We’ve all blocked someone before, whether it was an unyielding telemarketer or an ex trying to get in touch. Fortunately, you have the option to unblock numbers on an iPhone if you’ve reconciled with the person or perhaps blocked the wrong number by mistake. But what happens to the messages that you get from a blocked number?
If you unblock a number on iPhone, you won’t be able to retrieve text or voice messages that were sent to you from the number while it was blocked. However, once you unblock a number, you can start receiving calls and texts from it again as you would with any other number.
Let’s take a closer look at what happens to the messages that come in from blocked contacts, whether they can be retrieved, and how to block and unblock numbers on your iPhone.
What Does Blocking a Number Do?
Blocking a number on your iPhone will prevent you from getting text messages or calls from the number. The iPhone won’t store the text messages from a blocked number, and the blocked contact won’t even know that you’ve blocked their number.
You can block a number that’s giving you spam texts or one that belongs to a telemarketer that you don’t want to receive messages from. You can block unknown numbers as well as those on your contact list.
If you’re constantly being disturbed with unnecessary or offensive messages from a number, blocking it will give you some peace of mind.
Since the iPhone doesn’t store messages from blocked numbers, you won’t have to worry about spam messages taking up space on your phone. The blocked contact may realize that their number has been blocked when you don’t reply to their messages or calls, but that’s not your problem!
What Happens When You Unblock a Number on Your iPhone?
If you’ve blocked an important contact on your iPhone by mistake or want to start receiving messages and calls from a blocked contact, you can easily unblock them. Unblocking the contact will allow you to start receiving text messages and calls from the number again.
However, you won’t be able to access the text messages from numbers while they were blocked since your iPhone discards these messages as soon as you receive them. While Android phones have a folder where blocked and spam messages are stored for a while, there’s no such thing in Apple devices.
So, while you can unblock numbers at any time, you won’t be able to access messages that were sent before unblocking them.
Unblocking a number on your iPhone will, however, allow you to receive calls, FaceTime requests, and messages on both SMS and iMessage from the contact moving forward.
How to Block/Unblock a Number on Your iPhone
If you’re tired of receiving spam texts or calls from a number, you can easily block it on your iPhone. Unblocking the number is even easier.
Here’s how to block a number on your iPhone:
- Go into the Messaging app and find the number you want to block. You can also select the number from your call log if you’re receiving calls from an unknown number.
- Select the number and click on the ‘ⓘ‘ (info) icon next to it.
- When you come to the contact screen with a range of options of what to do with the number, scroll down and click on ‘Block this Caller.’
- Select ‘Block Contact‘ to confirm.
This will block the contact from all default calling and messaging apps. However, if you receive calls or messages from the number on another messaging platform like WhatsApp, you’ll have to block them again on the app.
If you’ve blocked the wrong number by mistake and or changed your mind about blocking a contact, you can easily unblock them. Follow these steps to unblock a number on your iPhone:
- Open the Settings app and select ‘Phone.’
- Click on ‘Call Blocking and Identification.’
- Swipe left on the number that you want to unblock from the list of blocked numbers.
- Click on ‘Unblock.’
You’ll now be able to receive calls and messages from this number. If you’ve blocked the number on WhatsApp or other third-party chat services, you’ll have to unblock it from each site individually.