Apple has taken a significant step towards combating spam calls with the introduction of Call Screening in its latest iOS 26 update. This new feature not only filters out unknown numbers but also prompts callers to identify themselves in real-time, displaying their response on your screen for you to assess whether the call is worth taking.
To access this feature, your iPhone must be running iOS 26 and capable of supporting models from the iPhone 11 onwards. Before enabling Call Screening, ensure that your device is updated to the latest version of iOS, as the feature only becomes accessible within the redesigned Phone app introduced in iOS 26.
The process is straightforward: open Settings > General > Software Update, check if iOS 26 is available and install it. Once your device is up-to-date, navigate to the Phone settings menu, where you can select Screen Unknown Callers.
Within this section, Apple provides three options for handling unknown calls: Never, Ask Reason for Calling, or Silence. The Ask Reason for Calling option activates the screening feature, prompting callers to state their name and reason for calling before your iPhone displays their response on screen. If you choose this option, tap it to enable Call Screening.
When a call from an unfamiliar number arrives, your iPhone will automatically filter it through Apple's new screening system. The caller will hear an automated message asking them to identify themselves, while you can read the response in real-time and decide whether to pick up or ignore the call.
One key aspect of Call Screening is that it doesn’t affect known callers or recent outgoing numbers. If a call comes from someone in your contacts list, the feature won't activate, ensuring that genuine callers continue to ring normally.
By introducing this new feature, Apple has taken a logical step towards mitigating spam calls while maintaining user convenience and privacy.
To access this feature, your iPhone must be running iOS 26 and capable of supporting models from the iPhone 11 onwards. Before enabling Call Screening, ensure that your device is updated to the latest version of iOS, as the feature only becomes accessible within the redesigned Phone app introduced in iOS 26.
The process is straightforward: open Settings > General > Software Update, check if iOS 26 is available and install it. Once your device is up-to-date, navigate to the Phone settings menu, where you can select Screen Unknown Callers.
Within this section, Apple provides three options for handling unknown calls: Never, Ask Reason for Calling, or Silence. The Ask Reason for Calling option activates the screening feature, prompting callers to state their name and reason for calling before your iPhone displays their response on screen. If you choose this option, tap it to enable Call Screening.
When a call from an unfamiliar number arrives, your iPhone will automatically filter it through Apple's new screening system. The caller will hear an automated message asking them to identify themselves, while you can read the response in real-time and decide whether to pick up or ignore the call.
One key aspect of Call Screening is that it doesn’t affect known callers or recent outgoing numbers. If a call comes from someone in your contacts list, the feature won't activate, ensuring that genuine callers continue to ring normally.
By introducing this new feature, Apple has taken a logical step towards mitigating spam calls while maintaining user convenience and privacy.
I'm so hyped about Apple's new Call Screening feature! It's like they're finally taking the whole "spam call" situation seriously 
. I mean, who hasn't had to deal with those annoying robotic messages asking you what number you're calling? 
Now, we can say goodbye to those pesky calls and hello to a more private and secure iPhone experience! 
The fact that it doesn't mess with known contacts or outgoing numbers is like, totally genius. I'm loving this move by Apple and can't wait to see what other cool features they have up their sleeve! 
another thing to deal with on my phone... I mean, who thought it was a good idea for automated messages to be going out? It's just gonna make me more annoyed when I'm already stressed about all the spam calls I get 
. And don't even get me started on how long this is taking to roll out... iOS 26 and still no word on when I can expect it on my older iPhone 
.
. The views were stunning and I saw so many beautiful wildflowers blooming everywhere. It made me realize how much I need to spend more time outdoors, you know? Like, what's this thing called "balance" in life if we're just stuck inside staring at our screens all day? Anyway, back to spam calls... yeah, that's a big deal for anyone who's ever gotten those annoying robocalls.
according to a recent study, 70% of americans have reported receivin spam calls in the past month alone 
. that's a lot of ppl gettin hit with annoying robocalls! 
meanwhile, since ios 26 dropped, i've seen a significant reduction in my own spam call notifications 
! I was driving along and saw this tiny little café that had the best avocado toast EVER 
. I swear, it was love at first bite 
. Anyway, back to spam calls... yeah, it's getting out of hand 
. But hey, if Apple can make tech easier for us, then yay! iOS 26 is like the new season of Stranger Things – I'm both excited and a little worried about what other surprises they have in store 
.
. The colors were insane! Anyway, back to these new features... have you guys noticed how often you're missing calls because they go straight to voicemail? Like, what if it's someone important trying to reach you? 
Call Screening seems like a game-changer, but I'm still skeptical about the whole "ask reason for calling" thing... can you imagine if someone tries to scam you with a fake story? 
I'm glad Apple is taking action against those annoying spam calls! 
It's about time we have more control over our phone experience. The way Call Screening works sounds super convenient - just tap to enable it and let the automated system do its thing. 
It's also good to know that known contacts won't get affected, so we can still make legitimate calls without any issues. Overall, I'm a fan of Apple taking steps to protect its users from spam. 
! I'm so hyped for this update, it's like a breath of fresh air 
! call screening is literally going to change my life - no more creepy random numbers ruining my day 
. thanks, guys! 
. It raises questions about who's really calling whom - are these automated calls from spammers or is it just people trying to get their voices heard in the noise? 
And what does this say about our society that we need a feature like Call Screening to filter out legitimate calls from spam? Shouldn't we be working on building trust and transparency instead of relying on technology to save us from ourselves? 
and now Apple's got a solution for it 
. Not sure if this will make all my friends 
because we always have those funny conversations lol. Anyone tried this out yet? 
. No more unwanted calls from random numbers 
. It's so simple to set up too, just go to Settings > General > Software Update and install iOS 26. Then, in the Phone settings menu, select Screen Unknown Callers and choose what you want to do with those pesky unknown callers 
. And let's be real, who hasn't had a call from a random number and just hung up because they didn't want to deal with the drama 
The fact that it doesn't affect known callers or recent numbers is a nice touch too, it shows they care about our actual friends and family. Apple's really stepping up their game with this new feature, I'm loving it! 
. plus, it's awesome that known contacts are still unaffected, so my fam won't have to deal with any funny calls 
. kudos to apple for prioritizing our sanity and security