This New iPhone Feature Stops Scam Callers—Here’s How to Turn It On
It seems hyperbolic to say that no one answers the phone anymore, but with spam calls reaching unprecedented levels and younger generations that prefer to communicate by text and audio messages, it is not exactly a false declaration.
If you are tired of ignoring spam calls on your iPhone while they arrive, you can get better and detect them instead. Here’s how.
Screen of unknown appellants with iOS 26
Apple presented the functionality of unknown appellants with iOS 26, the upgrade of Apple Big iPhone software which was published in September 2025. Anyone with an iPhone SE (2nd generation) or a new iPhone 11 has access to functionality once they have updated their device.
In the context of this feature, an unknown caller is anyone who tries to join you via a standard phone call which has hidden its number or an incoming call from a number that you did not save on your iPhone.
The appellants of the unknown screen have two operating modes. The first is called “ask the call” and, once activated, will result in a silent response to your iPhone from unknown calls in the background. Siri will question the appellant about their reason for appeal, and it is only after having provided that this information is really ringing.
You will see a transcription of what the appellant said to the screen, so that you can decide whether or not you want to make the call.
The second way that works is the “Silence” parameter, which jumps out the questions and silently sends all the so -called unknown calls to voicemail. Your iPhone will always answer the call in the background, and all voice messages will be transcribed and made available in the telephone application.
You will find these options under settings> Applications> Telephone, under the “Unknown appellants screen” section. You can get there even faster using an intelligent iPhone shortcut which quickly opens the preferences of the current application. You will also find it in the telephone application shortly after upgrading to iOS 26.
Choose between these options
Choosing which one of these want to use is quite easy. If the spam of the unknown caller is a problem for you, but you often receive legitimate phone calls from numbers that are not saved in your contact list, choose “Ask the reason for the call” is the best action plan.
Many spammers do not bother to declare their reason to call for Siri, and those who can be easily detected and ignored. Remember that many important appellants – such as medical establishments and schools – often retain their figures, so it is the best way to avoid spam while not missing these important calls.
Alternatively, if almost all unknown calls are a failure, you can safely choose the “silence” option and let the voicemail set them. This is particularly true at a time when the usurpation of the number is widespread, where many spammers and crooks appear as if they call legitimate mobile or regional numbers.
Keep in mind that this does not block the appellants, and that it is an iPhone function, you can incur fees. For example, if you are abroad and it costs you money to receive calls in addition to making them, you may want to use the filtering option below.
Although this feature is undoubtedly intelligent, Apple is not the first to find it. This is only one of the many features that the company has “borrowed” from the Android operating system in Google.
Also filters unknown calls and messages
If you don’t want to have anything to do with unknown numbers (that is to say the appellants who have specifically hidden their number), you can activate the “unknown appellants” to switch under “call filter” in the settings of the telephone application. Not only will this automatically reluctantly reluctantly reluctantly reluctantly reluctant, but it will also move all voice messages to a separate list of “unknown appellants” in the telephone application.
If you head to Settings> Applications> Messages, you will also find similar options for text messages. Apple has built a backup in this parameter which should prevent you from missing the multi-factor authentication codes (under the authorizing notifications> verification codes).
The fight against spam appellants can be a difficult struggle, and you are not alone if you have the impression of receiving more harmful calls than legitimate calls. The dark reality is that it is easier than ever for spammers and crooks to launch a large net to make people. They only need a few bites to justify their efforts.
You might be interested in knowing more about the avoidance of spam appellants on your iPhone. Alternatively, if you also have an Android device (or you know someone who does it), you should also activate the Google calls screening function.
