iPhone call screening
How to use the iPhone call screener
The short answer
Go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Screen Unknown Callers and choose Ask Reason for Calling. From then on, when a number that isn’t in your contacts calls, your iPhone answers without ringing, asks the caller’s name and reason, and rings you with their answer on screen.
Checked on iOS 27.0.1 (introduced in iOS 26) · Updated October 18, 2026
- Time
- 1 minute
- Cost
- Free
- Works on
- iOS 26 and later
- Languages
- U.S. English, Spanish
Turn on Call Screening
iOS 26 and later
Apple calls it Ask Reason for Calling. It’s one of three choices for calls from numbers you haven’t saved.
Open Settings > Apps > Phone.
- Settings
- Apps
- Phone
Tap Screen Unknown Callers.
- Phone
- Screen Unknown Callers
Choose Ask Reason for Calling. That’s all: it works from the next call.
- Screen Unknown Callers
- Ask Reason for Calling
From the makers of this guide
Want the calls screened, not just silenced?
PhoneShield answers your calls first. Known scam numbers are refused before your phone rings, the people you know ring straight through, and everyone else is asked who they are and why they’re calling, so your doctor and the delivery driver still reach you.
What happens when a screened call comes in
Your phone stays quiet while Siri, in your iPhone’s language, asks the caller who they are and why they’re calling.
If the caller answers, your iPhone rings and shows their name and reason on screen.
Answer if you want to talk. Otherwise ignore it or let it go to voicemail.
Robocalls and many scammers hang up when asked, so the call never rings at all.
People in your contacts are never screened. Save the numbers of your doctor, pharmacy and school so they ring straight through.
Beyond this setting
What else helps
Add the Spam filter
In the same Call Filtering section, turn on Spam so calls your carrier flags skip screening and go straight to voicemail.
Spam filter steps →Prefer silence?
Choose Silence instead and unknown numbers go to voicemail without ringing. Quieter, but nothing is asked of the caller.
Silence unknown callers →Got a specific number?
Check who’s been reporting it
See how often people reported a number to the FTC, what the calls were about, and what to do, at isthisnumberascam.com.
Questions
What people ask
Does the iPhone have a built-in call screener?
Yes, since iOS 26: Settings > Apps > Phone > Screen Unknown Callers > Ask Reason for Calling. It’s unchanged in iOS 27.
Which iPhones have Call Screening?
It comes with iOS 26 and later. Apple lists no model restriction for the feature itself; iOS 27 runs on iPhone 11, iPhone SE (2nd generation) and later.
Does Call Screening work for people in my contacts?
No. Calls from saved contacts ring normally. Only numbers that aren’t in your contacts are screened.
Can a scammer get past the iPhone call screener?
Yes, by giving a believable name and reason. Screening filters out robocalls and impatient callers; it can’t verify identity. If a caller says they’re your bank, hang up and call the number on your card.
Is Call Screening the same as Silence Unknown Callers?
No. Silence sends unknown callers straight to voicemail without ringing. Ask Reason for Calling asks the caller to explain first, then rings you with their answer.
Sources
Checked against
Every step is checked against the official instructions. Menus change with updates; tell us if one has moved.