How to unblock a number on iPhone 7

Tap Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts. Swipe right to left across the number, then tap Unblock.
To unblock people who text you: Go to Settings > Messages > Blocked Contacts. Swipe right to left on the number and tap Unblock.
To unblock a contact: Go to the Contacts app. Tap the person's entry, then tap Unblock this caller.

This article explains how to unblock a contact on the iPhone and iPad. Instructions apply to iOS 11 and up (and iPadOS 13 and up). The exact menu names may be slightly different for different OS versions, but the basic steps still apply.

If you previously blocked a number on your iPhone or iPad, here's how to unblock the number so that the contact can call, text, and FaceTime you again:

Tap Settings > Phone. On an iPad, which doesn't use the Phone app, tap Settings > FaceTime.
Tap Blocked Contacts (on older versions of the OS, tap Call Blocking & Identification).
In the Blocked Contacts list, swipe right to left across the number, then tap Unblock.

If you blocked someone in Messages to prevent the person from text messaging you, you can unblock the number in Messages settings you they can text you again.

Open Settings and tap Messages.
Scroll down and tap Blocked Contacts (on older OSes, this is just Blocked).
Swipe right to left on the number you want to unblock and tap Unblock.

If the blocked number belongs to someone in your Contacts list, unblock the number from their listing in Contacts. Go to the Contacts app and find the person's entry. Tap it.

Then scroll to the bottom of the person's contact information and tap Unblock this Caller.

Using the call-blocking feature built into iPhone and iPad to block a contact is quick and straightforward, but it's not the only way to block numbers. Most phone companies offer a service—sometimes for a fee, sometimes free—that you can use to block phone numbers. If you've blocked phone numbers that way, the steps earlier in this article won't work for you. Those only apply to numbers blocked on your Apple device using the built-in features.

If you used your phone company's call-blocking service and want to unblock a number, call the phone company or try its online help or iPhone app (if there is one). The phone company can unblock the number for you.

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Blocking a number or contact on your iPhone is easy to do, and it's equally easy to unblock that number or contact should you need to. Jaap Arriens/Getty

There are many good reasons to block a phone number or contact on your iPhone.

Maybe you're screening every call you get and blocking the spam calls as they come in. Maybe you don't want texts from friends popping up on your screen while you're at work. Or maybe you don't want a certain ex to be able to contact you anymore.

The good news is that blocking a contact takes only a few seconds. The better news is that blocking a number isn't permanent, so if you change your mind, you can undo the blocking. In fact, unblocking a number is even easier than blocking it in the first place.

Before we get to that, though, let's make sure we're on the same page as to what blocking callers really does.

A blocked iPhone number can't call you. And they can't FaceTime you or text you, either. But it doesn't mean the shunned caller has no way to get in touch, because they can still leave a voicemail.

In fact, when a blocked number calls you, your phone routes it immediately to voicemail, but your iPhone will not send you an alert that you have a new voicemail message.

Rather, the blocked caller's voicemail will remain in your inbox until you go in and and delete it.

First, you have to consider whether you are unblocking a number that is in your contacts, or simply in your recent call list. Here's how to do both.

Unblock a number in your contacts

1. Open the green-and-white Phone app on your screen and navigate to the "Contacts" tab.

2. Find the particular contact you're looking for and open it.

3. Scroll to the bottom to find the words "Unblock this Caller" in blue, and tap those words.

Tap "Unblock this Caller." Steven John/Business Insider

If you blocked a recent caller who's not in your contacts and now regret that decision (maybe you do want that dental insurance plan all of a sudden), here's what to do.

1. Find the number under the "Recents" tab of your Phone app.

2. Tap the corresponding blue "i" in the blue circle on the far right of that number.

Tap the "i" next to the number you'd like to unblock. Steven John/Business Insider

3. Scroll down to find "Unblock this Caller" in blue, and tap it.

You're done — those blocked contacts are now unblocked.

Steven John

Freelance Writer