So, what does a blocked caller hear when they call your number?
Whether youโre on the other line waiting for someone to pick up your call or youโre the one who has blocked a few numbers, youโll want to know the answer as it could be affecting your work or business.
People block calls for different reasons.
For instance, you might block someone because they call you too often or leave annoying messages that are being blocked that could be distracting.
Sometimes the idea behind this is to discourage scammers and telemarketers from bothering you with their unwanted calls.
Whatever the reason, knowing what your blocked caller hears can help you cope with your situation more effectively and less painfully.
Blocked โ What does a blocked caller hear?
At some point, youโll be curious to know what a blocked caller hears.
Perhaps you suspect that someone has put your number in the block list.
In such a case, you wouldnโt be able to reach that person on their phone number even after several attempts.
It happens because your number is in their blocked or reject list.
Blocking a number helps prevent distraction and annoyance when youโre busy working.
But also, there are exceptions.
For instance, maybe their phone is off and thatโs why they canโt receive your call.
Other times itโs because theyโve activated the Do Not Disturb feature.
So before you get paranoid or jump to conclusions, at least have an idea of what youโll hear on your end.
Typically, when your number has been blocked youโll hear only one ring or absolutely no ring before the call is immediately transferred to voicemail.
This indicates youโve made the block list.
On the other end, the recipientโs phone will remain completely silent and even when you leave a voicemail message, they will not receive a notification.
If you call on different occasions and still get the same result, itโs very likely youโve been blocked.
However, if you happen to hear at least three or more rings before the call diverts to voicemail, there is a possibility youโre not blocked yet.
The person on the other end might just be ignoring your calls because theyโre busy or donโt have time to chat.
How do you know if someone has blocked your number?
Weโve discussed what youโre likely to hear when someone blocks your number.
But how do you know for sure? You donโt! The only way to check is to ask the person on the other line directly and hope theyโll tell you themselves.
That being said, there are some clues that might help arrive at an idea.
One of the biggest tell tale signs that someone has blocked you is the fact they will actively disregard any call you make to them.
They wonโt pick up, they wonโt leave a voicemail and they wonโt answer their phone.
Another thing is usual messages whenever you try to call them.
Blocked number messages vary depending on the wireless carrier.
If you call and get a weird message that youโve never heard before, itโs more likely theyโve blocked you.
A message that says โThere is no one available to take your call right nowโ would indicate a blocked number.
Sometimes it could say, โThe number youโre calling is temporarily out of serviceโ.
However, only assume that youโre blocked if you get the same message after calling once a day for at least three days.
Also, if you call and get a busy signal before the call is dropped, it may mean your number is blocked.
Either your carrier has blocked it or youโve been put on the block list.
Although this is an uncommon clue, it doesnโt mean itโs not a possibility.
You could also try sending text messages instead of calling.
If you get the same result, there is a good chance that your number is blocked.
However, youโll want to keep note that some providers block texts from invalid numbers as well.
Can you see if a blocked number has tried to contact you?
It is possible to know if a blocked number has tried to call you on the other line.
If you have their voicemail on your phone, simply go to the list and listen to their message.
Usually, the voicemail will appear at the bottom of your list as โunknownโ or โunavailableโ.
You can also check your call log to see who called in the past.
However, if you havenโt received any calls from that number, your call log may not show anything.
You wonโt hear the phone ring when this happens.
Your screen will simply remain dark without showing any indication of a missed call.
However, you may see that they tried to call when you check the call log in the block list.
The bottom line is that blocked numbers canโt call you directly.
What they can do, however, is leave a message on your voicemail but still, this will be put at the very bottom of your voicemail list.
You wonโt see it when you check the call log in your phone.
Final Thoughts
Blocked calls can be a source of irritation especially when youโre the one on the block list.
However, there are things you can do to alleviate the frustration.
For example, learn to deal with annoying telemarketers, robocallers and scammers by not picking up or blocking them right away.
And if someone has blocked you, donโt get too agitated.
If you feel that it was a mistake, you can always apologize and ask them to unblock your number.
FAQs
What happens when you block a number on Android?
A bummer of a situation to be in.
Essentially, the blocked number cannot call you on Android phone or leave you a message.
How do I block someone from calling my cell phone?
You can go to your call log, select the number and press the โblockโ button.
This will show up as a red sign on the top right of your contact list.
How do I unblock a blocked number?
You can go to the block list, select the number and then press the โunblockโ button.
This will show up as a green sign on the top right of your contact list.