The ability to view blocked numbers on an iPhone can help you keep a handle on spam and unwanted calls, and even unblock them. But how can you do that? Here are a few steps.
Check if a number you blocked has tried to call you
In the iPhone world, blocking a number is an easy way to snub nuisance callers. However, you may be wondering if a particular number you blocked has tried to call you. The truth is, it can be hard to tell.
Fortunately, there is a way to find out for sure. By using the Phone app, you can search for a particular phone, and then tap on Blocked Calls. You will see a list of numbers that have tried to contact you.
You can also check the history of a blocked number. iOS 13 has added Silence Unknown Callers, which will prevent you from receiving any unwanted calls. If you want to know if a number you blocked has tried to call you, you can give a customer service representative the number and they will be able to check for you.
The phone’s battery might have died, or the cell tower might have gone down. These factors can produce similar results.
A blocked number may not even show up in the phone’s Recent Contacts list. Some phones have dedicated apps that let you see who has tried to contact you, but if yours doesn’t, you can do a little bit of googling.
Sending a text message to a blocked number may reveal the true status. It’s not as effective as asking the blocked person to call you, but it’s definitely the best indication.
Report spam numbers in the Messages app
If you receive spam texts, you may want to report them to your carrier. This will help your carrier block spam messages from reaching your inbox.
Some cell phone carriers, including Verizon Wireless and AT&T, allow you to report spam texts. These carriers also have anti-spam call services. However, it may not be possible for you to report a single number.
The best way to report a spam text is to go into your messaging app. There, you will see a menu with three dots. Select the Settings option. You will then see a menu that has Report junk. From there, you will need to provide a detailed description of the spam message.
Once you’ve given the right information, you can report the text. Your carrier will then look into the matter. They will send you a confirmation message.
The easiest way to report spam on your Android is to use Google’s Messages app. You can download it from the Play Store. All Android phones are able to use this app. It allows you to block unknown numbers, as well as known contacts.
You can also manually report spam texts. To do this, you must take a screenshot of the message. Afterwards, you can go into the Messages app and select Report junk.
Unblock blocked numbers on an Android phone
If you’re worried about being hit by a spam call, it may be a good idea to unblock your blocked phone number. This is a simple, reversible process and a great way to clear up some unwanted calls.
First, you want to open your phone’s dialer app. You should be able to find it in your phone’s Home screen. The app’s menu is located at the bottom right.
Next, you should check out the app’s Blocked numbers option. It’s a small section in the app’s Manage contacts menu.
To unlock a blocked phone number, you need to perform the same trick as you would to check the number. That’s actually a bit trickier than it sounds.
Once you’ve done that, you can tap on the Unblock button to unblock the number. Unlike the old school method of just pressing a button to unblock a phone number, this new approach requires you to confirm your choice.
Another nifty little number you can unblock on your Android phone is the phone ringer. Although the phone’s ringer is not the same as your personal telephone, you can still use it to send and receive text messages.
Besides using the phone’s ringer, you can also unblock your blocked callers with a third-party caller ID app. These apps, like Truecaller, will let you unblock any number.
Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay