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To screen unknown callers on an iPhone running iOS 26, go to Settings > Apps > Phone and select Ask Reason for Calling. The iPhone asks an unknown caller for more information before it rings; you can then review the caller’s response and decide whether to answer.

Turn on Call Screening

  1. Open Settings on your iPhone.

  2. Tap Apps, then Phone.

  3. Under the unknown-caller options, choose Ask Reason for Calling.

With this option enabled, an unknown caller is asked to provide information before the phone rings. After the caller shares their name and reason for calling, the iPhone rings and shows the response so you can decide what to do. No separate caller-identification app is required for this setting, according to Apple’s iPhone User Guide.

Choose how unknown calls are handled

The three choices in the unknown-caller options produce different results:

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Setting What happens Best fit
Never Call Screening is off; calls from unsaved numbers ring normally. You want unknown calls to ring without screening.
Ask Reason for Calling The caller is asked for more information before the iPhone rings. Once they respond, you can review the information and decide whether to answer. You want to hear why an unknown caller is calling before answering.
Silence Calls from unsaved numbers are silenced, sent to voicemail, and shown in Recents. You do not want unknown calls to ring, but want them routed to voicemail.

Understand the other call filters

Call Screening is not the same as the separate Unknown Callers or Spam filters. Apple describes their effects as follows in its iPhone call-screening and blocking guide:

  • Unknown Callers: Filters calls from unknown numbers out of Recents and places them in the Unknown Callers list.

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    CPR V100K Call Blocker for Landline Phones - Requires Caller ID
    • REDUCE UNWANTED CALLS & TAKE BACK CONTROL – The CPR V100K helps reduce unwanted spam, scam and robocalls on your landline. Known nuisance numbers in the preloaded database are blocked automatically, while new unwanted callers can be blocked at the touch of a button.
    • 100,000 KNOWN NUISANCE NUMBERS PRELOADED – Includes a large database of known nuisance numbers for immediate protection. The database contains reported nuisance numbers from across the USA and is not a list of 100,000 numbers specific to your local area.
    • BLOCK NEW CALLERS WITH ONE TOUCH – Scam callers frequently change or spoof their phone numbers, so no call blocker can stop every unwanted call automatically. When a new unwanted number gets through, simply press the large red BLOCK NOW button to prevent repeat calls from that number. Store up to 10,000 additional numbers.
    • SIMPLE TO USE – NO APP OR SUBSCRIPTION – Connect the V100K to your compatible landline and start taking control of unwanted calls. No app, Wi-Fi, monthly subscription or external power supply required. The large display and tactile BLOCK NOW button make it particularly easy to use.
    • IMPORTANT COMPATIBILITY INFORMATION – Requires an active Caller ID service. Designed for compatible traditional analog landline services. Not compatible with many internet-based or digital VoIP telephone services. Please check your telephone service before ordering.
  • Spam: Silences calls the carrier identifies as potential spam or fraud, sends them to voicemail, and moves them to Spam.

These options affect how calls are filtered or listed; they are not the control for enabling Ask Reason for Calling. iPhone can also identify callers using information from Apple Business Connect, supported carriers, and supported caller-identification apps. Those identification features are adjacent to Call Screening, not a stated prerequisite for it; availability and capabilities depend on the supported service or app.

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Pocket AI Voice Recorder, Auto Transcription, AI Note Taker, Baby Pink
  • YOUR AI PERSONAL ASSISTANT FOR EVERYDAY PRODUCTIVITY: More than a voice recorder, Pocket works as your AI personal assistant to capture, transcribe, and summarize meetings, calls, and ideas instantly. Core features are included out of the box, with optional advanced tools available for power users.
  • ONE-TAP RECORDING FOR REAL-LIFE MOMENTS: Capture meetings, phone calls, and in-person conversations instantly with a simple tap, no typing, no interruptions, just effortless note-taking anywhere you go.
  • SMART AI INSIGHTS & ORGANIZATION: Pocket automatically turns recordings into clear summaries, key action items and structured conversation maps so you can quickly review what matters without digging through audio.
  • TURN CONVERSATIONS INTO ACTION WITH “ASK POCKET”: Don’t just record, understand. Instantly ask questions across your meetings, extract key insights and generate next steps in seconds. All grounded in your recordings, so answers stay accurate and reliable.
  • MAGSAFE COMPATIBLE FOR SEAMLESS USE: Easily attach Pocket to your iPhone or other MagSafe compatible devices for convenient, hands-free recording on the go. Perfect for capturing meetings, calls, and ideas without needing to hold your device.
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What to know before relying on screening

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