The constant ringing of spam calls can quickly become a daily nuisance for smartphone users. Learning how to stop spam calls on iOS and Android devices is crucial in safeguarding the privacy and maintaining peace of mind. This comprehensive guide will explain the various methods for halting unwanted calls and helping users regain control over their communication devices.
Curbing Spam Calls on iOS
There are several ways to stop spam calls on iOS devices. These include enabling the Silence Unknown Callers feature and utilizing third-party applications.
Activating “Silence Unknown Callers”
Utilizing call blocking applications
Third-party applications offer advanced filtering options to prevent spam calls. Some popular iOS call-blocking apps include Nomorobo , Hiya , and Truecaller . These apps employ robust algorithms to identify and block unwanted callers, providing additional protection.
Most of these tools will take your reports of specific phone numbers and share them with other users. That way, if the crowd community identifies a specific phone number used recently to contact the majority of their users, upon reporting it, other users will benefit and start blocking automatically these numbers before they can even place a call.
Mitigating spam calls on Android
Android users have more luck than iOS users when it comes to blocking spam calls. This is because Android devices come equipped with built-in spam call protection and users can also employ third-party applications to minimize unwanted calls.
Enabling spam call protection
Android devices often come equipped with built-in spam call protection. To enable this feature, check your device’s Phone app in the Settings for an option potentially called “Caller ID & Spam”. This is often available in major brands such as Samsung, LG, OnePlus, and Google Pixel. The later, however, has a more advanced spam call protection feature called Call Screen.
Blocking specific numbers
Android users can block individual numbers to stop unwanted calls. To do this, navigate the call log, long-press on the offending number, and find an option called Block/report spam.
This feature is often available in the built-in Phone and Dialer app that comes with your phone. If you have a custom dialer, it might also have this feature, but it’s not guaranteed.
Be cautious when using third-party dialers with a call screening feature, since they might upload your entire phone book to their servers automatically.
Leveraging third-party applications
Like iOS, Android users can also employ third-party applications like Hiya , Truecaller , and Call Control to minimize spam calls. These apps utilize crowd-sourced data and proprietary algorithms to block or filter unwanted calls. The same word of advice applies to Android users as it does to iOS users.
Pixel-specific Screen Call Features
Google Pixel devices come equipped with a built-in spam call protection feature called Call Screen . This feature allows users to screen calls before answering them. To enable it, follow the steps below:
- Open the Phone app
- Tap the three-dot menu, then Settings, then Spam and Call Screen
- Make sure the “See caller and spam ID” is turned on
- Tap on “Call Screen”
- Under “Unknown call settings” that the types of callers you’d like to screen
- To screen automatically, choose “Automatically screen. Decline robocalls.” Otherwise you can choose between:
- “Ring phone”; or
- “Automatically screen. Decline robocalls”; or
- “Silently decline”
You can optionally have the call be recorded automatically during screening by turning on the “Save Call Screen Audio”.
Reporting Unwanted Calls
iOS and Android users in the United States can also report spam calls to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) using the “National Do Not Call Registry” website . This will help the FTC identify and take action against scammers. This will also ensure that legitimate businesses can query the database to see if you have agreed to be contacted by phone about unsolicited offers.
In Canada, users can report spam calls to the DNCL - National Do Not Call List . This will help the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre identify and take action against scammers as well.
Other countries might have their own “Do Not Call” registries. You can check with your local government to see if there is one in your country.
To recap, spam calls can be curbed on iOS and Android devices by utilizing built-in features and third-party applications and reporting unwanted callers to relevant authorities. Implementing these measures will help users regain control of their communication devices and protect their privacy from unsolicited calls.
