With the release of Apple's new iOS 7 operating system, millions of iPhone owners are now able to block annoying callers for the first time.
So how do I start blockin'?
The easiest way to block an individual is through their contact card. Open the contact info of someone you want to block -- an obnoxious ex, your cable company's robo-caller, that rando who keeps butt-dialing you -- and scroll to the bottom of the screen. There, you will find a button to block them. Tapping this button will prevent the person from being able to call you, send you text messages, or reach you over FaceTime.
So I have to add someone to contacts to block them?
Not if they've recently called or texted you. Looking at a text message thread, for example, you can simply access a person's contact card through the lowercase 'i' in a circle icon. Look for the block option at the bottom of the page. Likewise, you can bring up the contact info for anyone in your recent calls list.
You can also find a list of the shunned under Phone options in the Settings menu.
Let's say I block someone. Can they tell?
Yes. When they call you, they'll hear a few rings interrupted by a busy signal. We've tested this with an iPhone running iOS 6, an Android phone, and a landline. If you're getting a busy signal from an iPhone, you've probably been blocked.
Here's what it sounds like: You've Been Blocked
What about texts?
If you're sending a text, it will look like it was delivered. If you're sending a message to someone who has blocked you, and you're using iMessage, it will say "delivered" -- exactly like a text that went through.
And FaceTime?
If someone you've blocked tries to FaceTime you, they'll see what looks like a normal request to chat over FaceTime on their end, but it will never connect and it will ring indefinitely. You won't notice anything.
OK, I blocked my mortal enemy. Can I still contact him/her/it?
Yes. iPhone blocking goes one way. You can continue to call them, text them, troll them, whatever.
If your blocking victim uses Apple's read receipts, you won't receive them post-block. They won't see yours either.
Whenever this creep calls, his number is blocked. Can my iPhone help?
Unfortunately, no. Even if you've blocked the caller's number, if he uses services like Star-67, it will still make your phone ring. The call will show up on your phone as "No Caller ID."
I've had a change of heart about the whole blocking-you thing. Now I want to read the messages I missed.
Too bad! They're lost to the ether. You can't get them back even if you unblock the sender.
I get my iMessages on my Mac. Are those blocked too?
Nope. There's currently no way to block someone from iMessaging your Mac -- the iPhone block feature seems to be tied to the physical device, not your SIM, and not your Apple ID or iCloud account. This also means that even if you've associated email information with a blocked contact, the iPhone won't block their emails.
I guess that makes sense. Thanks for the tip! I'm going to go block my ex, then tweet out the screenshot.
Not so fast. Because the block button is at the bottom of the contact screen, there is no way to simultaneously capture both the contact name and the fact you're blocking them. However, there is a workaround. If you access the contact through the messages app, their name will be up at the upper left hand corner, inside the back button.
Sure, it's not the most emphatic blocking, but it'll do for a quicky social media post.
