Tech Reference

Here's what happens when you block someone's number on your iPhone

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When you block someone's number, your iPhone doesn't care who it is — their phone number will be completely shut out of your life.

At least, their text messages, phone calls, and FaceTime calls will be. Blocking a number on your iPhone can't prevent that person from reaching out via third-party apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, or Instagram, unfortunately.

But what does it look like on the blocked person's end? Can they tell that they've been blocked?

Here's everything that happens after you block someone on your iPhone.

What happens when you block a number on your iPhone

Blocked text messages disappear

When someone that you've blocked texts you, their texts go nowhere. They won't receive any notification that they're blocked, and their messages will still look like they've been sent. But you won't receive any of them, and you can't respond.

what happens when you block a number on iphone
The text message they send won't say "Delivered" under it.  iPhone

Blocked FaceTime calls ring forever

When someone you've blocked tries to FaceTime you, their phone will simply ring and ring without an answer. Nothing happens on your end, and you won't know that they're calling.

It'll go on like this until the blocked caller gives up and stops trying to call.

Blocked phone calls go straight to voicemail

When someone you've blocked calls you, they'll be sent right to your voicemail, as if your phone was turned off. This is their only clue that you blocked them.

The blocked caller can still leave a voicemail, but it won't show up with your regular messages. Instead, you need to scroll down to the bottom of the voicemail window and tap the Blocked Messages option.

The Voicemails menu on an iPhone. The Blocked Messages option is highlighted.
Your blocked voicemails are sorted into a different folder.  William Antonelli/Insider

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ExperienceWilliam joined Business Insider in 2019 to help found Tech Reference, a vertical dedicated to answering the internet’s most common questions about the gadgets they buy. In that role, he helped grow the vertical into a powerhouse that attracted over 20 million pageviews a month. He also wrote and edited one of Business Insider’s most successful stories: How to take a screenshot on Windows.William later became one of Business Insider's lead consumer tech reporters, writing roundups and reviews about gadgets ranging from smartphones to gaming PCs. He also established key industry contacts at brands like Apple, Google, Nintendo, and more. He’s also cited on the Wikipedia page for Among Us, an honor above all others.William’s work for Business Insider has included reviewing the best gaming laptops, publishing previews of new Nintendo games and consoles, and comparing Apple’s latest releases so readers know what’s worth their money. Across all assignments, he’s been praised for his depth of knowledge and research skills.In addition to his work at Business Insider, William’s writing has appeared in outlets like The Guardian, Polygon, Thomson Reuters’ Context, and more. He's also a regular guest on TV stations like CBS and NBC, where he provides expert analysis on AI, consumer tech, and Silicon Valley moguls.Why you can trust WilliamWilliam believes the goal of journalism should be to tell the truth, not sell products. In his reviews, William never hesitates to call out a product’s flaws, but he also has no issue complimenting features that genuinely add value.When reviewing a product, William doesn’t test it in a vacuum. He tries to incorporate each product into his daily routine to get a better sense of how it’ll work for the everyday user. And when writing, he focuses on reader comprehension. He’s talented at explaining complicated concepts in ways that all readers can understand, without losing depth or nuance — or his distinctively engaging voice.Expertise
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Consumer Technology (Laptops, PCs, video games and gaming consoles, smartphones, more)
  • Social Media (TikTok, X, Meta, more)
  • Internet Culture (Memes, influencers, viral trends)
  • Disinformation
EducationWilliam graduated from the State University of New York at Geneseo in 2018. There, he studied English, communications, and adolescent education, alongside reporting news for the university’s radio and TV stations.Outside workWhen he’s not reporting, you can usually find William biking through Central Park, playing video games, or at home listening to music and writing fanfiction. He’s also a co-manager of the New York Mandolin Ensemble, one of NYC’s premier string orchestras.You can contact him at w.antonelli322@gmail.com, visit his official website at williamantonelli.com, or follow him on Twitter @DubsRewatcher and BlueSky @wantonelli.bsky.social.