- Android (Samsung): Phone app → Recent calls → Long press number → Block/report spam
- Android (stock / OnePlus / Pixel): Phone app → Recent calls → tap number → ⋮ menu → Block number
- iPhone (iOS 18): Phone app → Recents → tap ⓘ next to number → Scroll down → Block this Caller
- WhatsApp: Open chat → tap name at top → Scroll down → Block
- Block spam calls India: Register on TRAI DND — dial 1909 or use TRAI DND app. Stops telemarketing calls within 7 days.
- Truecaller block: Best for India — identifies and auto-blocks spam callers. Free app.
- Does blocking notify them? No — blocked caller hears ringing or “number not available” — they are NOT notified.
Spam calls, loan recovery agents, telemarketing and scam callers are among the biggest daily frustrations for mobile users in India and for Gulf Malayalee workers receiving unwanted calls on UAE numbers. In 2026 blocking is easier than ever — but the menu path differs between Samsung, OnePlus, stock Android and iPhone. What follows covers every method for every device with the exact 2026 steps, plus India-specific spam blocking via TRAI DND and Truecaller.
How to Block a Number on Android 2026 — All Brands
| Android Brand | Steps to Block | Location in Menus |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung (One UI 7) | 1. Open Phone app → 2. Tap Recents tab → 3. Long press on the number → 4. Tap Block/Report spam → 5. Tap Block | Settings → Block numbers also available for managing blocked list |
| Stock Android (Pixel, Android One) | 1. Open Phone app → 2. Tap Recents → 3. Tap the number → 4. Tap ⋮ (three dots) → 5. Block number → 6. Confirm Block | Phone app Settings → Blocked numbers to manage list |
| OnePlus / OxygenOS | 1. Open Phone app → 2. Recents → 3. Long press number → 4. Add to Blacklist → 5. Confirm | Phone app → ⋮ → Harassment filter → Blacklist |
| Xiaomi / MIUI / HyperOS | 1. Phone app → 2. Recents → 3. Long press → 4. Add to Blocklist → 5. Confirm | Phone Settings → Blocklist to view all blocked numbers |
| Realme / ColorOS | 1. Phone app → 2. Recents → 3. Tap number → 4. ⋮ → 5. Block → 6. Confirm | Phone app → Settings → Block list |
| Vivo / FunTouchOS | 1. Phone app → 2. Recent → 3. Long press → 4. Add to Blocklist | iManager app → Harassment filter |
How to Block a Number on iPhone — iOS 18 (2026)
| Step | Action | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Open the Phone app on your iPhone | Green phone icon on home screen |
| 2 | Tap Recents at the bottom of the screen | Shows recent incoming and outgoing calls |
| 3 | Tap the ⓘ (info) icon next to the number you want to block | The ⓘ is on the RIGHT side of the number — not the number itself |
| 4 | Scroll down to the bottom of the contact card | Scroll past call options, share contact etc. |
| 5 | Tap Block this Caller | Red text at the bottom |
| 6 | Tap Block Contact to confirm | Number is now blocked for calls, messages and FaceTime |
Block from Contacts, Messages or FaceTime — iPhone iOS 18
| App | How to Block |
|---|---|
| Contacts app | Open contact → Scroll to bottom → Block this Caller |
| Messages (SMS) | Open message thread → Tap name/number at top → Info → Block this Caller |
| FaceTime | Open FaceTime → Tap ⓘ next to call → Block this Caller |
| Settings method | Settings → Phone → Blocked Contacts → Add New — to block without receiving call first |
| View/manage blocked list | Settings → Phone → Blocked Contacts — see all blocked numbers, swipe left to unblock |
| Silence unknown callers | Settings → Phone → Silence Unknown Callers → On — sends all unknown numbers to voicemail without ringing. Not the same as blocking. |
How to Block on WhatsApp 2026 — Android and iPhone
| Method | Steps |
|---|---|
| Block from chat (Android and iPhone) | 1. Open the chat → 2. Tap the contact name at the top → 3. Scroll down → 4. Tap Block → 5. Confirm Block |
| Block from unknown call (Android) | 1. Open WhatsApp → 2. Calls tab → 3. Tap the call → 4. Block and Report |
| Block without opening chat | 1. WhatsApp → Chats → 2. Long press the chat → 3. ⋮ → 4. Block |
| Block from notification | Long press the WhatsApp notification → tap More options → Block |
| View all blocked contacts | WhatsApp → Settings → Privacy → Blocked Contacts — shows all blocked numbers, tap to unblock |
| What happens when you block on WhatsApp | Blocked person cannot call you, send messages or see your last seen, profile photo or status updates. Your messages to them show one tick (not delivered). They are NOT notified of the block. |
TRAI DND — Block Spam and Telemarketing Calls India 2026
TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) DND (Do Not Disturb) registration stops telemarketing calls and SMS on your Indian mobile number. All Indian telecom operators — Jio, Airtel, BSNL, Vi — are required to honour DND registrations.
