Blocking phone numbers on iPhones is straightforward — until you realize you actually want to *receive* calls from one of those blocked contacts. Kind of weird, but sometimes that happens. Usually, blocking is a one-way street; the blocked number can’t reach you, but you can’t easily “unblock” them without digging through the settings. This guide walks through how to reverse that, whether the number is saved in your contacts or just sitting in your recent calls. Because of course, iPhone’s interface isn’t always super intuitive for this stuff, so here’s what works. You’ll find different methods depending on if the number is saved or just lurking in your call history. The main goal is to remove that number from the block list so calls can finally get through.
How to Unblock a Phone Number on an iPhone
Unblocking a Saved Contact
This only makes sense if the number is already saved in your contacts. If you’ve previously blocked it, you’ll need to go back and unblock it. Why? Because the block list is separate from your contact list, but to manage blocked numbers easily, the Contacts app or Phone settings are the way to do it. On some setups, this might not seem super obvious and can get kinda frustrating. You might need to check the Phone app or go directly into Settings > Phone.
- Open the Phone app.
- Tap the Contacts tab.
- Start typing the contact’s name or phone number—quickly enough to avoid scrolling endlessly.
- Find the contact, then tap to open the info page.
- Scroll down and look for Unblock this caller — if it’s there, give it a tap.
This usually unblocks the contact, letting their calls come through again. Fair warning — if you’re dealing with multiple blocked contacts, you’ll have to repeat this for each one. On some versions or setups, this menu might not show the unblock option, and you’ll need to go deeper into Settings. That’s where Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts comes into play.
Unblocking an Unsaved Number from Recent Calls
This one’s useful for numbers you don’t have saved in your contacts but have blocked via the recent calls list. For some reason, iOS keeps blocked numbers in a separate list only accessible through settings, but you can unblock directly from there. Here’s how:
- Launch the Phone app.
- Switch to the Recents tab.
- Scroll to find the suspected blocked number or contact.
- Tap the ‘i’ icon next to it.
- Scroll down and tap Unblock this caller.
And just like that, calls from that number should start ringing through again. Not sure why this is way more convoluted than it needs to be, but that’s Apple for ya. Just a side note — sometimes the unblock doesn’t happen immediately, and you might need to restart your phone or toggle airplane mode for good measure.
Viewing and Managing Blocked Numbers via Settings
If you’re the type to want a clear view of all blocked numbers, or if the previous options don’t do the trick, the Settings route is solid. This is especially handy if you want to unblock one or two numbers without fussing with contacts or call logs. Here’s the quick way:
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap Phone.
- Tap Blocked Contacts.
- You’ll see a list of all blocked numbers. Tap Edit in the top right corner.
- Tap the ‘-’ button next to the number you want to unblock.
- Tap Unblock on the confirmation prompt.
- Hit Done once finished.
Super straightforward, even if the interface feels a bit cluttered sometimes. Just remember, this doesn’t remove the contact from your phone, it just lifts the block. Many people don’t realize you can re-block the number later if needed, which can be handy for spammers or telemarketers.
On some setups, especially if your iPhone hasn’t been updated recently, these options might look slightly different or be hidden under different menus. But overall, these methods are the most reliable. Bottom line — it’s a bit of a puzzle sometimes, but if you know where to look, unblocking a number isn’t a big deal anymore.