Apple’s iOS 26 to Equip iPhones with ‘call Screening‘ to Combat Spam
Apple announced a new Call Screening feature coming with iOS 26, designed to help iPhone users proactively manage unwanted calls from unknown numbers. The tool builds upon the existing live Voicemail functionality and aims to substantially reduce interruptions from spam and nuisance callers by providing users with key details before they answer.
The rise of robocalls and spam has become a pervasive issue for smartphone users,costing consumers time and possibly money. Call Screening offers a potential solution by silently answering incoming calls from numbers not saved in the user’s contacts, then presenting a transcription of the caller’s purpose. This allows users to quickly assess the call’s legitimacy and decide whether to answer or ignore it, putting them back in control of their phone experience.
Call Screening operates by automatically answering calls from unidentified numbers “silently,in the background.” The iPhone then gathers facts as the caller states their name and reason for calling, displaying this information to the user when the phone rings.
The feature will be available as a free software update with the release of iOS 26 this fall, and is compatible with iPhone 11 and later models. Apple is currently testing iOS 26 features through the apple Developer Program, with a public beta expected to launch in July 2025.
Call Screening will initially roll out in over twenty countries and territories, including: China mainland, Hong Kong, the United States, the united Kingdom, Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore, South Africa, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Spain, Mexico, and Brazil, and also Macao.
