iPhone offers the excellent feature of blocking cell phone numbers to prevent you from being bothered by a person. No matter the reason for blocking, the person will be unable to reach you if you have their number blocked.

The ability to block messages was created so that users are not bothered by unwanted messages; there is no way to see the messages sent to you from a blocked number.

In this article, we will cover how to block a number, unblock a number, and filter messages from people you don’t know.

How to Block a Number

If there is a number that you wish to block from receiving messages, phone calls, or face times, simply follow these steps.

  • Select the phone app on your IPhone once it is unlocked. If the iPhone is locked you will not be able to edit any settings.Select Favorites, Recents, or the Voicemail feature.Select the blue “i” icon next to the number or contact you wish to block.Scroll down to select “Block this Caller.”

Another method involves going through your Contacts application.

Once in your Contacts, scroll to or search the Contact you wish to block, select the contact, and select Block this Caller. 

The process of blocking a number is relatively simple, and the steps provided in this article are relevant for any of the iPhone series past generation 6.

How to Unblock a Number

There are instances where a person blocks a number one day and regrets it at a later time.

In order to remedy this situation, simply follow these short and easy steps.

  • Select your Settings application on your IPhoneScroll down to the Phone selectionSelect Blocked Contacts and select Edit

Once you are editing the blocked callers, you are then able to edit which number you wish to unblock.

Once a number is blocked, you will not receive any messages, FaceTimes, or phone calls from that number.

Because of this, make sure it is a number that you feel comfortable blocking since you can unblock the caller, but you are unable to see the messages sent while the number was blocked.

Send Unknown and Spam Callers to Voicemail

Sometimes people would like to simply send unknown or spam callers right to their voicemail, so they are not bothered by these callers.

In order to do so, simply go to Settings and then select Phone.

You can then select Silence Unknown Callers and Call Blocking and Identification to silence the junk callers.

Spam callers are continuously calling, so it is always beneficial to have the option of sending these numbers right to voicemail.

If the call is important, they will leave a voicemail, and you can decide if you need to respond or not.

Seeing Block Messages

While you are unable to see any new messages from a number that is blocked, old messages are not deleted from your phone.

You are able to view old messages that were sent to you before you blocked the phone number.

If you happen to delete the messages after you blocked the number and wish to view them, follow these simple steps.

iCloud Backup

iCloud is a great way to have your files secured if you wish to retrieve them at a later date, and old text messages are one of the items that are backed up.

As long as your iPhone is synced with the iCloud backup system, it is extremely easy to retrieve old messages on your iPhone.

  • Go to iCloud.com and log in to the website with your Apple IDFind and select the Text Messages you want to retrieveGo back to your iCloud settings on your iPhone and turn off Messages backupA pop-up message will enable you to download your text messages

You would then be able to select “Disable and Download Messages” to restore the old messages.

iTunes Backup

If your iPhone is synced to your iTunes, you are able to retrieve old messages through iTunes.

Of course, you can still not receive messages sent after you have a number blocked.

It is a relatively simple process if you wish to view old messages through the iTunes backup.

  • Connect your iPhone to a PC that has iTunes installedOpen the iTunes app, and click on the device buttonOnce in the Backups section, select Restore BackupSelect the recent backup entrySelect Restore to complete the process

It is always beneficial to back up your iPhone on a periodic basis.

This helps keep a piece of mind to keep all of your photos and important information in a secure space if something happens to your phone.

It also helps keeps a record of messages sent to you as well.

Conclusion

Blocking numbers on an iPhone is a simple process, making it easy to prevent unwanted phone calls, text messages, or Face Times.

However, at the present time, Apple does not allow you to see new messages from blocked numbers.

If for some reason, you wish to view old messages from blocked numbers, there are a few options available to do so.

You would be able to go through the iCloud backup, iTunes backup, or right in your messages if you did not delete the old messages.