How to find it fast
- Open Settings
- Tap Privacy & Security
- Tap Blocked Contacts → Add New or Edit
Keep going
- Stop spam calls and texts with built-in iPhone tools and filters (how to block spam calls on iPhone).
- Wondering if you’ve been blocked—or if you blocked someone? Check our quick diagnostics (how to tell if you’re blocked on iPhone or iMessage).
- Review and clean up your lists across Phone/Messages/FaceTime (how to check blocked numbers on iPhone).
- Shut down junk email directly from Mail on iPhone (how to block emails on your iPhone).
Tip: If you use a third-party call-blocking app, its block list stays inside that app. Keep Apple’s list updated too for consistent results.
I’m having the same issues everyone is talking about. When Apple comes up with a new version and it says “ will fix bug issues” I think hopefully this will work now. NOPE!!!! I’m getting so many unwanted emails it’s crazy!!! If they think this is such a great version iOS 26 then they have idiots working for them!!! I wonder how their iPhone is working out for them?!?!
What kind of idiot dreamed up this stupid change?
I agree with all of the comments already posted, that blocking Contacts is now a huge time consuming multi-step pain in the butt. That is IF the Block Contact option even appears in Contact Details, which on my phone (it spite of restarts etc.) it does NOT on my phone.
The new scheme may be better for device and between-apps “integration” on the back end, but it’s HORRIBLE for the user.
I guess we know what Apple designers actually care about – simplifying THEIR life, not ours. THANKS FOR A BIG STEP BACKWARD APPLE!
Agree with all the comments that Blocking Contacts is now a huge pain in the butt IF the Block Contact option even appears in Contact Details, which is does NOT on my phone. The new scheme may be better for device and between-apps “integration”, but it’s HORRIBLE for the user. I guess we know what Apple designers actually care about – simplifying THEIR life, not ours. THNKS FOR NOTHING
Same here – it used to be simple to block contacts from the phone app. Now we need to go to settings, blocked contacts, copy/paste a number there. What poor usability design!!!
I agree. I don’t want to put a spam email address in my contacts to block it.
Is there a term for OS update anxiety?
They’ve made it harder to block spam contacts!! Add block to the menu options!!!
I agree. I’ve notified Apple support.
I don’t get many unknown numbers and many of them are hospital calls, tradespeople etc – important stuff I don’t want to screen or filter.
I want to be able to silence and then block in recent calls just like the old versions of i0S
Waarom kan ik in recente telefoontjes geen nummer meer blokkeren.
Since updating to iOS 26 and then 26.0.1, only 3 blocked numbers/contacts come up in Privacy/Settings, searching in Settings, and going independently to Contacts, Messages, and FaceTime. I have blocked more than 3 numbers/contacts since these iOS updates. I have blocked hundreds if not 1,000+ numbers and texts via email addresses over the years prior to iOS 26. Always on an iPhone with the same Apple ID. How can I recover all those blocked contacts?
I hate it. no easy way to block recent unknow numbers received
I agree. I’ve notified Apple support. I’m getting more spam emails, calls, and messages lately, and it takes more keystrokes to block any of them than in previous OS versions.
I may switch to a different phone