Unknown Callers? iPhone Can Now Screen and Filter Calls Automatically
iPhone’s iOS 26 smart feature screens unknown calls automatically. Avoid spam, robocalls, and manage incoming calls with ease.
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iPhone users now have a new option to manage unwanted calls with the introduction of an AI-based call screening feature in iOS 26. The function is designed to reduce spam calls and robocalls, which continue to frustrate many mobile users.
The feature is available on iPhone 11 and newer models after updating the device to iOS 26. Users can activate it by going to Settings > Apps > Phone and selecting the Screen Unknown Callers option. The menu offers three settings: Never allows all calls through, Silence sends unknown calls to voicemail, and Ask Reason for Calling prompts the caller to identify themselves before the user decides to answer.
Some users may need to adjust their device’s region and language settings for the option to appear. For example, a device previously set to Hong Kong required switching to a current region, such as the United Kingdom, for the feature to show up.
Once enabled, unknown callers hear a Siri-like voice requesting their name and reason for calling. The user receives a notification showing the transcription of the caller’s response in real time. They can then decide whether to pick up, respond with a pre-set message like “I’ll call you later,” or type a custom message for the AI to read aloud. The call continues ringing until the user takes action.
The feature offers a middle ground between silencing all unknown callers and letting them all ring through. Users report mixed experiences: some praise its efficiency in filtering marketing and cold calls, while others note problems with essential calls being missed, such as those from delivery services or repair technicians. Misidentification of callers has also caused occasional confusion, as some callers provide the recipient’s name instead of their own.
Users can disable call screening at any time in the settings.
Apple’s move mirrors similar technology already present on other platforms. Google’s Pixel phones have offered automated call screening in the US, with recent expansion to Australia, Canada, and Ireland. Google’s system can reject suspected spam automatically while letting legitimate calls through, though it may not catch all junk calls or accurately transcribe responses.
Samsung Galaxy users also have AI-assisted call screening through Bixby’s Text Call feature, which operates in a comparable manner to Apple and Google’s solutions.
