iOS 26.6 Will Alert You When You've Maxed Out Blocked Contacts

[MacRumors]

Apple's iOS 26.6 update appears to add new wording around blocked contact limits, though it is unclear if the actual limits have changed.

Code in the beta suggests users will get a warning if they exceed the maximum number of blocked contacts. "You've reached the maximum number of blocked contacts. To block additional callers, remove a blocked contact in Settings," reads the alert, which is titled "Blocked Contacts Limit Reached."

Based on discussions on social media and Apple's Support Communities, some users have been unable to block additional contacts after hitting a 20,000 limit. Other people have mentioned running into issues after 8,000, and some have experienced issues with even fewer phone numbers blocked. Apple does not offer documentation on blocking limits.

With limits in the thousands at least, it's unlikely most people have had blocking problems, though a person who is blocking spam callers regularly could eventually hit a cap. iOS 26.6 might make it clearer when a limit has been reached, and what to do about it.

Removing older blocked contacts is the solution, which can be done by going to Settings > Apps > Phone > Blocked Contacts. There is no bulk unblocking tool, and the easiest way to remove a contact is to swipe left on each entry. Alternatively, you can select Edit, tap on the red minus button next to each contact, and choose the unblock option.

iOS 26 added an Ask Reason for Calling option that sends calls from people who aren't in your Contacts directly to voicemail, which is an easier option for spam call management than blocking phone numbers. With the feature turned on, a caller can state their reason for calling and the person receiving the call can decide whether to pick up. Alternatively, all calls from unknown numbers can be silenced and sent to voicemail with no alert using the Silence option.

Missed calls and voicemails from unknown callers can also be filtered into a separate Unknown Callers list in the Phone app. Some carriers also offer a separate spam detection option that can send calls from known spammers to the Spam list.

Apple seeded the first beta of iOS 26.6 to developers today, and the software may soon be made available to public beta testers. A public release is likely several weeks away. So far, there are no other known features in iOS 26.6.

Article Link: iOS 26.6 Will Alert You When You've Maxed Out Blocked Contacts

 

[discofuel]

If you need to block more than 20,000 contacts, you likely have bigger issues

 

[TwoBytes]

They should just make a whitelist to allow people and block everyone else for those users who just want select people to call.

The problem with silence callers is you still have to wade through messages even if they are silenced.

 

[KENESS]

It's sick that neither the carriers nor any regulating bodies have the motivation to actually help us with something that would meaningfully improve our lives, stopping the incessant spam by phone, direct voicemails and text.

To claim they don't have the "ability" is absolute bs.

 

[Delivered]

why is there a limit?

 

[k1121j]

They should just make a whitelist to allow people and block everyone else for those users who just want select people to call.

isnt that what silence unknown callers function is for?

 

[cdsapplefan]

If you need to block more than 20,000 contacts, you likely have bigger issues

At this point just change your number if you have to block 8,000 numbers, lol 😂

 

[yabeweb]

why is there a limit?

Agreed! Why a limitation?

 

[Moukee]

If you need to block more than 20,000 contacts, you likely have bigger issues

Do apps that offer block lists for numbers count towards that limit? If so, 20,000 is a minuscule limit.

 

[jclardy]

So first of all..why is there a limit? Second of all, why are people manually blocking 20k numbers?

They should just make a whitelist to allow people and block everyone else for those users who just want select people to call.

They already have this - enable Silence Unknown Callers in settings, then only your contacts will ring. Everyone else can either go straight to voicemail, or have a little call screening flow where they have to tell Siri who they are and why they are calling.

 

[IIGS User]

If you need to block more than 20,000 contacts, you likely have bigger issues

I don't think my phone has rung a total of 20,000 times in the past 10 years.

I get a lot of those "We have a loan ready for you" phone calls and I blocked a few of them. Now they almost all seem to drop to voice mail again.

When the scam was new, the calls were getting through, but it seems like the call filters have adapted.

 

[now i see it]

There is no bulk unblocking tool, and the easiest way to remove a contact is to swipe left on each entry.

That seems like the brightest solution to delete 20,000 blocked contacts.

Sometimes it makes you wonder….

 

[jz0309]

Hmm, just checked and I have 264 blocked contacts so have ways to go.
It's odd though to have a limit even if it's as high as those numbers suggest ...

 

[Lizzard899]

why is there a limit?

EXACTLY there should never be a limit of how many you can block.

 

[Lizzard899]

Hmm, just checked and I have 264 blocked contacts so have ways to go.
It's odd though to have a limit even if it's as high as those numbers suggest ...

Exactly, there should never be limit. You should be allowed to block how ever many u want

 

[guzhogi]

Sometimes online, I see ads for this service called "Cloaked" that *supposedly* scrubs your number from data collectors or whatever. No clue if it's at all reputable or not. If it is, that might help these people.

 

[Le Big Mac]

If you need to block more than 20,000 contacts, you likely have bigger issues

I keep blocking spam texts from (201) area codes . . . and they keep coming through. At the rate they're coming through I could get to 20,000 pretty soon.

 

[smithrh]

For those of you saying "why is there a limit" you should understand checking each contact has a cost, however small, and with thousands or even tens of thousands, this builds up. It may even build in a non-linear way.

And absolutely, if you're blocking that many contacts there is something amiss. Either you're not using it correctly, or you're up to no good.

Seriously, 20,000 blocked contacts?

 

[Lizzard899]

Agreed! Why a limitation?

Its another way for apple to conrol our phones. LAME. If a lot of ppl complain about this they will reverse this I bet

 

[al256]

Wasn't there someone here who maxed out their blocks on MacRumors?

 

[smithrh]

Its another way for apple to conrol our phones. LAME. If a lot of ppl complain about this they will reverse this I bet

Doubtful. They did it for a reason, and that reason is not "conroling our phones."

 

[MilaM]

Why do people get spam calls from 20 thousand different numbers? That's insane 😳. Now I understand why Apple released so many features around call screening and spam prevention.

It does not seem to be a problem in other countries. I have a very old phone number and maybe get 3-5 unwanted calls per month.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

If you need to block more than 20,000 contacts, you likely have bigger issues

I get no less than 8-10 business loan spam calls every day. Year around. It’s exhausting.

 

[repoman016]

Sometimes online, I see ads for this service called "Cloaked" that *supposedly* scrubs your number from data collectors or whatever. No clue if it's at all reputable or not. If it is, that might help these people.

its probably about as good as the national do not call list and putting your number on that, which seems to do very little if anything.

 

[Wags]

If you need to block more than 20,000 contacts, you likely have bigger issues

It’s not me…. It’s them