How to use call screening on an iPhone

The iOS 26 update introduces Call Screening, a new feature to filter spam and scam calls on iPhones. This feature answers calls from unknown numbers and asks callers to identify themselves. A real-time transcription of the caller's response is displayed for the user to decide whether to answer. Call Screening processes data on the device, ensuring user privacy. It's an evolution of earlier tools and offers a more conversational screening system. The feature is available on iPhone 11 models and newer after updating to iOS 26. Users can enable Call Screening in the Phone settings by selecting "Ask Reason for Calling." With Call Screening active, unknown callers hear a prompt to state their name and reason. Known contacts and recent outgoing calls bypass the screening process, ringing normally.