iOS 26 Call Screening: Say Goodbye to Spam Calls on Your iPhone

Apple’s next big software update, iOS 26, isn’t just about visual redesigns or fancy AI features. It’s also introducing something incredibly practical for everyday iPhone users: built-in call screening.

If you’re tired of robocalls, spam offers, and scam calls disrupting your day, this is the iOS 26 feature you’ve been waiting for. Let’s dive into what Apple’s new call screening does, how it compares to similar tools on other phones, and how you can set it up on your device.

Apple’s Solution to Unwanted Calls

Spam calls are a universal nuisance. Whether it’s pre-recorded loan offers or scammers posing as government agencies, many of us get these calls multiple times a day. Until now, iPhone users have had limited options to fight back beyond sending unknown numbers to voicemail or blocking them after the fact.

iOS 26 changes that. Apple’s new call screening feature acts as an intelligent gatekeeper. Calls from unknown numbers don’t ring your phone immediately. Instead, the caller is prompted to identify themselves and explain why they're calling. Only after this information is collected do you decide if you want to answer the call or send it to voicemail.

Inspired by Android, Optimized for iPhone

If this concept sounds familiar, it’s because Google’s Pixel phones have offered call screening for years. But Apple’s approach is designed to feel seamless and native within the iPhone experience.

When enabled, call screening runs quietly in the background. You won’t hear your phone ring unless the caller passes the screening prompt. On supported iPhones, you’ll see a notification with the caller’s name, number, and even a brief transcript of what they said—giving you the power to choose whether to answer or decline.

It’s like having an intelligent assistant silently filtering your calls for you.

How to Enable Call Screening in iOS 26

Apple makes setting up call screening simple. Here’s how you can turn it on once you have iOS 26 installed:

1. Open the Settings app.
   
   

2. Scroll to the Apps section and tap Phone.
   
   

3. Find "Screen Incoming Calls" in the Phone settings and slide the toggle to turn it on.

That’s it! From then on, your iPhone will automatically screen any call from an unknown number.

The feature isn’t limited to the latest models either. Apple says it should work on any iPhone capable of running iOS 26. However, it does have some language restrictions. At launch, call screening will support English, Cantonese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, and Spanish.

While iOS 26 brings exciting new features like call screening, updating your iPhone often means transferring lots of personal data. If you’re planning to upgrade to a new iPhone this year, you’ll want that transition to be just as seamless as the new features themselves.

That’s where Smart Transfer app restore comes in. This third-party smart backup & restore app makes moving your photos, videos, contacts, and documents between devices incredibly easy—even between iPhone and Android.

No need for messy cables or complicated cloud backups. Smart Transfer’s data restore feature ensures that when you move to iOS 26, all your important data moves with you securely and effortlessly—so you can start enjoying new features like call screening right away.

How Call Screening Works in Practice

Once you turn on call screening, here’s what to expect:

When someone calls you from an unknown number, your iPhone won’t ring immediately. Instead, the caller will hear a short prompt asking them to state their name and reason for calling. While they respond, your iPhone discreetly displays this information in the Dynamic Island or as a notification.

You’ll see their name, number, and a short transcript of their answer. From there, you can either:

• Accept the call with a single tap.
  
  

• Send it to voicemail if it’s spammy or unclear.

It’s like an automated receptionist for your iPhone, saving you from the constant annoyance of spam calls while still giving you full control.

Real-World Testing: Does It Work?

Early testing on the iOS 26 developer beta shows promising results. Calls from unfamiliar numbers no longer interrupt you with loud ringing. Instead, you get a calm, clear notification with caller details.

While the feature doesn’t fully eliminate spam calls (you might still get notified if a robocaller records a spiel), it at least prevents those calls from hijacking your attention.

Think of it as an evolution of Apple’s Live Voicemail feature from iOS 17. But instead of making you manually shunt calls to voicemail, call screening jumps in automatically—an important quality-of-life improvement.

Why iOS 26's Call Screening Is Such a Big Deal

Apple has always emphasized user privacy and control, and call screening fits perfectly into that vision.

It gives you more power to decide who can reach you and when, cutting down on daily interruptions and letting you focus on what matters.

Sure, it’s not an entirely new concept—but Apple’s implementation ensures it works natively, privately, and on a broad range of iPhones.

Final Thoughts

iOS 26 is shaping up to be one of the most user-friendly updates in years. Beyond cosmetic changes and app improvements, it addresses one of the most annoying modern problems: spam calls.

With call screening, you can finally enjoy a little more peace and quiet. And if you’re planning to upgrade your device, don’t forget to use Smart Transfer to make sure all your data moves with you smoothly—so you can start experiencing iOS 26’s best features right away.