Apple launches a highly effective spam call blocking feature for iPhone.

Apple continues to expand its efforts to protect users from the growing problem of harassing calls, with a new call screening feature integrated into the iOS 26 operating system update.

This is one of the most notable features introduced with the previous release and quickly garnered attention as mobile users grew increasingly weary of automated calls and scams.

How to activate call screening

To experience this tool, users first need to update their iPhone to iOS 26 (supported on iPhone 11 and later).

After the update, accessSetting→Application→Phone, then scroll down to the section "Screen for unknown callers"

Here, Apple offers three control options:

Never:Block all unknown numbers from ringing.

- Silence:Forward unknown calls directly to voicemail.

- Ask why they're calling:An intermediate option is recommended, allowing Siri to ask the caller why they are answering before the user decides to respond.

If users don't see this option, try restarting the device. Some users have also found that regional settings can affect the display of this feature.

How call screening works

This feature acts as a virtual layer of protection between the caller and the recipient.

When an unknown number calls, a voice similar to Siri will ask the caller to state their name and the reason for calling. Meanwhile, the recipient will receive a notification that the call is being screened.

When the caller answers, the response is displayed on the screen, allowing the recipient to read it and decide whether or not to pick up the call.

If they don't want to answer, the caller can choose one of several automated messages such as "I'll call back later" or "Please send more information," and Apple's AI will read this aloud to the caller.

The call recipient can also type their own message for the virtual assistant to read aloud. While the call recipient decides how long it will take, the phone continues to ring, allowing the recipient flexibility in responding.

Although a useful feature, it's still experiencing some minor glitches in its early stages. In theory, it's a balance between muting all unknown numbers and allowing all calls to pass through. But in practice, the feature is not yet perfect.

In reality, there are also cases where legitimate calls are mistakenly filtered, such as from delivery drivers, repairmen, or doctors, who may hang up thinking they're on an automated answering machine.

Apple wasn't the first, but it chose a different path to catch up with Google and Samsung.

Although it's a relatively new feature on Apple's iOS operating system, the idea of ​​call filtering had already been implemented by Google and Samsung.

Accordingly, Google has been rolling out its call screen feature for Pixel users in the US for many years. Last month, the company expanded it to the Australian, Canadian, and Irish markets.

When activated (in Settings → Phone apps → Call Screen), Google Assistant will ask the caller for their identity and reason for calling. If it is determined to be a spam call, the system will automatically disconnect, while legitimate calls will still be transferred to the user.

However, Google also acknowledges that AI cannot detect everything with 100% accuracy and sometimes fails to fully understand what the caller is saying.

Similarly, Samsung has equipped its devices with Bixby Text Call – a feature that allows the Bixby virtual assistant to answer and filter calls on behalf of the user, in a way similar to Apple.

Despite some limitations, the call screening feature in iOS 26 marks a significant step forward in protecting users from spam calls.

Apple is striving for greater automation, making iPhones not only smarter at processing information but also more proactive in protecting users from fraud and harassment.

In the context of a sharp increase in spam calls and identity theft globally, having such a "virtual gatekeeper" would certainly help iPhone users feel more secure whenever their phone rings.