Where to Find Call Settings on iPhone

Call settings on iPhone live in the Phone app and the main Settings app. Most of what you need is in the Phone app itself — open it, tap the Keypad tab at the bottom, then look for the three dots (⋯) or gear icon in the top right corner. That menu holds call forwarding, call waiting, and caller ID options. For deeper settings like voicemail and call blocking, you'll go to Settings > Phone instead.

The exact location of these controls depends on your carrier and iOS version, but the path is the same: Phone app first for quick changes, Settings app for permanent rules. If you don't see an option in one place, check the other.

Key Takeaways

  • Call forwarding, call waiting, and caller ID settings are in the Phone app's menu (three dots or gear icon), not in the main Settings app.
  • To turn call waiting on or off, open Phone > menu > Call Waiting, then toggle it to your preference.
  • Blocking a contact prevents them from calling you; go to Phone > Recents, swipe left on their name, and tap Block This Caller.
  • Voicemail settings and Do Not Disturb rules are in Settings > Phone, separate from the Phone app's quick menu.
  • Changes take effect when ready, but your carrier must support the feature for it to work — not all carriers offer call forwarding or call waiting.

Turn Call Waiting On or Off

Call waiting lets you know when a second call comes in while you're already on a call. To change this setting, open the Phone app and tap the Keypad tab. Look for the three dots or gear icon in the top right, then tap Call Waiting. Toggle the switch to turn it on (blue) or off (gray).

If you turn call waiting off, incoming calls will go straight to voicemail while you're on another call. If you turn it on, you'll hear a beep and see a notification so you can switch between calls. The change happens right away, though your carrier must support call waiting for this to work — most do, but some older plans don't.

Set Up Call Forwarding

Call forwarding sends all your incoming calls to a different phone number. Open the Phone app, tap Keypad, then tap the three dots or gear icon. Select Call Forwarding and toggle it on. You'll see a field that says Forward To — type in the phone number where you want calls to go, then tap OK or Done.

Once call forwarding is on, your iPhone will show a small arrow icon in the status bar at the top. To turn it off, go back to the same menu and toggle call forwarding off. While it's active, all calls bypass your iPhone and ring at the number you entered instead. This is useful if you're traveling or switching phones, but remember that your iPhone won't ring at all.

Hide or Show Your Caller ID

Your caller ID is the phone number that appears on someone else's phone when you call them. To hide it, go to Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID and toggle it off. When it's off, your number will show as "Unknown" or "Private" to people you call. To show it again, toggle the same switch back on.

Some carriers don't let you change this setting, so you may not see the option. If you don't see Show My Caller ID in Settings > Phone, your carrier doesn't support it. You can also hide your number for a single call by dialing *67 before the phone number, then pressing call.

Block a Contact from Calling You

To block someone from calling, open the Phone app and go to the Recents tab. Find the person's name or number in the list, swipe left on it, and tap the block icon (usually a circle with a line through it). A menu will pop up — tap Block This Caller. That person can still leave voicemail, but their calls won't ring your phone and won't show up in your call history.

You can also block someone from their contact card: open Contacts, find their name, tap Edit in the top right, scroll down, and tap Block This Caller. To unblock them later, go to Settings > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification, find their name, and tap Unblock.

Manage Voicemail Settings

Voicemail settings are in Settings > Phone > Change Voicemail Password or Voicemail (the exact name varies by carrier). Here you can change your voicemail greeting, set a new password, or turn voicemail on and off. Some carriers let you customize these settings directly in the Phone app's voicemail tab instead — tap the Voicemail tab at the bottom of the Phone app and look for a Greeting or Settings button.

If you can't find voicemail settings in either place, contact your carrier — they may manage voicemail through their own app or website. You can also dial your voicemail number directly (usually *86 or 123) to change your greeting or password from any phone.

Use Do Not Disturb to Silence Calls

Do Not Disturb silences calls, texts, and notifications during times you choose. Go to Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb and toggle it on. You can set a schedule so it turns on automatically at bedtime or during work hours. Tap Add Schedule to pick the times.

While Do Not Disturb is on, calls go straight to voicemail unless they're from your favorites or a repeated caller (someone who calls twice in three minutes). You can allow calls from specific contacts by tapping Allowed Notifications and choosing who can reach you. Unlike call forwarding, Do Not Disturb keeps calls on your phone — they just don't ring or notify you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set different call settings for different contacts?

Yes, through Do Not Disturb and blocking. You can allow calls from specific people while silencing everyone else by using Focus settings. For blocking, you can block individual contacts so their calls go straight to voicemail. However, you can't set call waiting or call forwarding for just one person — those explore to all incoming calls.

What happens to calls when call forwarding is on?

All calls to your iPhone number ring at the forwarding number instead. Your iPhone won't ring at all. The person calling sees no difference — they dial your normal number and reach you at the other phone. Calls don't go to your iPhone's voicemail unless the forwarding number's voicemail picks them up.

Why don't I see some call settings in my Phone app?

Your carrier may not support that feature, or your iOS version may be older. Call forwarding and call waiting are common, but not all carriers offer them. Check Settings > Phone to see if the option appears there instead. If it's nowhere, contact your carrier to ask if they support the feature on your plan.

Can I block calls from unknown numbers?

Not directly through a single toggle, but you can use Focus settings to silence unknown callers. Go to Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb, tap Allowed Notifications, and turn off Allow Calls From Unknown Numbers. Unknown callers will go straight to voicemail, though you'll still see a missed call notification.

Does hiding my caller ID work for all calls?

Yes, once you toggle off Show My Caller ID in Settings > Phone, your number is hidden for all outgoing calls. You can also hide it for a single call by dialing *67 before the number. Some people may have settings that block calls from hidden numbers, so they won't receive your call at all.