Robocalls Go Straight to Voicemail With iPhone Update

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Owners of iPhones now have a way to keep robocalls from interrupting their day.

The latest iPhone update, iOS 13, includes a feature called “Silence Unknown Callers” that allows you to send spam calls directly to voicemail.

However, it’s important to note that activating the feature means calls from people not in your Contacts, Mail or Messages also will generally go to voicemail.

Your iPhone will make exceptions and let the call ring through if it appears you have interacted with a number in the past — for example, if you have recently called someone not on your contact list, CNBC reports.

The iPhone update includes another feature that will warm the heart of any robocall hater. According to Apple:

“A checkmark is displayed next to calls in the recents list when they are verified by the carrier, so you can be sure that a calling number is accurate and has not been spoofed.”

Spoofing is a practice used to disguise the phone number from which a call is actually coming. The people behind robocalls and other unwanted calls often use spoofing to trick you into thinking someone else is calling, as a way to get you to answer the phone.

To keep spam calls from ringing your iPhone, you need to install the latest update. Then, go to “Settings” and tap “Phone.”

Scroll down to “Silence Unknown Callers” and turn the feature on.

CNBC advises one additional step to prevent problems when employing the feature:

“You should be aware of one thing, though: the Silence Unknown Callers feature isn’t great if you’re expecting phone calls from a doctor’s office, colleague, or anyone else whose number might not be in your phone. You should add those numbers to your contact list to make sure they can still get through.”

For more on fighting back against robocalls, check out “7 Ways to Stop Robocalls in Their Tracks.”

How do you deal with annoying robocalls? Let us know in comments below or on our Facebook page.

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