| Method | How to Register DND India | Time to Take Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Call 1909 | Dial 1909 from your Indian mobile → Follow IVR instructions → Select “Do Not Disturb” registration → Choose Full DND or category-specific | 7 working days |
| SMS method | Send SMS: START 0 to 1909 (blocks all commercial calls) or START followed by category code for specific categories | 7 working days |
| TRAI DND App | Download TRAI DND app from Play Store or App Store → Register using your mobile number → OTP verification → select DND preferences | 7 working days |
| Operator website | Jio: jio.com/dnd | Airtel: airtel.in/dnd | BSNL: bsnl.co.in — register with your mobile number | 7 working days |
| Report violation | If you still get spam calls after DND: SMS COMP followed by the spam number and date to 1909. Telecom operator is penalised. | Complaint investigated in 7 days |
Truecaller — Best Spam Blocker for India 2026
| Feature | Truecaller Free | Truecaller Premium (₹529/year) |
|---|---|---|
| Caller ID | ✅ Identifies most Indian numbers including spam | ✅ Same + business name display |
| Auto spam block | ✅ Blocks known spam automatically | ✅ Advanced spam AI block |
| Who viewed my profile | ❌ Not available | ✅ See who searched your number |
| Ad-free | ❌ Has ads | ✅ No ads |
| Number lookup | ✅ Limited | ✅ Unlimited searches |
| Best for India spam | ✅ Free version sufficient for most users | Only if you need premium features |
Step 1: Register on TRAI DND by dialling 1909 — stops all telemarketing calls legally
Step 2: Install Truecaller — auto-identifies and blocks known scam numbers from its 400 million+ database
Step 3: Use your phone’s built-in block feature for specific numbers that get through
This 3-layer approach virtually eliminates spam calls on Indian mobile numbers. Used by millions of Indians including Kerala users and Gulf Malayalee NRIs with Indian numbers.
Common Questions — Blocking Numbers India 2026
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Does blocking a number notify them? | No. The blocked person is never notified. They may hear ringing that never connects, go to voicemail, or hear “number not available” — depending on your carrier. They do not know they are blocked. |
| What happens to their calls when I block? | Their calls go directly to voicemail (if enabled) or get a busy/unavailable tone. SMS messages are silently discarded — not delivered to you. WhatsApp messages show one grey tick only (sent but not delivered). |
| Can I block a number without calling them first? | Yes. Android: Phone app → Settings → Block numbers → add manually. iPhone: Settings → Phone → Blocked Contacts → Add New. WhatsApp: Settings → Privacy → Blocked Contacts → Add. |
| How to block +91 numbers from UAE? | On UAE phone: use the same Android/iPhone block method. The +91 country code is included automatically — block the full international format number. |
| Can I block a WhatsApp number but not their regular calls? | Yes. WhatsApp block and phone block are separate. You can block on WhatsApp only (through WhatsApp settings) without affecting regular phone calls. |
| How to block SMS spam in India? | SMS block: iPhone — Messages → message thread → tap sender → Block. Android — Messages app → open message → ⋮ → Block. Also register DND via 1909 to stop commercial SMS. |
| How many numbers can I block? | Android: no practical limit. iPhone: no practical limit. WhatsApp: no stated limit. TRAI DND blocks all commercial numbers via the DND registry rather than individual blocks. |
| How to unblock a number? | Android: Phone app → Settings → Blocked numbers → tap X next to number. iPhone: Settings → Phone → Blocked Contacts → swipe left → Unblock. WhatsApp: Settings → Privacy → Blocked Contacts → tap contact → Unblock. |
Block Spam Calls from UAE Numbers — Gulf Malayalee NRI Guide
Gulf Malayalee workers in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait receive spam calls on both their UAE numbers and Indian numbers. Here is the complete blocking guide for both:
| Number Type | Spam Type | Best Block Method |
|---|---|---|
| UAE mobile number (+971) | UAE loan offers, insurance spam, scam calls | Block via phone’s built-in block function. Du and Etisalat UAE also have spam reporting — dial 102 (Du) or 101 (Etisalat) |
| Indian number (+91) receiving UAE spam | Scam calls from +971 numbers | Block via phone settings + report to TRAI if from Indian telecom. Install Truecaller for automatic identification. |
| WhatsApp spam from unknown UAE/India numbers | Fake job offers, investment scams targeting Gulf Malayalee workers | Block in WhatsApp + report spam. Never click links from unknown WhatsApp senders. |
| KYC update scams (fake SBI/HDFC calls) | Callers claiming to be bank officials asking for OTP or card details | Block immediately + report to bank’s official fraud helpline (SBI: 1800-11-2211, HDFC: 1800-202-6161) |
| Fake loan recovery calls | Aggressive callers threatening legal action for loans you did not take | Block + report to TRAI via 1909. These are illegal — you can file complaint with police cybercrime cell at cybercrime.gov.in |
To block a number on Android in 2026 open the Phone app and go to the Recents tab. On Samsung One UI 7 long press on the number and tap Block or Report spam then confirm. On stock Android (Pixel) tap the number then tap the three dot menu and select Block number. On OnePlus long press the number and select Add to Blacklist. On Xiaomi long press and tap Add to Blocklist. You can also block numbers proactively without waiting for a call by going to Phone app Settings and finding Block numbers or Blacklist where you can manually type any number to block. The blocked number will not be able to reach you and will not be notified that they are blocked.
