Discover Who’s Calling: Your iPhone Can Screen Calls for You
▼ Summary
– iOS 26 introduces an “Ask Reason for Calling” feature that intercepts unknown calls and asks callers to identify themselves before your phone rings.
– When an unknown caller responds, their answer is transcribed to text on your screen, allowing you to decide whether to accept or decline the call.
– This feature improves upon the “Silence Unknown Callers” option by letting legitimate callers identify themselves while discouraging spammers.
– To enable it, go to Settings > Apps > Phone and select “Ask Reason for Calling” under the “Screen Unknown Callers” section.
– iOS 26 also offers alternative options for unknown callers: “Silence” sends them to voicemail, and “Never” lets all calls ring through normally.
Letting your iPhone screen calls for you transforms how you handle unwanted interruptions. The “Ask Reason for Calling” feature in iOS 26 acts like a personal assistant, intercepting unknown numbers before your phone ever makes a sound. Callers hear a polite automated message requesting their name and purpose, while you see a live transcription of their reply on screen. This gives you the power to accept the call, send it to voicemail, or ask for additional details before deciding.
This method represents a significant improvement over simply silencing all unknown callers. Previously, legitimate calls from doctors, delivery services, or new business contacts might have gone straight to voicemail unnoticed. Now, these important callers can identify themselves, while robocallers and telemarketers typically disconnect when they hear the automated prompt.
Activating this function is a straightforward process. Navigate to your iPhone’s Settings, scroll to find the Phone app settings, and select it. Inside, locate the “Screen Unknown Callers” section. Tapping on “Ask Reason for Calling” enables the feature immediately. Once active, any number not saved in your Contacts will be screened using this new system.
For those who prefer different approaches, iOS 26 provides additional choices for managing unknown numbers. The Silence option directs all unsaved numbers directly to voicemail without ringing your phone, though these calls will still appear in your recent call list. Alternatively, selecting the Never option allows all calls to ring through normally, which is the standard iPhone calling behavior without any screening.
To switch between these settings, revisit the Phone section within your Settings app. Under the “Screen Unknown Callers” menu, you can select the option that best fits your needs. Keeping your Contacts list current is essential for the “Ask Reason for Calling” feature to work effectively. Any number stored in your address book will bypass the screening process entirely and ring through normally, ensuring you never miss a call from someone important.
(Source: Mac Rumors)
