What happens when you call someone and you are blocked

It's easy to communicate with people anywhere in the world. You don't have to wait for the mail delivery. Instead, you can send a text message. However, people can cut communication quickly by blocking a phone number from an unwanted sender. And this can happen without you knowing. While the best way of knowing if someone is avoiding you is by asking them directly, there are other ways to find out.

How to know if someone blocked your number

When someone blocks you, you don't receive a notification of the action. Still, there are a few key signs. For example, a phone call that goes straight to voicemail instead of ringing many times. You do not want to trust this, because the recipient may have their phone turned off or they're on another phone call. You can leave a voicemail, but the recipient does not receive notification of the message if you're blocked. Another example is when you receive an automated message that the recipient is unavailable. The odds are the recipient blocked you.

Attempt text messages

iOS and Android phones work in different ways with their messaging services. iMessage makes it easier to know if someone blocked you. On Android, it depends on the recipient's phone and message type.

How to tell if you're blocked on your iPhone

iMessage uses two notifications to let senders know when message delivery and reading occur. One notification says "delivered" and the second says "read." While not a surefire way of knowing, they are among the methods available. It's possible the recipient is out of signal range or has their phone off. Still, there are other ways to find out if someone has blocked your number on iMessage.

How to tell if you're blocked on Android

Android phones use a service that doesn't notify you of the delivery or reading of messages. Therefore, a text message is not an ideal way of determining if blocking has occurred. If you send a text and don't hear back, they may not be able to respond or do not care to respond.

Similar to the iPhone, it's best to wait a few days to see if you get a response. If you still don't hear from the recipient, try a different method to determine if blocking occurred.

Attempt calling on iPhone or Android

Calling is an easier way to determine if someone blocked your number. First, call from your phone number. If the call goes to voicemail, listen to the message. If you receive a message that the number is unavailable, it generally means the recipient blocked you. If you don't, the recipient may not be in signal range or their phone is turned off.

In this case, your next option is to call from a different phone number or use *67 to hide your number. If the call goes through on that number, blocking may have occurred. You don't need to talk to the person, but rather see if it rings more than once.

Can you know for sure?

There's no clear way to use your phone to determine if someone blocked you. You'll see signs, such as undelivered messages and straight-to-voicemail phone calls. The only way to ensure someone blocked you is to find out from the recipient. Either ask them yourself or talk to a mutual friend.

The Do Not Disturb settings silence all calls and text messages unless the recipient has set a contact or application as an exception. This means the recipient still receives notifications of a call, but the notifications won't make a sound. The purpose of this setting is to allow people to get work done and only be disturbed by important notifications or calls.

Android has a setting that allows calls to come through if the caller phones twice in less than 15 minutes. You can use this to determine if you are blocked, but only if you know the recipient has the Repeat callers setting turned on.

Airplane mode on the phone also disables the recipient's Wi-Fi, data, cellular, and Bluetooth connections. This setting prevents them from receiving text messages or phone calls until they turn off the setting. It prevents people from emitting signals that interfere with piloting equipment. However, some use this to preserve battery life on their phones. Many people also use it while traveling to prevent roaming charges when they are outside their service areas.

Call, text, or walk away?

The short answer is that there is no definite way of determining if you've been blocked without talking directly to the person in question. Sure, there will be a few signs, namely silence from the person in question. Even if you purchase one of the best Android phones, you will remain blocked unless you change your number.

It is difficult to tell if your number has been blocked or not. For example, you notice that your messages go undelivered, or your calls aren’t going through. However, a few signs can tell you if someone has blocked your number or not.

For whatever reason you have been blocked, please remember to respect the other person’s privacy. The methods we would describe below are non-intrusive. Here’s what happens when you call someone who blocked you.

Observe how quick you go to voicemail:

When you call someone who blocked you, you won’t get any notification about it, but there might be a change in the ring pattern. When you call a number that isn’t blocking you, you’ll get about five to 12 rings before it reaches voicemail. If the phone is turned OFF or on another call, your call heads directly to voicemail.


However, when you call a number that has blocked you, it rings once and then takes you straight to voicemail. You can leave a voicemail, but it won’t go directly to the receiver’s inbox. So, if you can get multiple rings, it means you haven’t been blocked, and if it rings once and goes straight to voicemail, you know you’ve been blocked.


In addition, if the prerecorded voice message that says the number is “unavailable,” it could indicate that your number has been blocked, but this varies with the recipient’s network provider.

Try to send a text message:

You can know whether a number has blocked you when you text the number, although this method works better on iOS devices than Android. When you send a text on iOS devices, you get two notifications below the text bubble: “Delivered” or “Read.” These are self-explanatory.


However, if the recipient has blocked you, neither notification will show. Note that notification might not indicate if the recipient’s phone is on Do Not Disturb. Only when they have turned it off will it show.

Calling from another phone:

The most straightforward solution is to call the number from another number. You don’t have to wait till the recipient picks; you have to see how quickly it takes to reach voicemail.

