iPhone Call Screening filters unknown numbers and transcribes responses in real time.
Spam and scam calls are blocked while important calls still come through.
Operates on-device, preserving privacy without sharing call data with Apple servers.
With iOS 26, Apple has introduced a significant new iPhone feature designed to address the growing issue of unwanted calls. The spam call blocking feature on iPhone is designed to automatically block unwanted calls, allowing only important communications to reach the user. This update substantially realigns smartphone design thinking. It shifts the outlook from constant connectivity to providing controlled access.
The new Call Screening feature serves as a virtual gatekeeper for unwanted calls. When an unknown number tries to call, the iPhone can automatically answer and ask the caller to identify themselves and specify the reason for their call. The response from the caller is typed out live on the screen, providing a choice to accept or reject the call.
Unlike most third-party applications, this feature is purely on-device, so neither call data nor transcripts are transmitted to Apple servers. This system strikes a balance between convenience and privacy, aligning with the company’s commitment to securing user data.
Spam and scam calls have been a persistent issue worldwide, and India’s no different. A recent report from Truecaller states that Indian users receive an average of 16 unwanted calls per month. Most of them are generated by automated bots claiming to be banks, insurance companies, or other reputable institutions, posing a dual threat of both annoyance and security risk.
Before this, iPhone users had to use alternatives like Silence Unknown Callers, manual blocking of numbers, or third-party software like Truecaller or Hiya. Effective as they were, in some cases, they led to genuine calls being missed. The new iPhone Spam Call Blocking feature fills this void by enabling spam to be filtered without cutting off vital communications.
Enabling the feature is easy. Here are the steps to set up spam call filtering on iPhone:
Update the device to iOS 26.
Go to Settings > Phone > Screen Unknown Callers.
Tap ‘Ask Reason for Calling’ to enable live screening.
A more stringent control option, Silence Unknown Callers, diverts all calls from unsaved numbers straight to voicemail. This multi-layered setup ensures that spam calls are filtered out without requiring user intervention.
iOS 26 has numerous characteristics that improve communication. One of the major benefits is that the Phone application now combines the Favorites, Recents, and Voicemail sections into a single interface to make calls more straightforward to manage.
Hold Assist is another new feature, which keeps track of callers who have been placed on hold and informs the user once a human representative picks up. Furthermore, it can sometimes transcribe parts of missed calls, thus taking the burden off the user to listen to recordings or write notes.
These breakthroughs not only reflect Apple’s strategy of functional and user-oriented innovations but also its commitment to excluding flashy features for clarity and efficiency.
Also Read: Apple’s Secret Weapon in iOS 26? A Powerful New ‘Preview’ Tool - Learn How It Works
Call Screening is a handy and mostly reliable feature that still provides undesirable consequences. The feature has the potential to falsely identify calls coming from new clients, courier services, or hospitals with unknown phone numbers, or simply mute them. Still, the feature that shuts off all notifications and the event itself does not migrate to the system log, and there is no indication that it has occurred; the calls keep the problem by not getting the notice.
Additionally, performance relies partly on the support of telecom carriers. Some Indian networks are not yet fully capable of supporting sophisticated spam labeling for unfamiliar numbers, thereby curbing the feature’s ability to recognize every spam call.
Also Read: Apple Removes ICEBlock App as Trump Administration Targets Immigration Enforcement Trackers
Google’s Pixel devices introduced a verbal Call Screening feature years ago, where the Assistant takes the call directly and converses with the caller. Apple does this more discreetly: it transcribes the answer on-device rather than having a conversation.
While not as conversational, it offers strong privacy protections and lets users screen calls effectively without exposing sensitive information. The new feature highlights the tech giant’s commitment to integrating innovative technology to enhance user experience while ensuring data security.
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1. What is iPhone Call Screening feature?
When enabled, Call Screening does the speaking for you, answers unknown callers, provides you with a transcript, and finally offers the option of either accepting or discarding the call.
2. How does iPhone Spam Call Blocking work?
After toggling ON, this feature will block the numbers that are not in your contact list. The user can still keep her/his phone silent and let only the ones important to them ring, which can lead to an increase in focus and privacy.
3. How do I enable spam call filtering on iPhone?
First, simply update the device to the latest iOS version, then it is a matter of going through the steps of activating the said feature, which begins with going to Settings > Phone > Screen Unknown Callers and then selecting 'Ask Reason for Calling' as the final step.
4. Will Call Screening block legitimate calls?
It could be the case that some unsaved numbers, like first-time clients or retailers delivering packages, might experience being put on hold or silenced, so it's a good idea to check ‘Recents’ from time to time.
5. How is Apple’s feature different from Android’s?
Apple on-device transcription vs. Google AI Assistant direct call, the former is more like a passive screening experience, while users can have a little chat, while the latter is busy doing the screening.