How to get your iPhone to ask unknown callers why they’re calling before it rings

Apple iPhone

• iOS 26 adds Ask Reason for Calling to screen unknown callers with live transcription
• Feature allows users to accept, decline, or request info before answering unknown calls
• "Ask Reason for Calling" is more flexible than "Silence Unknown Callers" in iOS 26.

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In iOS 26, Apple has added a new option called Ask Reason for Calling, designed to deal with the growing frustration around spam and robocalls. When someone who isn’t saved in your Contacts tries to call you, your iPhone automatically answers with a polite, automated message asking for the caller’s name and reason for calling. The phone doesn’t ring immediately. Instead, the caller is placed on hold while their response is transcribed and shown on your screen in real time.

Once you see the transcription, you can choose to accept the call, decline it, or ask for more information. Legitimate callers, such as doctors’ offices or delivery drivers, can quickly explain themselves, while robocallers and spam callers are far more likely to hang up once they hear the automated prompt.

This is a more flexible alternative to Apple’s existing Silence Unknown Callers feature, which simply sends calls from unfamiliar numbers straight to voicemail without giving you any context upfront.

How to enable Ask Reason for Calling in iOS 26

Turning on the feature is straightforward.

• Open Settings on your iPhone
• Scroll down and tap Apps, then select Phone.
• Under the Screen Unknown Callers section, tap Ask Reason for Calling.

Once enabled, your iPhone will automatically screen calls from numbers that aren’t saved in your Contacts.

Other unknown caller options in iOS 26

If Ask Reason for Calling doesn’t suit your needs, iOS 26 still offers other ways to manage unknown calls. You can choose Silence, which sends all calls from unsaved numbers directly to voicemail while still listing them in Recents. Alternatively, selecting Never allows unknown numbers to ring through normally, just like calls from saved contacts.

You can switch between these options at any time by heading to Settings → Apps → Phone and choosing your preferred behaviour under Screen Unknown Callers.

A practical upgrade for everyday calls

The new screening feature works best when your Contacts list is kept up to date, as saved numbers bypass the screening process entirely. For many users, Ask Reason for Calling strikes a balance between blocking spam and staying reachable, offering more control without completely cutting off unknown callers.