How to tell if someone blocked your number from texting on Android:

It is harder to tell when someone blocks your number on Android from texting because Android devices do not have the “Read” and “Delivered” features. Therefore, if you send a text and don’t get a reply back, it is likely you have been blocked.

Another method is to delete their contact information. After deleting it, try to search for their contact. If their name comes up as a suggested contact, you most likely haven’t been blocked. However, if their name doesn’t come up, there’s a possibility you have been blocked.

Try to text them on WhatsApp. If your text gets just one tick beneath, it could indicate you have been blocked on WhatsApp and their phone.

Turn OFF your Caller ID and try to call them. If the receiver picks up or the phone rings normally without immediately directing you to voicemail, you have been blocked.

When you block a caller, do they know?

No, they won’t be notified if you’ve blocked them. If they try to call you, your phone won’t ring, and their calls will go straight to voicemail. Their calls might go through if they hide their Caller ID. When they try to send you texts, it won’t deliver, although it would look like it has been sent. If they use iOS devices, they won’t get the “Read” or “Delivered” notification under their text bubble.

Can you leave a voicemail if your number is blocked?

When you call someone you blocked, it goes straight to voicemail. However, it doesn’t go straight to the recipient’s inbox. Instead, it is stored somewhere else. You have to make sure the person’s contact is still saved to access this voicemail. On your iPhone:

  • Open your Phone app.
  • At the bottom right of your screen is the voicemail option. Tap it.
  • Scroll down till you see Blocked messages and open it. If you do not see Blocked Messages, no blocked number has sent you a voicemail.
  • Tap the message to listen to it, delete it, or get a transcription (this doesn’t work for every message).

What happens if you Facetime someone who blocked you?

It’s a little hard to tell when you call someone that has blocked you on Facetime. When you try to Facetime someone that has blocked you, your phone rings while nothing happens on the receiver’s side, it will continue to ring until you end the call. But this also occurs when the network is poor, so like I said, it is a bit harder to tell on Facetime. You can try other methods to verify.

Read also: If Someone Blocked Me Will They Still Get My Texts?

Will FaceTime still ring if blocked?

If you have blocked someone and they try to call you on Facetime, your phone won’t ring, but it will ring on theirs. You will receive no notification. The same will happen when you call someone who has blocked you on Facetime.

How to block calls on iPhone:

Open the Phone app, and do any of these two things:

  • Choose Favorites, Recents, or Voicemail. Next, tap the More info button beside the number or contact you want to block, scroll down the options then block the number.
  • Open the Contacts app, choose the contact you want to block, scroll down the options and choose Block this Caller.

How to block calls on Samsung:

  • Go to the Phone app.
  • Choose More Options, the three vertical dots, then tap Settings.
  • In the option that shows, choose Block numbers. Select Add phone number, then input the phone number you want to block.
  • Last, tap the + icon to add the number to your list of blocked numbers.

I can’t call a specific number, but they can call me – Things to check

  • If the block were put on your number in the caller’s Dialer or Contacts app, the block would only work when you call them. They can still call you.
  • You can verify if you’ve been blocked on the other person’s phone. If you haven’t, try restarting each other’s devices and trying again.
  • Check if “Call forwarding” is enabled on both devices. If it is, disable them. Then, open the Menu icon in the Phone settings and select Settings. Next, scroll down to More Settings and open it. You should see Call Forwarding there.
  • Try deleting the contacts from each device. Then, restart the devices, add the contacts afresh and try again.
  • If none of the methods work, try to contact your network provider.

Here are some similar pieces:

  • How to Text Someone Who Blocked You on Android & iPhone Apps
  • What does Message Blocking Is Active Mean on Android
  • You Have Been Blocked From Originating Messages to ### Response – Working Fixes
  • I Keep Getting Dirty Texts From Random Numbers – Here’s What I Do

John follows everything happening in the tech industry, from the latest gadget launches to some of the big-name moves in the industry. He covers opinionated pieces and writes on some of the biggest names in the industry. John is also a freelance writer, so he shares articles on freelancing every now and then. email:

Can you tell if someone blocked your number?

The simplest way to tell if you have been blocked by an Android user is to call,” Lavelle says. Just like with an iPhone, listen for it to be diverted to voicemail or play you a pre-recorded message.

Can you still call someone if they blocked you?

To call someone that blocked your number, disguise your caller ID in your phone settings so the person's phone doesn't block your incoming call. You can also dial *67 before the person's number so that your number appears as "private" or "unknown" on their phone.

What does a blocked caller hear when they call you?

If your Call Block setting is set to Block Calls, the blocked caller hears nothing as they are immediately disconnected. If your Call Block setting is set to Sends Calls to Voicemail, the blocked caller will be able to reach your voicemail box. No notification is given to them that they have been blocked.

What happens when you call someone who blocked you on iPhone?

When calling from the blocked number, the caller hears either one ring, or no rings at all, but the other phone remains silent. The caller is then informed that the recipient isn't available, and is diverted to voicemail (if that service is set up by the person you're calling).