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Title: How to use call screening on an iPhone

Date: Sun, 02 Nov 2025 13:00:41 +0000
Link: https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/h...

Spam and scam calls are some of the most annoying things we all have to deal
with when it comes to our phones. AppleΓÇÖs iOS 26 update takes a firm step
toward solving this problem with Call Screening, a new feature designed to
filter unknown numbers before you ever pick up the phone. Once itΓÇÖs
activated, your iPhone can automatically answer calls from numbers not saved
in your contacts, ask the caller to identify themselves and display a real-
time transcription of their response on your screen. You can then decide
whether the call is worth taking, effectively cutting off spam before it
reaches you.

This feature blends convenience and privacy by keeping all processing on the
device rather than sending data to the cloud. ItΓÇÖs a logical evolution from
earlier tools like Silence Unknown Callers, but this time it allows for a
more conversational gatekeeping system that mirrors the experience of live
voicemail. HereΓÇÖs how to turn on Call Screening on your iPhone.

Checking compatibility and updating to iOS 26

Call Screening is available to anyone with an iPhone capable of running iOS
26, which includes models from the iPhone 11 onward. To access it, you first
need to make sure your device is running the latest version of the software.
You can check this by opening Settings, selecting General and tapping
Software Update. If you see that iOS 26 is available, download and install it
before continuing.

This step is essential because Call Screening is only available within the
redesigned Phone app introduced in iOS 26. Once your device is updated, the
feature becomes accessible through the appΓÇÖs settings menu, ready to be
switched on.

How to turn on Call Screening

To enable Call Screening, start by opening the Settings app on your iPhone.
Scroll down until you see Apps then tap to open the list and select Phone.
Within the Phone settings, look for the section labeled Screen Unknown
Callers. This is where youΓÇÖll find the new options introduced with iOS 26.

Apple gives you a few choices here. If you select Never, every call will come
through as usual, even from numbers that arenΓÇÖt saved to your contacts. The
Ask Reason for Calling option activates the new screening feature, prompting
unknown callers to state who they are before you see the transcription on
screen. The Silence option, meanwhile, sends unknown numbers directly to
voicemail without ringing your phone at all.

To use Call Screening, tap Ask Reason for Calling. Once you back out of the
Settings app, the feature will be active. From that point forward, any call
from an unfamiliar number will automatically be filtered through AppleΓÇÖs
new screening system.

What Call Screening actually does

When Call Screening is turned on, your iPhone will automatically step in
whenever a call arrives from a number it doesnΓÇÖt recognize. Instead of the
phone ringing immediately, the caller hears an automated message that asks
them to state their name and reason for calling. Their response is converted
into text in real time, which appears on your screen while the call is still
active. You can read their answer, assess whether the call looks legitimate
and choose whether to pick up or ignore it.

If the call comes from someone in your contacts list, the process doesnΓÇÖt
activate at all, meaning known callers and recent outgoing numbers will
continue to ring normally. The feature simply adds a layer of defense between
you and unwanted interruptions, allowing genuine callers through while
stopping random or suspicious ones before they take your attention.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at
https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/h...
iphone-130041744.html?src=rss

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