iPhone Block Texts But Not Calls (Can You? How?)

As an iPhone user, I have been frustrated trying to figure out how to block certain texts but not calls. After doing some research and testing, I’m here to share with you how I solved this issue as well as other solutions I discovered along the way. So if you’re looking for ways to block texts but not calls on your iPhone, then this post is for you.

Problem	Solution	Alternative Methods
Blocking texts but not calls on iPhone	Not possible using built-in messaging app	Use third-party apps (e.g., Whatsapp, Messenger)
Avoiding unwanted texts	Use Do Not Disturb or Hide Alerts feature	Set a silent notification sound for the contact
Blocking calls but not texts on iPhone	Not possible using built-in phone settings	Use third-party apps
Avoiding unwanted calls	Use Silence Unknown Callers feature	Delete contact and enable Silence Unknown Callers

Table of Contents

Can Your iPhone Block Texts But Not Calls?

Unfortunately, blocking someone’s texts but not their calls using your iPhone’s built-in messaging app isn’t possible.

Once you block a number on your iPhone, both SMS text messages and calls from that number won’t reach your phone.

If your main method of texting isn’t your iPhone’s messaging app, then you’ll have the ability to block a person’s messages on the third-party app you’re using.

That person won’t be able to text or call you using that app, but they’ll still be able to call your number the regular way.

Great third-party apps that have blocking features are Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger, and Skype.

Similar Alternatives

Sometimes, third-party applications aren’t an option. This is true in cases where you and the person you want to block use the iPhone messages app to text.

Although it’s simply not possible to completely block someone’s texts but allow their calls to come in, there are some alternative methods that achieve similar results.

The difference between completely blocking a contact and what these alternative methods do is that the alternatives still allow you to receive texts from a person.

However, by using these methods, you won’t be alerted by your iPhone when you receive unwanted texts.

Here are some of them:

Do Not Disturb

One way you can avoid unwanted texts is the Do Not Disturb feature. In newer versions of iOS, this is called the Hide Alerts feature.

This feature allows you to stop your iPhone from showing any notifications when a certain contact texts you.

To put a contact on Do Not Disturb, simply follow these easy steps:

Open the messages app.

Tap the contact’s conversation.
Bring up the conversation settings for that contact by tapping the top right of the screen.
Tap the Hide Alerts toggle to turn it on.

Once you’ve done this, the person will still be able to call you. Their texts will also reach you, but you won’t see them unless you open the messages app.

Set a Silent Notification Sound

Another nifty workaround you can use to avoid a person’s texts but receive their calls is by setting a custom notification sound for that person’s texts.

Here’s the catch: you can make that custom sound one of complete silence! That way, you won’t be alerted of that person’s texts.

Here’s how you can do this:

Open the Contacts app.
Select the contact you wish to block.

Tap on “Edit” in the top right corner.
Tap “Text Tone.”
Choose a pre-recorded silent sound file.

Tap “Done.”

How to Block Calls But Not Texts

You may also find yourself in a situation where you want to do the opposite, block a person’s calls but not their texts.

Again, this isn’t technically possible. Your iPhone allows you to either fully block both calls and texts, but not one or the other.

However, there are ways to work around this.

Silence Unknown Callers

One method you can use to effectively avoid a person’s calls but not their texts is the Silence Unknown Callers option. This feature allows you to silence calls coming from numbers that aren’t saved in your contacts.

You still get the call, but your phone doesn’t ring or alert you of it in any way. On the other hand, you’ll be alerted of texts from the same number.

To do this, you’ll need to delete the person whose calls you’re trying to avoid from your contacts. Then, open up your iPhone’s settings, select “Phone,” and tap on “Silence Unknown Callers” to enable the feature.

Using Third-Party Apps

The only way to fully block a contact’s calls but still receive texts from them is by using third-party apps such as Whatsapp, Messenger, and Skype. The blocking settings of these apps work independently from your phone.

If you’ve blocked a contact on your iPhone, they won’t be able to call you. On the other hand, they’ll be able to text you on one of the aforementioned apps.

Conclusion

If you were wondering whether an iPhone can block texts but not calls, the answer is no. Your iPhone itself can only block both texts and calls from a certain contact, not one or the other.

If you want to receive calls from a person but not texts, you’re going to have to use a third-party app. However, you can use features such as Do Not Disturb to stop your iPhone from notifying you of unwanted texts.