I’m concerned someone may have blocked my number on their iPhone. My calls go straight to voicemail, and texts seem undelivered. How can I confirm?
Oh no, your calls are going straight to voicemail? Yikes. Here’s the good news: it might not be you. It could be their phone’s on Do Not Disturb, or their battery called it quits. Happens to the best of us. The bad news? Yeah… it might actually be you. If your texts stay stuck on ‘Sent’ but never ‘Delivered,’ there’s a solid chance you’ve been sent to the shadow realm of blocked contacts.
Try this: Call from another number. If it rings normally, you might be blocked. If it still doesn’t, maybe they’re just ignoring everyone—equal-opportunity ghosting. Another sneaky trick? Turn off caller ID and call again (you can do this by dialing *67 before their number). If it rings THEN… awkward, you’re on the no-contact list.
But hey, life’s too short to over-analyze someone blocking your number. You could be dealing with an iPhone glitch or, honestly, someone with poor communication skills. Either way, focus your energy on people who do want to answer your calls. Their loss! Anyway, you’ve got options now. Go experiment, Sherlock.
First off, the whole “calls going to voicemail” thing doesn’t scream blocked for sure. iPhones love to play games with their silence modes, Do Not Disturb settings, or random glitches. But if your texts stay blue and only say Sent (no Delivered) repeatedly, then yeah… that’s a red flag waving in your face.
Here’s another method to figure it out: Drop them a FaceTime call. If you’re blocked, it won’t go through at all. It’s like the universe instant-rejects your existence. However, if it rings, your number might still be in their good graces. Alternatively, shoot them an iMessage with a vague question. Something like, ‘Hey, just making sure my texts are coming through?’ If they respond, congrats—you’re probably not blocked. If not? Well, there’s that awkward silence again.
Now to disagree a bit with that @boswandelaar take—personally, I think calling from another number can be kinda obvious if they’re savvy. People tend to recognize that as a “block test” and may just ghost harder. A better move? Use a third-party app like WhatsApp or even try emailing them if things feel unclear. Yes, it’s old-school, but no one blocks email nowadays (yet).
Honestly, though, if you’ve hit the Sherlock Holmes phase, it might be worth thinking: Do I even WANT to chase someone who won’t communicate directly? Maybe they blocked you. So what? You’ve got better things to do than unravel their mystery. If they want to talk, they’ll unblock on their own. If not… enjoy the open time slot for someone who wants to hear from you.
Alright, so here’s the deal. @waldgeist and @boswandelaar covered a lot of ground with the Do Not Disturb, blue bubble shenanigans, and sneaky FaceTime maneuvers. Solid advice right there, no doubt. But, let’s go a step further without just rehashing their steps.
The ‘Practical Chill’ Check
Instead of only trying to break the Da Vinci Code of their settings or subtly ambush them with another number (which can feel a bit much), take a step back and just observe for a bit. If calls, texts, and FaceTime are all failing—AND mutual friends can reach the person just fine—it starts painting a clearer picture. Consistency matters here. A one-off “straight to voicemail” or “Sent-only texts” could just be an iPhone mood swing.
Cross-Platform Experiment
Here’s a fun twist: Hit ‘em up on other platforms. @waldgeist hinted at WhatsApp, which can give you little clues (like seeing their “last seen” status or if your message gets a double checkmark). Another minor detail? Social networks like Instagram or Snapchat. Are they posting but ghosting you? Awkward. But also, people rarely block across ALL platforms unless it’s intentional.
Ask Around (Subtly)
What if they’re unreachable to everyone—not just you? Might be a larger issue (like a lost phone or something). If you have mutual friends, casually check if they’ve heard from them recently. No need to make it dramatic; just a casual 'Oh, have you talked to them lately?” works wonders. If they’re active with others but MIA for you…yeah, draw your own conclusions.
Radar Check: Your Digital Energy
Here’s the unpopular angle: Instead of Sherlocking your way to a conclusion, ask why it matters so much. If someone went out of their way to block you or can’t communicate even to clarify things, take it as a sign. iPhones might complicate this guessing game, but human intentions are usually simpler than we think. Maybe it’s time to turn the focus back on things (and people) that bring positivity to your space.
Pros and Cons of Following This Approach
Pros:
- Less invasive—avoids coming across as desperate through multiple unsolicited attempts.
- Encourages a healthy pause and reprioritization.
- Provides multiple options without overwhelming with redundant steps.
Cons:
- May take longer to get a clear “yes” or “no” on blockage status.
- Involves some reliance on third-party insights, like apps or mutuals.
Final note: Between @boswandelaar’s experimental tactics and @waldgeist’s FaceTime trickery, there’s no shortage of ways to satisfy your curiosity. But honestly, sometimes the best move is no move at all. If they care, they’ll clear it up themselves. If they don’t? Let the blocked list be their loss.