How to Stop Spam Calls: Block Robocalls on Any Phone

How to stop spam calls: the quick checklist

If you want to know how to stop spam calls for good, the honest answer is that no single setting does it. The FTC says some robocalls still get through call blocking, and Google notes its call screening cannot detect every spam call. Layers work best:

Turn on the spam filter built into your phone.
Turn on your carrier's spam blocking or call labeling.
Register your numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry.
Block numbers that keep calling.
Hang up on robocalls without pressing anything.
Report illegal calls to the FTC and the FCC.

How to stop spam calls with your phone's built-in filters

Both major phone systems include free settings. Menu names change between software versions, so check your phone maker's help page if a screen looks different.

iPhone: go to Settings, tap Apps, then Phone. Under Screen Unknown Callers, choose Ask Reason for Calling, which asks callers why they are calling before your phone rings, or Silence, which sends numbers that are not in your contacts to voicemail. Under Call Filtering, turn on the spam filter. Screening pauses for 24 hours after you call emergency services (Apple's guide).
Android with the Phone by Google app: open the Phone app, tap More options, then Settings, then Caller ID and spam. Spam protection is on by default. You can also turn on Filter spam calls: you will not get missed-call or voicemail alerts for them, but they stay in your call history (Google's guide).
Pixel phones: Call Screen can answer unknown callers and ask who is calling and why; some other Android phones offer manual screening.
Other Android phones: many makers ship their own phone app; look in its settings for spam or caller ID protection.

Silencing unknown callers has a cost: the pharmacy, the school and the doctor's office go to voicemail too. Save those numbers in your contacts and check voicemail regularly.

Block spam calls with your carrier's tools

Your wireless carrier can stop many calls before they reach you. Under FCC rules, carriers may block calls from invalid or unassigned numbers without asking you, and may block calls their analytics flag as unwanted as long as you can opt out. Many also label calls as “Spam” or “Scam Likely.”

AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon each offer spam call filtering, and the FCC's Call Blocking Tools and Resources page links to step-by-step guides for each, plus guides for iPhone and Android. The FTC notes that some carrier services are free and others cost extra, so check what your plan already includes before you pay for an upgrade.

Block a number that keeps calling

When the same number calls again and again, block it:

iPhone: open Recents, tap the info button next to the number, then Block Caller. A blocked caller can still leave a voicemail, but you will not be notified (Apple's steps).
Phone by Google app: tap the call in your history, then Block or Report spam. You can block and report the number at the same time.
Home phone: ask your provider how to block specific numbers. The FTC notes that built-in block lists may have a limit.

Blocking one number is a small fix. Spammers rotate through many numbers and often spoof them, so a block list alone will not keep up. The filters above matter more.

Robocall blocker apps and devices: what to check

If built-in tools are not enough, a robocall blocker can add another layer. The FTC's guide to blocking unwanted calls describes three kinds:

Call-blocking apps for cell phones filter calls using data from users, the FTC and other sources. They can block calls, let them ring silently or send them to voicemail. Some are free and some charge a fee.
Services for internet-based home phones (VoIP), which cable and internet bundles often include, can stop, silence or divert calls. Ask your provider which one it supports.
Call-blocking devices for traditional landlines attach to your phone. Some use databases of known scam numbers; others rely on your own list. Some ask callers to press a number before the call goes through, which screens out many robocalls.

Before you install or buy one, check the price and renewal terms and whether it wants access to your contacts; the FTC suggests reading the privacy policy. Any blocker can stop a call you want, so keep an eye on voicemail.

Does the Do Not Call Registry stop spam calls?

Partly. The National Do Not Call Registry tells legitimate telemarketers not to call you. It does not block calls, and scammers ignore it. Still, the FTC says it can reduce sales calls and make scam calls easier to spot.

It is free and covers cell phones and home phones. Register at DoNotCall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you want to register.
Timing: your number usually shows up the next day, but sales calls can take up to 31 days to stop. Registration does not expire.
Still allowed: political, charity, debt collection, purely informational and survey calls, plus companies you recently did business with or gave written permission. If you ask a company to stop calling, it must.
Recorded sales calls are illegal without your written permission, whether or not you registered.

The FCC adds that many states run their own do-not-call lists; your state's consumer protection office can tell you how to join. The FTC's Do Not Call FAQs cover the details.

STIR/SHAKEN in plain words

STIR/SHAKEN is the caller ID check phone companies run behind the scenes. When a call starts, the caller's carrier digitally “signs” the caller ID. The carrier that delivers the call checks that signature, so it can tell whether the call really comes from the number shown. The FCC requires most providers to use it.

What it means for you: spoofed calls are easier for carriers to catch, block or label. What it does not mean: it works on internet-based (IP) networks, so calls through older equipment may not be checked the same way, and a call from a genuine number can still be a scam. Treat it as one more filter, not a guarantee.

When a spam call gets through: hang up, then report it

If you pick up and hear a recording or a pitch, hang up. Do not press a number to “speak to someone” or “get off the list.” The FTC says that usually leads to more robocalls, and the FCC warns scammers use the trick to find live targets. Avoid yes-or-no questions too: the FCC's scam glossary describes callers who ask “Can you hear me?” hoping to record a “yes” and use it to authorize charges.

Then report the call. Reporting is part of how to stop spam calls for everyone: the FTC releases reported numbers every business day to help phone companies block them.

Unwanted sales calls or robocalls, no money lost: report at DoNotCall.gov.
You lost money or have details about the scammer: report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Illegal robocalls or spoofing: use the FCC Consumer Complaint Center and choose unwanted calls. The FCC does not resolve individual complaints, but uses them to guide policy and enforcement.

Include the number that called, the caller ID number, any callback number, and the date and time, even if you think the caller ID was faked. To dig into one specific caller, see who called me; for scam texts, see scam text messages.

Where Aya fits

Spam filters silence calls that many people have already flagged. Aya Scam & Privacy Lookup, from ASL, is meant for the call that still gets through. You enter a U.S. number and confirm a lawful reason, and Aya checks it against the independent phone-data sources connected to the service, keeping each source's answer separate.

You get a risk score and an evidence score, each from 0 to 100, with the reasons and a plain next step. When nothing reliable comes back, Aya says unknown instead of guessing. On Android, it can also screen incoming calls against allow, warn, silence and block rules that you set and that are kept on your phone. Your own rules win over any shared list.

Aya does not replace your carrier's spam blocking or the steps above, and it cannot prove who called. It runs on the web and on Android 8.0 or newer. There is no free plan: the Android app is free on Google Play, but you need an account, lookups use paid credits, and packs start at $9.99. See how Aya works.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a free way to block spam calls?

Yes. Your phone's built-in spam filter, a block on individual numbers and the Do Not Call Registry cost nothing. The FTC notes that some carrier tools are free and others cost extra, so check before you subscribe.

How do I stop spam calls on a landline?

The steps for how to stop spam calls on a landline differ a little. Register the number at DoNotCall.gov, ask your phone provider about its blocking services, and consider a call-blocking device that attaches to your phone. If your home phone runs over the internet, your provider may offer an online blocking service.

Does a robocall blocker stop every robocall?

No. Blockers rely on reports and call patterns, and new or spoofed numbers can slip through. Some may also block calls you want, so check voicemail now and then.

Can Aya stop spam calls?

Aya is built to research the call that gets through, not to replace your phone's or carrier's spam filter. On Android you can set your own allow, warn, silence and block rules, which win over any shared list. It cannot catch every spam call or prove who called.

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