To block a number on iPhone running iOS 18 in 2026 open the Phone app and tap Recents at the bottom. Find the number you want to block and tap the information icon (ⓘ) on the right side of that number — not the number itself. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and tap Block this Caller in red text. Tap Block Contact to confirm. You can also block from the Contacts app by opening a contact and scrolling to the bottom to find Block this Caller. To manage all blocked numbers go to Settings, then Phone, then Blocked Contacts. To block numbers proactively without receiving a call first go to Settings then Phone then Blocked Contacts then Add New.
No. When you block someone on your phone they are never notified that they have been blocked. The blocked person will experience one of these outcomes when trying to call you: they may hear the phone ring a few times before going to voicemail, they may get a busy signal, or they may hear a message saying the number is not available — this varies by carrier and settings. Their SMS messages are silently discarded without being delivered to you. On WhatsApp blocked contacts see their messages show only one grey tick (sent) rather than two ticks (delivered) — but there is no explicit notification that they are blocked. There is no way for a blocked person to definitively confirm they are blocked versus you simply being unavailable.
To stop spam calls in India in 2026 use these three methods together. First register on TRAI DND (Do Not Disturb) by dialling 1909 from your Indian mobile or using the TRAI DND app — this stops all commercial and telemarketing calls within 7 working days and is legally binding on all Indian telecom operators including Jio, Airtel, BSNL and Vi. Second install Truecaller which identifies and automatically blocks known spam numbers from its database of over 400 million identified numbers — the free version is sufficient for most users. Third use your phone’s built-in block function for any specific numbers that still get through. Report persistent spam callers to TRAI by sending COMP followed by the number and date to 1909.
To block spam calls on WhatsApp open the WhatsApp app and go to the Calls tab. Tap on the spam call entry to see the number. Tap Block and Report to both block the number and report it to WhatsApp. Alternatively open the chat from the unknown number and tap the contact name at the top of the screen then scroll down and tap Block. You can also enable Silence Unknown Callers in WhatsApp Settings under Privacy and Calls — this silences WhatsApp calls from numbers not in your contacts without completely blocking them. To see and manage all blocked contacts in WhatsApp go to Settings then Privacy then Blocked Contacts.
TRAI DND stands for Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Do Not Disturb registry. It is a mandatory registry maintained by the Indian government where you can register your mobile number to stop receiving commercial calls and SMS from telemarketers. All Indian telecom operators including Jio, Airtel, BSNL and Vi are legally required to block calls to DND registered numbers from commercial senders. To register: dial 1909 from your Indian mobile and follow the IVR instructions, or send SMS START 0 to 1909 for full DND, or download the TRAI DND app from Play Store or App Store. DND takes effect within 7 working days. If you continue receiving spam after 7 days report the violation by sending COMP followed by the caller number and date to 1909.
To block a UAE number (starting with +971) on your Indian Android phone open the Phone app go to Recents tap on the call from the UAE number and use the block option from the menu (varies by brand as shown in the guide above). On iPhone tap the ⓘ next to the UAE number in Recents and scroll down to Block this Caller. UAE numbers starting with +971 are blocked just like Indian numbers — include the full number with country code. Truecaller also identifies many UAE-based spam numbers. If you are a Gulf Malayalee worker receiving scam calls from UAE numbers targeting Indians, also report to UAE’s Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) at tdra.gov.ae.
To unblock a number on Android go to the Phone app then Settings or the three dot menu and find Blocked numbers or Blacklist depending on your phone brand. Find the number you want to unblock and tap the X or Remove button next to it. On Samsung One UI 7 go to Phone app then the three dots menu then Settings then Block numbers and tap the minus button. On iPhone go to Settings then Phone then Blocked Contacts. Find the blocked number in the list and swipe left on it then tap Unblock. On WhatsApp go to Settings then Privacy then Blocked Contacts tap the contact you want to unblock and tap Unblock. After unblocking the person can call and message you normally again.
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Post by Robins Antony, Tech Writer, Webova Soft, Changanacherry, Kerala. Steps verified on Android 15 (Samsung One UI 7, stock Android Pixel), iOS 18.1 (iPhone), WhatsApp version 2.26 and Truecaller version 24 in October 2026. Phone interface changes with app updates — if steps differ slightly the block function is always accessible via the ⋮ menu in the Phone app. For TRAI DND registration visit trai.gov.in. Report cybercrime at cybercrime.gov.in.
