Make it so that my iPhone does not disturb me with phone calls from unidentified call

[danklim]

Hey, is there any way make it so that my iPhone does not disturb me with phone calls from unidentified callers? I often get calls from random telemarketers when I’m listening to music and it interrupts my listening experience. I want to make it so that, if the caller is not in my contacts, then my phone will not ring or stop my music (just like how it works when the phone is on “do not disturb” mode, then I can check the missed call or voicemail later if it is something important). Is this possible? How? Thanks.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Telemarketers are very annoying, especially with the spoofing of the first 6 digits of your number to make it look like someone around you is calling. You can use a number of third party software to do the various types of blocking you want. Some have the ability to block anyone not in your contact list. Others will block known spam numbers and also the "neighbor spoof" calls. I used to get a lot of those neighbor spoof calls, and installed an app that blocks that specifically and have not gotten a single one through.

In my case, my number is based out of a town I lived in 15+ years ago, so I shouldn't be getting any calls from that area on a routine basis, so blindly blocking them all has been great. I went from getting 3-5 calls a day to none at all for the past few weeks since I blocked them.

 

[ferrarr]

Have you tried turning off Notifications fo the Phone?

 

[IWT]

@danklim

I don't know if this will fulfill all your needs, but you can use Do Not Disturb and its options.

In settings > Do Not Disturb > Allow Calls From > and here you have a number of choices. If you select Favourites, then ONLY calls from Favourites can get through.

For this to work, of course, you have to mark which numbers from within Contacts that you would be happy to receive a call from. They don't have to be favourites in the familiar sense, simply calls, say, business, work related (and no doubt family as well).

You can amend this list, adding or deleting, very easily. So, if on a particular day, you wouldn't want to miss a call from a shop, estate agent, car insurance firm etc, just make sure these numbers are in Contacts and add them as favourites. Remove them from Favourites when you no longer need them.

Another option under the Do Not Disturb heading is turning on "Repeated Calls". This is really only for family or close friends. You tell them, if it's urgent, to phone you twice within 3 minutes. The first call is blocked , the second gets through.

So there are some ideas that might be worth considering.

Ian

 

[pm-r]

Have you tried turning off Notifications fo the Phone?

What about just turning the iPhone Off completely, i.e.: just shut it down, then just sit back, relax and completely enjoy the music???




- Patrick
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[ferrarr]

What about just turning the iPhone Off completely, i.e.: just shut it down, then just sit back, relax and completely enjoy the music???




- Patrick
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I assumed they were listening to the music on the phone. The phone ring mutes the music, and Notifications do, as well.

 

[pm-r]

I assumed they were listening to the music on the phone. The phone ring mutes the music, and Notifications do, as well.

OK, that makes sense thanks Bob. I never thought one actually did that for any serious listening. ;-)

I guess I'm not understanding why their “do not disturb” mode is not working for them properly, unless it's like as Ashwin described, but it seems like most options should work as Ian described if enabled.





- Patrick
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[ferrarr]

Do Not Disturb, is a scheduled thing (bedtime) or while driving. I've never thought of turning it on, while I was viewing a movie, or listening to music, but that's a good idea.

 

[pm-r]

Do Not Disturb, is a scheduled thing (bedtime) or while driving.

I guess I should take a look at my wife's 6S at some point and learn how some of it's features work. But maybe it's too old and doesn't have any of the recent features.

But I would've thought such a feature would have been pretty basic. Sort of like leaving the old landline phone in the 70s± off-hook. Or am I dating myself too much?





- Patrick
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[ferrarr]

If it's been updated to a newer iOS version, 11 or 12, then it will have most of the modern features. Yes, do not disturb, is like taking the phone off the hook, I hadn't thought of it in that respect. For me, because there was the scheduled time, I left it at that, and didn't think to use to suit my needs/usage.

 

[MacInWin]

In addition to Do Not Disturb, there is an app named Hiya that is pretty good, and will allow you to direct the phone to ignore any number you want. It comes with a list of known spammers and you can add locals as they call you. One and done.

 

[pm-r]

It sure seems the "Do Not Disturb" setting sure has some options that should work for the OP:

Use Do Not Disturb on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch
https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT204321
https://smallbusiness.chron.com/happens-put-iphone-not-disturb-mode-71152.html

or more with:
iPhone using "Do Not Disturb"
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=iPhone+using+"Do+Not+Disturb"&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8





- Patrick
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