How to unblock a phone number on your Android phone
You’ve likely received unwanted calls during busy hours of the day. Instead of permanently silencing your phone, youblock the phone numberto prevent the person on the other end of the line from contacting you. Blocking numbers lessens the number of telemarketers, scammers, and unknown contacts ringing your line. But mistakes can happen; you’ve blocked the wrong phone number or changed your mind. Fortunately, there’s a way to easily unblock phone numbers from anyworking Android phone. This tutorial demonstrates how to remove someone’s phone number from the blocked list.
Unblock contacts from the Phone by Google app
The Phone by Google app is the default dialer for most Android phones. If you have a separate dialer app for your phone, you can download Google’s phone app and make it the default for most Android phones. The app lets you quicklysee the numbers you blocked on your Android phoneand block and unblock calls from the Recent Callers screen.
Keep your blocked numbers in check
But to learn more on how to unblock a number from the Recent Callers screen, keep reading below:
How to unblock contacts from the Recent calls menu
The steps above can be lengthy for some. If you blocked a recent caller on your Android phone, you can unblock it from the Recent menu. Google shows a block icon beside such contacts.
How to unblock contacts from the Contacts app
Google’s Contacts app also ships with most Android phones. It can be downloaded from the Play Store on most Android phones. It allows you to block saved and unknown numbers that haven’t called you recently. However, it also allows you to see and unblock all contacts. To use it:
If the number contacted you while it was blocked, you won’t see the missed phone calls after you unblock it. Android smartphones don’t keep a log of calls from blocked numbers.
Unblock contacts from the Messages app
Just as you canblock numbers from sending text messages, you can also unblock them. Here’s how:
The blocked messages screen only shows contacts that previously sent you a text and were blocked through the Messages app. To see all your blocked contacts, including those restricted from the Phone or Contacts app, tap thethree-dot menuicon on theSpam and blockedpage and selectBlocked numbers.
The above steps show how to unblock contacts using Google’s phone, contacts, and messaging apps that are preinstalled on most Android devices. However, the process is similar on other phones with third-party apps for calling and messaging.
How to unblock contacts on Samsung Galaxy phones
Samsung Galaxy phones come pre-loaded with their own phones, contacts, and messages app. If you’re using the default Samsung apps that came with the phone, you could unblock contacts using steps similar to Google and third-party apps.
Patch up your differences and unblock a number on your Samsung phone
Turn off the spam filter and turn on unidentified callers
Do you often miss important calls from your local bank or credit card company? The default Phone app has a spam filter that may block necessary calls without your consent. You should make relevant tweaks to never miss a single call.
Unblock contacts from third-party phone apps
Due to better spam protection and advanced functionality, third-party apps like Truecaller are popular in specific regions. If you use one of such apps, the steps to unblock a number may differ. Let’s take Truecaller as an example here.
What happens when you unblock a number on an Android phone
You should also understand the consequences of unblocking a number on your Android phone. The person can now reach you via calls and messages all the time. If you turn off spam protection on your phone, be prepared to receive unnecessary calls from telemarketers and advertisers. you’re able to also block these calls and contacts or turn on Do Not Disturb mode during work hours.
What about receiving old text messages from your previously blocked contact? Blocked messages will not come through after you’ve unblocked a number. You’d have to find the Spam & Blocked folder on your phone or in your respective messaging app.
How to unblock a number on WhatsApp
When you use the steps above and unblock a number on your Android phone, you’ll receive normal text messages and calls over your carrier network. However, instant messaging apps like WhatsApp are more popular due to privacy options, ease of use, and a long list of functionalities. If you blocked someone on such platforms, the steps to unblock a contact differ from one app to another. Let’s take WhatsApp as an example.
Does deleting a contact unblock it?
Say you blocked the contact of a friend or colleague and later decided to delete the number from your contacts list. What happens? Does your phone automatically unblock the number or not?
Deleting a contact on Android (and even iOS) doesn’t remove it from your block list. Instead, the phone number remains in the block list without the name. To unblock the number, follow the steps in any of the previous sections.
Can you unblock yourself from someone else’s phone?
If you have confirmation that someone has blocked your contact on their phone, there’s no way to unblock yourself remotely using any of your devices. To unblock your number, you need to either have physical access to the person’s phone or talk the situation through with them and have them reverse the action.
You can get blocked, too
There are many reasons to block a number, such as telemarketing,spam calls,potential scammers, or personal issues. But sometimes, you’ll face a situation where you’re on the other side, that you were the person that someone has intentionally or accidentally blocked. So, to give you peace of mind, it is possible toconfirm if someone has blocked your number.
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