Android

How to Block Calls from Strangers on Android (Ban Numbers That Are Not in Contacts)

Here is the guide on how to block all incoming phone calls from numbers that are not in your contacts on Android phone: stock Android, Huawei, Xiaomi, Meizu.

It’s quite simple to block a single caller on Android but what to do if you are attacked by a squall of calls from different strange phone numbers? Of course, you may ban them one by one but you will continue to receive unwanted calls from yet a new number each time.

In this case the white-list technology will help you out. You need to block all stranger (callers whose numbers are not added to your contacts) but let all your contacts easily reach you.

In this article we will explain how to block strangers using the built-in phone apps and do the same using third-party call managers.

In such a way you will be able to block phone calls from spammers, scammers, annoying telemarketers by activating a single option on your phone. The steps are different depending on your phone model.

Related:My Communication Etiquette or How I Hate to Be Contacted

[Contents] How to Block Incoming Calls from Strangers – Phone Numbers That Are Not in Contacts:

Stock Android

  • Launch the Phone app:
  • Tap the three-dot menu icon at the top right corner to access the Settings of the Phone app:
  • Now select Blocked numbers:
  • And here tell the Google phone app to block strangers by activating the Numbers not in contacts option: Update 2020: Unfortunately, Google removed this option for some reason.

Block Calls from Strangers on Huawei Phones

EMUI 10 and EMUI 9

  • Open the Phone / Contacts App.
  • Tap the three-dot icon on the upper right.
  • Select Blocked:
  • Dive into Call block rules:
  • If your phone is running EMUI 10, enable the Block Unknown numbers option:
    Block calls from strangers on Huawei phones with EMUI 10.1

    if your device has EMUI 9, enable the Block strangers option:  

    Block calls from non-contacts in EMUI 9.1

EMUI 8

In EMUI 8 steps are a bit different:

  • Open the Phone app:
  • Tap the three-dot icon and select Blocked:
  • Tap on Block rules at the very bottom of the screen:
  • Tap on Call block rules:
  • And here you can finally activate the Block all strangers option:

Xiaomi

Sad News for MIUI 12 Users

Since MIUI 12 doesn’t have Xiaomi dialer app any more (now it comes with the Phone app by Google pre-installed), you can’t block calls from strangers, unless you install some third-party application. Only MIUI 12 ROMs for China have Xiaomi’s dialer app.

MIUI 11

  • Launch the dialer.
  • Tap the sandwich icon on the lower left:
  • Select Settings:
  • Here dive into Blocklist:
  • Tap Call Blocklist:
  • And finally enable the Block Calls from Strangers option:
    Block calls from anybody who is not in your contacts (MIUI 11 and 10)

MIUI 9

  • Open the Phone app:
  • Tap on the hamburger (menu) icon on the bottom left:
  • Now make sure you have the Blocklist enabled (toggle it on if not).
  • Then head to Call blocklist: 
  • And here toggle on the option called Block calls from strangers:

Block Calls from Strangers on a Meizu Phone(Flyme 7 & 8)

  • Open the Phone app:
  • Tap on the three-dot icon on the upper right corner of your screen and select Settings:
  • Select Blocklist:
  • Tap the gear icon on the upper right:
  • Select Call filtering:
  • And finally toggle on the Block calls from strangers option:

Third-party Apps (Samsung Galaxy)

As you might know, neither Samsung Galaxy nor OnePlus devices don’t have the ability to block numbers of strangers in their built-in native dialers. For such unique phones and tablets the only option is to use a third-party call managing app. We can suggest the Call Blocker by Vlad Lee that can be easily found in the Google Play Store.

All you need to do is:

  • Install the app.
  • Launch it.
  • Give it all required permissions.
  • Go to the Blocking tab.
  • Make sure the Blocking itself is toggled on.
  • Activate the Unknown numbers (Block all numbers except contacts) option: Once you’ve configured the app, all calls from strange numbers will be rejected. 

According to user feedback as of May 2020, this app doesn’t cope with call filtering on OnePlus devices. We’d appreciate if you gave us your feedback concerning the issue in the comments.

What About Text Messages from Non-Contacts?

Very simple, but it is necessary to mention. If your phone has a feature to filter calls from strangers, it usually has the same options for text messages:

Some phones support blocking texts by keyword:

But here it is worth being more careful. The fact is that if you block text messages from unfamiliar senders, you run the risk of missing, say, a verification code from Google or another service and you will not be able to log in or confirm some important action. These are just a couple of examples. There are others.

