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What to Know
- To unblock a number or a contact, navigate to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts or Settings > Messages > Blocked Contacts. Swipe right to left across the number, then tap Unblock.
- To unblock a contact directly from your list, go to the Contacts app, tap the person’s entry, then tap Unblock this Caller.
- If you’ve used your phone company’s service to block a number, contact them or use their online help or app to unblock the number.
The Basics of Unblocking
The instructions provided here apply to iOS 11 and up, as well as iPadOS 13 and up. While the exact menu names might vary slightly across different OS versions, the fundamental steps remain the same.
Unblocking a Number on iPhone or iPad
If you’ve blocked a number on your iPhone or iPad, follow these steps to unblock it:
- Open Settings and tap on Phone. For iPad users, who don’t use the Phone app, navigate to Settings > FaceTime.
- Tap on Blocked Contacts. For older versions of the OS, you’ll find this under Call Blocking & Identification.
- In the Blocked Contacts list, swipe right to left across the number you wish to unblock, then tap Unblock.
Unblocking Text Message Senders
If you’ve blocked someone from sending you text messages, you can unblock them in the Messages settings. Here’s how:
- Open Settings and tap on Messages.
- Scroll down and tap on Blocked Contacts. On older OS versions, this option is labeled as Blocked.
- Swipe right to left on the number you wish to unblock, then tap Unblock.
Unblocking Contacts
If the blocked number belongs to a contact in your list, you can unblock it directly from their contact information. Here’s how:
- Open the Contacts app and find the contact you wish to unblock.
- Scroll to the bottom of the contact’s information and tap Unblock this Caller.
Unblocking a Number with Your Phone Company
Blocking a number using the built-in features of your iPhone or iPad is simple and quick. However, it’s not the only method. Many phone companies offer a service—sometimes free, sometimes for a fee—that allows you to block numbers. If you’ve used this service, the steps mentioned above won’t apply. They only work for numbers blocked on your Apple device using the built-in features.
If you’ve blocked a number using your phone company’s service and now wish to unblock it, you’ll need to contact your phone company or use their online help or iPhone app (if available). They can assist you in unblocking the number.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can you tell if someone blocked your number on iPhone?
If you suspect that someone has blocked your number on their iPhone, the most straightforward way to confirm is to ask them directly. If that’s not an option, one sign of being blocked is if your call goes to voicemail after a single ring. However, this isn’t a definitive sign—you might be sent to voicemail if the person is on another call or if their iPhone is in Do Not Disturb mode.
How do you unblock someone on Facebook on an iPhone?
To unblock someone on Facebook using the Facebook app on your iPhone, navigate to Menu > Settings & Privacy > Settings > Blocking. In the Blocked People section, find the person you want to unblock and select Unblock. Confirm your choice by selecting Unblock again.
With these steps, you can regain control over who can contact you and when. Remember, communication is in your hands—use it wisely!
