Suddenly call block list is "full" after spring 2026 iOS update.

While you've been adding to the blocked calls list, you just weren't aware that evidently the limit has been 3000 for a long time. You are also under the impression that blocking spam calls/email/texts is remotely affective? It's NOT. Almost all spammers spoof their numbers or email addresses, which means the number or email address you see is not the number the message or call came from. You're actually playing whack-a-mole and you've already lost the game.

So, the bottom line is the limit is 3000. And to reduce your list on your iPhone, you'd have to remove the numbers one by one if you still want to whack-a-mole, but you really shouldn't play the game as you simply cannot win.

Instead, with iOS 26 came some very intelligent screening tools, which are actually pretty effective --> Screen and block calls on iPhone - Apple Support

If you own a Mac, you can remove all or large parts of your blocked numbers list. I'd be happy to provide instructions if you, so let me know.

Ps: Like you, I once believed blocking these calls/emails/texts was the right thing to do. Once I learned that I was totally wasting my time doing so, I used my MacBook Pro and deleted the list of numbers completely. The reality is, blocking is only effective if you know the number is real, like from that uncle who keeps asking you to loan them money, or an ex you just don't want to have anything to do with. But for spammers, it's a total utter waste of time for the reasons I detailed above.

sarilda192 wrote:

So according to you I can't do anything about the block call list, can I turn off voicemail from the phone so I stop receiving voicemails?

If you use the call screening option in the link I provided, you won't get nearly as many voicemail messages. It requires they identify their reason for calling, which bots just can't do. The amount of voicemail messages I get since the call screening options went into effect are pretty much zero.

sarilda192 wrote:

So according to you I can't do anything about the block call list, can I turn off voicemail from the phone so I stop receiving voicemails?

You cannot do anything about the totally useless blocked call list. What you have is a list of thousands of number that will never, ever call you again. Here are your real options for blocking spam email: How can I block email spam? - Apple Community

You can turn off voicemail by contacting your carrier and asking them to disable it.

Unfortunately for me, mine has seen an exorbitant uptick in the amount of "tax resolution" calls, also since Apple's unhelpful iOS update earlier this year. It's as if someone had intentionally listed my number to be targeted. I'm sure my information is out there on the dark web through some data breach or other. And this is when I had the full force of options iPhone does offer for call screening. Oh well. I do thank you for the tips, you pretty much substantiated what I already knew and did. I was hoping for some magical hackery work around to go back to my peaceful pre-spam life with a phone I didn't have to keep on constant mute. ;P

So according to you I can't do anything about the block call list, can I turn off voicemail from the phone so I stop receiving voicemails?