Are your calls and texts suddenly not going through? Here's how to tell if someone blocked your number, whether you have an iPhone or an Android.
Here’s How to Tell If Someone Blocked Your Number
Updated on Jun. 30, 2025
Nobody likes the thought of being blocked by a friend or acquaintance. Whether you think your phone number has been blocked or you’ve been locked out of someone’s social media, it stings to think that a person in your life no longer wants to talk to you. Worse still, figuring out how to tell if someone blocked your number can be tricky.
However, there are some strategies you can use to check and see if you’ve gotten the block from someone you know. After all, the person on the other end could be having a hardware issue, connection problems—or may have even blocked you by accident (it happens). Here’s everything you need to know about how to tell if someone blocked your number—while remaining respectful of their privacy and following proper netiquette.
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Can you know for sure if you’ve been blocked?
It’s hard to know with 100% certainty that someone has blocked your number. In fact, it’s impossible to do it through technical means alone. If a call or message fails to go through, your phone won’t notify you that it’s because you’re blocked. The only real way to know you’ve been blocked is if the person tells you, which may be difficult if you can’t talk to them.
It’s also possible that someone isn’t receiving your calls or texts due to a technical issue, such as poor reception, a faulty device or malware. Still, there are a few ways to test and see if you’re blocked, whether you’re on an iPhone or an Android device. Here’s how.
How to tell if someone blocked your number on iPhone
Your iPhone won’t alert you that someone blocked you, but there are a couple of methods you can use to figure out if your number is blocked. The good news is that an iPhone generally gives you more clues that you’ve been blocked than an Android does.
How to tell if you’re blocked on iPhone via call
The first way to check if someone has blocked your iPhone number is by simply calling them. “For cell phones—especially iPhones—a clear sign you’ve been blocked is that calls go straight to voicemail without ringing,” says VoIP engineer Kyle Caminita. However, this isn’t a sure sign you’re blocked. “This can also happen when the phone is powered off or set to Do Not Disturb,” he adds.
If your call returns a message like “this phone number is temporarily out of service” or “this number is not taking calls,” it’s most likely a technical issue, or the person may have their phone turned off or in airplane mode.
How to tell if you’re blocked on iPhone via text
The second way to see if you’re blocked on an iPhone is by sending that person a text. If your text goes through, the iPhone will show a small “Delivered” status underneath the message. This is true whether the person has read receipts enabled or not. If your texts aren’t showing this “Delivered” status, you may be blocked.
How to tell if someone blocked your number on an Android
Determining if you’re blocked is a little trickier for Android users, but not impossible. However, there is one unique Android trick you can use to tell if you’re blocked if calling and texting isn’t giving you any clues.
How to tell if you’re blocked on Android via call
As with an iPhone, one way to test if you’re blocked on Android is by giving the person a call and seeing if you get sent straight to voicemail. There’s more variation between Android devices, however, so not all call behavior is the same. The call may also ring one time before going to voicemail. If this happens multiple times, it’s a clearer sign you may be on their block list.
How to tell if you’re blocked on Android via text
Texting on Android to see if you’re blocked is less clear than on an iPhone, as Android messages don’t show the “Delivered” confirmation. That said, you may receive an error message such as “Not Delivered.” Of course, this can also happen due to a technical issue. It’s not a sure sign your number is blocked.
How to use the Suggest Contacts feature to tell if you’re blocked
There’s a third method Android owners can use to see if they’re blocked. It doesn’t work on iPhones, and it may be more reliable than calling and texting. First, copy the person’s phone number, then open up your contacts. If the person is already in your contacts, delete them. Then, paste their number into a new contact card. If you’re not blocked, your Android phone should suggest that person’s name as a contact. If that doesn’t happen, they have likely blocked your number.
How can you double-check that you’ve been blocked?
The surest way to check if you’re blocked is to call or text the person from someone else’s phone. If your calls or texts aren’t going through from your normal number but go through from this other number, that’s a sure sign you’ve been blocked.
If you can’t (or don’t want to) use a friend’s phone to check and see if you’re blocked, Caminita suggests using a voice over IP (VoIP) system, if you have access to one. With a VoIP system, “When calling a number that hasn’t blocked you, SIP data will typically show a ‘180 Ringing’ response,” he says. “However, if the call is blocked, the system may return a 480 Temporarily Unavailable or go straight to voicemail without that ringing response.”
If your calls also aren’t going through when using a VoIP system, the person probably doesn’t have your number blocked and may not be receiving messages for another reason.
You may also be able to solve this mystery by checking social media apps, such as Facebook or Instagram. If you and this person were connected on social media, see if you can still find them. If their profile doesn’t show up, or you can’t seem to interact with their profile, they may have blocked you on these apps. That’s a clear sign they blocked your number as well.
What should you do if you’ve been blocked?
Nobody likes the thought of being blocked, but it’s important to not jump to conclusions. Calls and texts can fail to deliver for any number of reasons. The person’s phone may be on the fritz, have a dead battery, be out of signal range or be set to “Do Not Disturb.”
It’s also possible they accidentally deleted your contact card or have a new phone without their contacts in it yet. In this case, their device may simply be automatically screening calls from numbers not in their Contacts list. This is a security and privacy feature available to both iPhone and Android users, and many people turn it on to screen unwanted robocallers and spam messages.
If you suspect there’s a good explanation for your calls and texts not going through, try reaching out via messaging apps like WhatsApp. But only attempt this if it seems unlikely the person deliberately blocked your number.
If you suspect someone deliberately blocked your number, don’t continue trying to contact them. Repeatedly messaging them goes beyond annoying texting behavior. It could actually cross the line into harassment and bring legal consequences, even if it’s just due to a misunderstanding. “If you know someone has blocked you, and you keep finding ways to reach them anyway, that could be considered harassment,” says criminal defense lawyer Benson Varghese.
Keep in mind that the other person may just need a little time and space. But in any case, it’s important to respect their privacy and practice good online etiquette. “Trying to get around the block with a different number or app can land you in trouble, especially if the other person feels harassed,” Varghese advises. “Privacy matters, and the law is built to protect that on both sides.”
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Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of articles on personal technology, arming readers with the knowledge to protect themselves against cybersecurity threats and internet scams as well as revealing the best tips, tricks and shortcuts for computers, cellphones, apps, texting, social media and more. We rely on credentialed experts with personal experience and know-how as well as primary sources including tech companies, professional organizations and academic institutions. For this piece on how to tell if someone blocked your number, Lucas Coll tapped his experience as a longtime journalist who covers personal tech for Reader’s Digest and numerous other outlets. We verify all facts and data and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Kyle Caminita, VoIP specialist and founder and CEO of EasyVoIP; email interview, June 2025
- Benson Varghese, managing partner of the Texas-based law firm Varghese Summersett PLLC; email interview, June 2025
