How to Block Numbers on Your Apple Watch – A Step-by-Step Guide
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Are you getting calls on your Apple Watch that you'd rather not deal with?
Whether it's a persistent telemarketer, a spam call, or someone you just don't want to speak to anymore, Apple gives you the power to manage your peace of mind right from your wrist.
So sit tight, because I'm about to walk you through how to block those pesky numbers directly from your Apple Watch, step-by-step. Let's get into it.
How to Block Numbers Directly on Your Apple Watch
If you're an Apple Watch user, you'll be glad to know that blocking contacts isn't limited to your iPhone or iPad.
You can also block them directly from your wrist using specific apps on your Apple Watch.
Here's how:
1. How to Block Numbers via Contacts
Open the Phone App
On your Apple Watch, click on the digital crown to bring up the app view, then tap on the phone icon to open the Phone app.
Access Your Contacts
Once you're in the Phone app, tap on 'Contacts'. This will display a list of all your contacts.
Select the Contact to Block
Scroll through your contacts until you find the person you want to block. Tap on their name to open their contact information.
Block the Contact
After selecting the contact, scroll down until you see 'Block Contact' and tap on it. Voilà! You've successfully blocked this contact.
2. How to Block Numbers via Messaging App
Open the Messages app on your Apple Watch
Start by launching the Messages app on your Apple Watch.
You can do this by pressing the digital crown, which will show you all your apps.
Locate the Messages app and tap to open it.
Find the conversation with the contact you want to block
Once inside the Messages app, scroll through your conversations to find the specific one with the contact you wish to block.
Tap on the conversation to open it.
Open the chat details
With the conversation open, you'll need to access the chat details.
To do this, swipe down to the bottom of the screen where you'll find the 'Details' option.
Tap on 'Details' to proceed.
Block the contact
After tapping on 'Details', you'll be taken to a new screen with more information about the contact.
Scroll down to the bottom of this screen, and you'll see the 'Block this Caller' option.
Tap on it to block the contact.
3. How to Block Numbers via Recents
Open the Phone App
Start by pressing the digital crown on your Apple Watch, which will display all your apps.
Look for the Phone app, which is green with a white phone icon, and tap on it to open.
Navigate to the 'Recents' Tab
At the bottom of the screen in the Phone app, you'll see a 'Recents' tab.
Give that a tap, and it will pull up a list of all your recent calls.
Pick the Number You Want to Block
Scroll through your recent calls until you find the number you want to block.
Once you've found it, tap on the info icon (it looks like the letter 'i' enclosed in a circle) next to the number.
Choose the 'Block this Caller' Option
After tapping on the info icon, you'll see more options pop up.
One of these options will be 'Block this Caller'.
Tap on that, and voilà! The number is now blocked on your Apple Watch
Note: This third method may not work on certain WatchOS versions.
What to Expect When You Block a Contact/Number
When you block a contact or number on your Apple Watch, you're essentially telling your device that you no longer wish to receive calls or messages from this number. But what does this mean in practice?
Well, when a blocked number tries to call you, their call will be sent straight to voicemail. They won't be able to leave a voicemail, though, so your inbox remains spam-free.
The same goes for messages. If a blocked contact tries to message you, their text won't come through.
iCloud Synchronization
When you block a contact on your iPhone, it should sync across all your Apple iCloud devices.
So if you've blocked someone on your Apple Watch, they should also be blocked on your other devices like the iPhone.
How to Block Numbers on Your Apple Watch Using Your iPhone
1. How to Block Numbers Through the Phone App
Start by Launching the 'Phone' App
On your iPhone, locate the 'Phone' app – it's green with a white phone icon.
Tap on it to open.
Head Over to the 'Recents' Tab
In the Phone app, you'll find a 'Recents' tab at the bottom of the screen.
Tap on it to access your recent call history.
Identify the Number to Block
Scroll through your recent calls and find the number you wish to block.
Once you've found it, tap on the info icon next to the number. This icon looks like a small letter 'i' encased within a circle.
Execute the Block
On the info page, scroll down until you see the option 'Block this Caller'.
Tap on it, and voilà! The number is now blocked not just on your iPhone, but also on your Apple Watch.
2. How to Block Numbers Through the Contact App
Open the 'Contacts' App
Locate the 'Contacts' app on your iPhone – it's grey with a blue person silhouette icon.
