Apple Introduces New iPhone Feature to Filter Spam Calls with Caller Reason Request

Apple has introduced a new call filtering feature in iOS 16 designed to reduce spam and unwanted marketing calls from unknown numbers. Users can activate the feature by navigating to Settings, then Apps, and selecting Phone. Under the Screen Unknown Callers section, there are three options: do not filter, silence unknown callers, or ask the caller to state their reason for calling.

The recommended setting for most users is "Ask Reason for Calling." In this mode, the iPhone does not ring immediately when receiving a call from an unknown number. Instead, it prompts the caller to explain the purpose of their call. The user then receives a transcription of the caller's reason and can decide whether to answer or ignore the call. This approach helps filter out spam calls while allowing important calls, such as from a clinic, delivery person, or service provider, to get through.

This feature does not require Apple Intelligence capabilities and is available on supported devices, including the iPhone 14 Pro and later models. Users can adjust the setting at any time through the same menu.