Therefore, when it comes to text messages, it is best to block individual senders, and not filter out all SMS from unfamiliar numbers. As you might already know from another guide, if you blocked a specific phone number in your phone app, text messages will be also blocked.

Wrapping Up

Hopefully, now you know how to get rid of annoying calls from scammers, spammers, telemarketers and other unwanted strangers on your smartphone. If you have more information regarding the topic of blocking calls from non-contacts on Android, feel free to share it in the comments. Good luck!
Adam Swift

Adam is a real tech maniac. He likes to spend time testing phones, tablets, laptops, as well as any other technical devices, and write practical manuals on their functions. He often sleeps all day, but always works at night. Adam bought his first computer in 1999, being an absolute beginner who never held a computer mouse in his hands. He began to study Windows, constantly experimented and often crashed the operating system. But six months later, he was able to reinstall Windows 98 from a scratch on his own, fix almost any software problem on a PC, he also did hardware upgrades and realized that computers, operating systems and programs are now his biggest passion. In addition, Adam has always been a big lover of phones. With the advent of smartphones with Android OS, he began to pick at them much more than in computers. Now Adam loves to study privacy issues in instant messengers, blocking unwanted calls and other nuances related to privacy and security on the network. You can follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tunecomp

View Comments

  • Doesn't work on Android 10. There is literally no way to block calls not in contacts which is a huge downgrade for Google. Gonna have to ditch this Pixel 3 for an iPhone.

    • Really bad news. First, I decided that you were wrong. But I took my Pixel in hands, open the Phone app and... you were right, they removed the option "Numbers not in Contacts" and other options except "Unknown" that (hopefully) is designed to block restricted numbers. That is disappointing.
      P.S. I use iPhone with its DND mode, that is really capable to REJECT all callers except contacts or favorites instead of silencing.

  • Android 9 needs this blocking option. It only silences the calls from India and pakistani scammers and scumbag telemarketers. (Yes, if you are a telemarketer you ARE a scumbag, through and through.. Shame on you!) And DO NOT bother with the call blacker app from Vlad Lee. I looked it up.. "CONTAINS ADS!" "F" that! Why block one group of scumbags trying to get your money, only to be endlessly bombarded by another group of scumbags trying to get your money?
    Better yet, get on whatever official android site, FB page, Feedback, Support, whatever, and DEMAND a native call and text BLOCKER, not just a call silencer.

  • Do the blocked calls go to voicemail or are they blocked when they come in?

  • This article NEEDS to be updated!
    I have an android phone, JUST checked, there is NO "Numbers not in contacts option" at ALL to enable.
    Have they REMOVED A USEFULL FEATURE?!
    Is there ANY way to have this enabled so NO calls OR texts get threw that is NOT on your contacts lists?
    Preferred via Android stock settings, but if there is aa 3rd party app is needed that is reliable/safe, I’ll install it!

    • If talk about the stock Android, some users may still have such feature if they stopped updating the Phone app on their Pixels (or maybe some other smartphones). But yes, Google removed this extremely useful feature for some reason in Android 10 release. I remember I used it happily during Android 10 beta in 2019. :(
      Maybe, it is possible to download a certain Phone app version with this feature.

  • To block numbers not in address book on android phones has moved to main settings
    Settings/sound/Do not disturb.
    Should be self explanatory from there.
    :)

    • I can't get the Signal messenger VoIP calls to play the ringtone when I have the DND on. Maybe cause it silences the notifications. Dang Android One...

      • That's why I choose iPhone. I need good call rejecting features without installing third-party apps.

        • The difference is huge. On Android your line is busy and battery drains faster.

  • Is there anyway to call such persons who has blocked calls from strangers as it is a payment related issue. Admin please do reply.

    • If it was possible, there would be no point in the "Block calls from strangers" option.
      However, in some cases you can reach the person who blocked you by calling them in third-party messengers (in case if the person uses such apps). So, if it is really related to important matters, you should be extremely kind and use text messages rather that voice call. The thing is that people often opt to block non-contact callers who try to reach them via voice calls in messengers.

    • So what you're saying is you're from a collection agency no one cares about you

  • Not a big surprise why Google and others have removed these features. Big money to be made by their advertisers and they don't want a chance to miss out on a sale.

  • How about an option to send the call to voicemail rather than blocking? My personal phone is also my business phone so I need to be open to new clients.

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Published by
Adam Swift
Tags: Call Blocking
2020-07-05 05:30

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