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Spam calls are annoying. I always have my phone ringing in case there is an emergency but that means being there iPhone He receives unwanted calls at least several times a week. Unsolicited calls can be stressful, especially if you’re trying to stay quiet so as not to disturb your baby during their nap. But thanks iOS 26Call screening feature, unwanted calls haven’t bothered me in months.
Call screening is not an Apple Intelligence feature, so any iPhone compatible with iOS 26, e.g iPhone 14 Proit can be used. I enabled this feature early in the beta process, and my iPhone has since blocked unwanted calls, like Hoover Dam. But you have to enable it first.
Here’s how to enable call screening in a few easy steps and what to know about the new feature.
Read more: Win a new Apple Watch in CNET’s big guessing game contest
How to turn on call screening on your iPhone
1. handle Settings.
2. handle Applications Near the bottom of the list.
3. handle phone.
Under the Scan Unknown Callers section, you’ll see three options: Never, Ask why you’re calling, and Shut up. Here’s what you should know about each of these options and which ones are right for most people.
Which call screening option should you choose?
Choosing Never is the default and allows calls from unsaved numbers to come through and ring on your phone. It also documents missed calls in the recent calls list in the Phone app, just as it was before call screening was available.
If you tap Ask Why Calling, your iPhone will ask anyone calling you from an unsaved number why they’re calling you without your iPhone ringing. After the caller answers a few questions, your iPhone will provide you with a transcript of the caller’s answers. Then you can decide whether you want to answer the call or not.
You can also choose silence, which is the nuclear option for phone calls. Any unsaved numbers that call you will be silenced and sent to voicemail, no questions asked.
Asking why you are calling is the best option for most people who want to screen calls. I chose it, and while it notifies me when scam callers answer some questions, which they rarely do, it also notifies me when my doctor’s office calls me to review some test results. If I had chosen silence, I would have missed my doctor’s office (and choosing “never” meant checking every call if I was expecting something important).
If you choose “Ask why I’m calling” and you don’t like it, you can always follow the steps above again and choose one of the other options. And remember, you can always silence your iPhone and not be disturbed by any phone calls at all. My wife hasn’t put her phone off silent in months, and she remains unbothered by unwanted calls.
For more iOS news, here’s what to know about the upcoming release iOS 27 And we have Cheat sheet for iOS 26 For other tips and tricks. You can also win by playing Apple Watch CNET’s Big Guessing Game.
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