Silence Unknown Callers on iPhone: The Ultimate Guide
Unwanted calls can be a real nuisance, but blocking or silencing your phone isn't always the best solution. So, what's the alternative? Enter “Silence unknown callers” on iPhone. This feature, introduced in iOS 13 and still available in newer versions, automatically filters and silences calls from numbers that aren't saved in your contacts. In this comprehensive guide, we'll find out what Silence unknown callers is all about and how you can make the most of it.
What Is Meant by Silence Unknown Callers on iPhone
Silence unknown callers is a handy feature that automatically silences calls from numbers that aren't saved in your contacts. If you often receive calls from unfamiliar numbers, you know how frustrating it can be to put your phone on silent and potentially miss important calls from people in your contacts. This is where Silence unknown callers comes to the rescue. It filters out calls from unknown numbers, ensuring that your phone remains silent only for those calls that don't matter to you.
What Happens When You Silence Unknown Callers on iPhone
When you enable the Silence unknown callers feature, any call from a number that isn't saved in your contacts will be silenced on your iPhone. The phone will still ring, but you won't hear the ringtone. You'll see the missed call notification and find the call in your recent calls history. You can choose to call back if necessary, or the call will automatically go to voicemail if enabled. It's important to note that this feature doesn't apply to calls from apps like FaceTime or WhatsApp. But you can definitely learn how to silence FaceTime calls.
Silence Unknown Callers vs Do Not Disturb
Do Not Disturb mode, or the Focus profiles introduced in iOS 15, silences not only calls but also notifications from all apps on your phone. While you can customize Do Not Disturb mode to allow calls from certain groups or favorite contacts, it still affects all other app notifications. On the other hand, Silence unknown callers only silences regular phone calls from unknown numbers without affecting other calling apps or any other app on your phone. It provides a more targeted solution to handle unwanted calls.
Silence Unknown Callers vs Block
Blocking someone is a more drastic measure to completely stop calls from that person. When you block a person, your phone won't ring, and you won't hear the ringtone when they call you. However, the blocked person will know that something is wrong since the calls won't connect. Silence unknown callers, on the other hand, silently filters and silences calls from unknown numbers without informing the caller. It's a more subtle approach to dealing with unwanted calls.
How to Enable or Disable Silence Unknown Callers on iPhone
Enabling or disabling the Silence unknown callers feature on your iPhone is a straightforward process. Follow these steps:
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Go to Phone and tap on Silence unknown callers.
- Enable the toggle next to Silence unknown callers to enable the feature, or disable it by turning off the toggle.
How to Add a Silence Unknown Callers Shortcut
Unfortunately, iOS doesn't provide a direct way to enable or disable the Silence unknown callers feature from Control Center. However, you can use a Shortcut to quickly turn it on or off. Here's how:
- Install the Apple Shortcuts app if it's not already installed on your phone.
- Open the Silence unknown callers shortcut link on your iPhone and tap on the Add Shortcut button.
- Launch the Apple Shortcuts app and find the SUC shortcut under the My Shortcuts tab. Touch and hold it, then select Details from the menu.
- Tap on Add to Home screen, followed by Add on the next screen.
- The shortcut will be added to your home screen. Tap on it to open the Silence unknown callers setting screen, where you can easily toggle the feature on or off.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- How to Fix Silence Unknown Callers Not Working Issue?
If you're still receiving calls from unknown numbers despite enabling the Silence unknown callers feature, make sure the number isn't in any of your emails or messages. Also, ensure that you haven't contacted them from your end. If that's the case, clear your recent calls history. - Can You Call People Whom You Have Silenced?
Yes, you can call the silenced numbers. They will appear in your Recent calls, allowing you to contact them. However, once you've contacted them, they will no longer be silenced.
Know iPhone Notification Settings
While the Silence unknown callers feature focuses on muting unknown numbers, there are other notification settings on iOS worth exploring. Learn how to silence specific notifications on iOS and gain a better understanding of the various notification settings available on your iPhone.
Silence unknown callers on iPhone offers a simple yet effective way to filter out unwanted calls from unknown numbers. By enabling this feature, you can regain control over your phone and only receive calls that truly matter to you. Say goodbye to the annoyance of unwanted calls and enjoy a more peaceful phone experience.

Jim's passion for Apple products ignited in 2007 when Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone. This was a canon event in his life. Noticing a lack of iPad-focused content that is easy to understand even for “tech-noob”, he decided to create Tabletmonkeys in 2011.
Jim continues to share his expertise and passion for tablets, helping his audience as much as he can with his motto “One Swipe at a Time!”