Tap on it to open.
Find the Contact You Wish to Block
Within your contacts list, scroll through or use the search bar at the top to find the contact you wish to block.
Once you've located it, tap on it to open their contact details.
Access More Options
On the contact details page, scroll down to the bottom.
You'll see a number of options here.
Block this Caller
Among these options, you'll find one that says 'Block this Caller'.
Tap on it, and a confirmation message will pop up.
Confirm that you wish to block this contact.
How to Unblock Numbers on Your Apple Watch
Before we get into how to unblock numbers on your Apple Watch, let me just say, you can only do this on the iPhone itself.
Sadly, your Apple Watch can't help you out here – it doesn't have this feature yet.
Alright, let's dive in:
Accessing Settings
Start by tapping on the "Settings" icon on your iPhone's home screen.
This will take you to the main settings menu where you can adjust various aspects of your device.
Navigate to Phone Settings
Once you're in the settings menu, scroll down until you find the option labeled "Phone."
Tap on it to access your phone-related settings.
Find the Blocked Contacts List
In the Phone settings, look for the option that says "Blocked Contacts". This is where all the contacts you've blocked are listed.
Tap on it to see the list.
Unblock the Desired Contact
To unblock a number, simply swipe left on the contact.
This will reveal the "Unblock" button.
Confirm Unblock
Tap on the red "Unblock" button to confirm your action.
The contact will now be removed from your blocked list, and you'll be able to receive calls and messages from this number again.
What to Do If Calls/Messages Still Come Through After Blocking
1. Verify Blocking Settings on iPhone
Firstly, ensure you've correctly blocked the contact on your iPhone.
Navigate to your iPhone's settings.
Choose 'Messages' or 'Phone'.
Tap on 'Blocked Contacts'.
Double-check if the number you wish to block is listed. If not, add it.
2. Restart Both Devices
If those blocked contacts are somehow still reaching out to you through your Apple Watch, give both your iPhone and Apple Watch a quick restart. Sometimes, a simple reboot is all it takes to clear up those little hiccups.
3. Remove and Re-add the Number
Another thing you could try is deleting the blocked number from your list and then adding it back. This little trick can give the blocking service a quick refresh and might just fix the problem.
4. Adjust Message Settings on Apple Watch
If you're still having trouble, try tweaking your message settings on your Apple Watch.
Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
Tap on 'My Watch'.
Then tap on 'Messages'.
Finally, select 'Mirror my iPhone'.
This step will ensure that any blocking settings you've got on your iPhone will also work on your Apple Watch.
Conclusion
Managing your blocked contacts list on your Apple Watch and iPhone is pretty simple and vital for keeping control over who can reach out to you.
By following the steps I've shared, I'm confident you'll be able to easily keep those unwanted calls and messages away.
Now, it's your turn. Have you faced similar issues with your Apple Watch or iPhone? Did you find this guide helpful? Or perhaps you have other tricks up your sleeve that you'd like to share?
I invite you to share your thoughts in the comments section below or connect with me on my social media channels.
And remember, sign up for my newsletter for more helpful guides, tips, and updates on all things tech.
Thanks a lot for reading – see ya!
FAQ
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Yes, you can block unknown numbers on your Apple Watch.
However, this action must be performed on your iPhone.
Go to 'Settings' > 'Phone' > 'Silence Unknown Callers' > turn it on.
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Absolutely! The blocked contacts list is shared between your Apple Watch and iPhone.
Therefore, if you block a number on one device, it will automatically be blocked on the other.
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Yes, blocking a number prevents that contact from calling you, sending you text messages, or contacting you via FaceTime.
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While a blocked number can technically still leave a voicemail, you won't receive a notification about it, and it will be stored in a separate section of your voicemail box labeled "Blocked Messages".
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Just like blocking, unblocking a contact must be done via your iPhone. Navigate to 'Settings' > 'Phone' > 'Blocked Contacts'.
Here, you can swipe left on the number you wish to unblock and tap 'Unblock'.
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Yes, when you block a contact on your iPhone, it syncs across all your Apple devices if they are signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID.
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No, currently, there's no feature to block calls from specific apps on the Apple Watch.
You can, however, mute notifications from specific apps.
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No, Apple does not notify the blocked contact that they have been blocked.
They will simply not be able to call you, send you text messages, or contact you via FaceTime.
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