Call Screening iOS 26 Not Working | How to Troubleshoot

The iOS 26 Call Screening feature may not work or show up due to several common reasons. Go to Settings > General > Language & Region, and make sure both are set to a supported combination

Here are the main troubleshooting steps to fix call screening issues on iPhone with iOS 26:

How to Troubleshoot

1. Match Language and Region Settings:

   • Call Screening relies on Siri which uses device language and region.

   • Go to Settings > General > Language & Region, and make sure both are set to a supported combination (e.g., English (US) and United States).

   • Restart the iPhone after making changes. This is a frequent fix for the call screening option missing or not working.

2. Update to the Latest iOS 26 Build:

   • Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check for and install any minor iOS updates.

   • Apple releases updates to fix bugs and improve new features like Call Screening.

3. Restart Your iPhone:

   • Restarting refreshes system services and can restore missing toggles or resolve glitches.

4. Confirm Call Screening Applies Only to Unknown Numbers:

   • Call Screening and silencing only affect unknown or unsaved contacts.

   • Remove test numbers from Contacts if testing the feature.

5. Carrier Dependencies:

   • Some call screening options depend on carrier support for spam labeling.

   • Check if your carrier supports these features in your region.

6. Disable Conflicting Apps (e.g., Truecaller assistant):

   • Apple’s Call Screening can conflict with third-party call blocking apps.

   • Disable Call Screening from Settings > Apps > Phone if you rely on apps like Truecaller.

If Call Screening is still missing or not working after these steps, changing the region to a supported country like the United States often resolves the issue. iPhones support this feature from the iPhone 8 onwards with iOS 26 installed.

These steps have helped many users restore iOS 26 call screening functionality.

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How to check if call screening is enabled correctly on your iPhone

To check if Call Screening is enabled correctly on your iPhone running iOS 26, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

2. Scroll down and tap on Apps.

3. In Apps, select Phone.

4. Look for the option labeled Screen Unknown Callers.

5. Make sure it is set to one of the following modes:

   • Ask Reason for Calling: Unknown callers will be screened and asked to state their reason before the call rings.

   • Silence: Unknown callers are silenced and sent to voicemail automatically.

   • Never: Call Screening is off, and all calls from unknown numbers ring through (default off).

If the option is set to “Never,” Call Screening is effectively disabled. Selecting “Ask Reason for Calling” activates the feature that screens calls using Siri, letting you listen to the caller’s recorded reason before deciding to answer.

Additionally, go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification, and ensure any spam call filtering apps or carrier-based services are enabled to enhance screening and blocking.

If you do not see the Call Screening option, check your Language & Region settings at Settings > General > Language & Region, making sure they are set to a supported language and region (for example, English (US) and United States), as Call Screening depends on these settings.

You can also test by calling your phone from an unknown number or one not saved in contacts to see if the call is screened or prompted for reason before ringing.