Apple’s new iOS 26 update brings a handy feature called Call Screening, designed to help iPhone users in India and worldwide tackle the problem of unwanted spam and marketing calls. This feature makes handling unknown calls easier, saving time and reducing disturbances.
What is Call Screening in iOS 26?
Call Screening works by automatically answering calls from unknown numbers before your phone even rings. Instead of interrupting you, an automated voice asks the caller to say their name and the reason for the call. You receive this as a text transcript on your screen. Based on this, you can decide whether to answer, reject, or send the call to voicemail. It’s like having a personal assistant screening your calls in real time.
How to Enable Call Screening on Your iPhone
If your iPhone supports iOS 26 (available on iPhone 11 and later models), you can enable Call Screening easily:
- Go to Settings on your iPhone.
- Tap Apps, then select Phone.
- Look for Screen Unknown Callers.
- Choose one of the three options:
-
- Never: Unknown calls ring as usual.
- Ask Reason for Calling: The phone asks callers for their reason, then shows you the transcript.
- Silence: Unknown calls go straight to voicemail.
Selecting Ask Reason for Calling is the recommended choice for most people. It helps pick important calls while keeping spam away.
Why Indian Users Will Benefit
Spam and robocalls are a big headache in India, especially with many unsolicited marketing calls. This feature will help users avoid interruptions while still allowing important calls through. The call transcripts appear in English, which is currently supported in India, helping users quickly judge which calls matter.
What Users Say About Call Screening
Early feedback worldwide suggests users love the feature for giving them back control over their phones. Most report far fewer interruptions from telemarketers. However, some caution that the feature might miss urgent calls if callers don’t leave clear responses. Apple is expected to improve alerts and language support over time.
Final Thoughts
Call Screening in iOS 26 is a simple but powerful tool for Indian iPhone users tired of spam calls. It filters out unwanted interruptions without blocking all unknown calls, striking a good balance. If using an iPhone 11 or newer, updating to iOS 26 and trying Call Screening will bring peace to daily phone use.
