Avoid unwanted calls with Verizon Call Filter FAQs

The Call Filter app screens incoming callers to alert you if a number may be spam, a robocall or fraud. If your device isn't compatible with the Call Filter app, you may still be able to use Call Filter through My Verizon.*

Call Filter (free) gives:

• Spam Detection
• Spam Filter
• Spam and blocked call log
• Allow numbers (iOS only)
• Report spam

Call Filter Plus gives additional features:

• Caller ID
• Spam lookup
• Personal block list
• Spam risk meter.

Note: Eligible devices can also manage block settings in My Verizon. Learn more about Call Blocking.

*Prepaid devices and Business Lines can’t add or access Call Filter through My Verizon.

Call Filter is free* for Verizon customers with a compatible device. You can also get:

• Call Filter Plus for $2.99/month. Call Filter Plus includes these additional features: Caller ID, Spam lookup, Personal block list, Spam risk meter
• Call Filter Plus (multi-line) for $7.99/mo and is for 3 or more lines.
  
  Note: Devices not compatible with the Call Filter app may not be able to upgrade to Call Filter Plus.

*Data usage applies.

The Call Filter app is pre-loaded on most Android™* devices and may already be on your phone.

You can download Call Filter from the Apple® App Store® and Google Play™.

Visit our How to use Call Filter page for detailed steps on how to get Call Filter.

*Not pre-loaded on Prepaid Phone in a Box or devices brought to Verizon from another carrier.

If you're on a standard monthly plan or prepaid plan and have a compatible devie, Call Filter (free) is included on your account.

To see which devices are compatible with Call Filter, visit our Call Filter supported devices page.

Refer to the table below:

Call Filter is not available on lines with Dual SIM capable devices while both the eSIM and physical Verizon SIM are active on the device at the same time.

If your line has a Dual SIM capable iPhone with only the eSIM activated (no physical SIM) you cannot use the Call Filter app. However, you can enroll in and manage Call Filter through the My Verizon app and website.

If your device isn't compatible with the Call Filter app, visit the Add-ons and apps page in the My Verizon app or website to turn on Call Filter.

Visit our How to use Call Filter page to learn how to enroll in Call Filter in the My Verizon app or website.

Note: Prepaid devices and Business Lines cannot use Call Filter.

Call Filter uses analytics and databases that are constantly evolving to detect spam calls, including those that may be spoofed.

You can help us improve the accuracy of the service by reporting spam numbers we may have missed.

We also use the STIR/SHAKEN technology to reduce the chances of incorrectly blocking or identifying a "good" call as "Potential Spam." Learn more about STIR/SHAKEN and how Verizon is using it.

Verizon doesn't guarantee that all spam calls will be detected. If you disagree with how a number was categorized by the system, you can unmark the number as spam, add to your contacts, or allow the number (iPhone only).

If a legitimate number is incorrectly identified as spam, visit our Verizon spam feedback page to let us know.

iPhone users with Call Filter (free) and Call Filter Plus can add phone numbers to a personal allowed list. Numbers added to this list will not be blocked*. Visit Apple iPhone - Add/remove allowed numbers to learn how.

*Some numbers may still be blocked by another app or service on your device. To help ensure any calls you want to receive are not blocked, you can also add them to your contacts.

Learn how to report and block a number as spam and more in our Call Filter How to Use Guide.

• Potential Spam*: Unwanted callers that may be calling indiscriminately or inappropriately to a large number of recipients.
• Robo Caller: Automated caller with a pre-recorded message.
• Potential Fraud: An entity likely pretending to be someone they're not with malicious intent.

*All spam calls will be labeled as "Potential Spam" for customers enrolled in the free version of Call Filter.

Call Filter may not always identify or block spam calls that originate outside of the U.S. However, you can turn on the Block international calls setting to block all international numbers. Visit How to use Call Filter to learn how to turn on International block.

Depending on your device and spam block settings, they'll either go to voicemail* or be terminated.

*Verizon-purchased Android devices with the Call Filter app preloaded don't have the option to terminate a call before it reaches the device.

If you are an iPhone user and upgrade to iOS 14, you have access to the Silence Junk Callers feature on your iPhone. Silence Junk Callers is auto-enabled on your device and automatically silences potential fraud and spam calls and sends them to voicemail.

If a call is suspected as a spam call, you'll see "Maybe: Junk" on identified incoming calls. These calls will also appear in your Recents list.

Note: Wanted calls may be inadvertently blocked when Silence Junk Callers is turned on.

Visit How to use Call Filter to learn how to turn off Silence Junk Callers.

*Only available on iOS 14 and newer.

When you switch iPhones or you uninstall and then reinstall the Call Filter app on your iPhone*, your previous spam filter settings will be saved. This includes:

• Spam filter on/off
• Spam filter risk level
• Blocked call treatment preferences (voicemail or terminate)
• Allowed numbers

Note: Deleting the Call Filter app does not turn off spam filtering and calls will still be labeled as spam or blocked until you turn off the spam filter or unsubscribe from the service.

*Does not apply to Android devices at this time.

Neighborhood (or neighbor) spoofing is when a scammer calls you from a fake number that's familiar or similar to your own, to trick you into answering the call. The incoming call will have the same area code and likely the same 6-digit prefix as your own phone number, hoping you’ll think it’s a neighbor.

To help protect you against neighbor spoofing calls, we’ve added Neighborhood Filter to Call Filter. With Neighborhood Filter you can automatically forward to voicemail calls from your own area code/prefix and others. With Call Filter Plus you can also filter out an entire area code.

Here’s what you get:

Due to the complexity of neighborhood spoofing, all calls from area code/prefix or area code you entered will be blocked, not just spam calls. Some wanted calls may be inadvertently blocked.

Visit How to use Call Filter to learn how to use Neighborhood Filter.

¹Area code block is only available on Android devices with the Call Filter app preloaded

To receive calls from a number with an area code/prefix that you’ve blocked with Neighborhood Filter, save the number to your contacts.

If the number is in your Recent Activity in the Call Filter app, you can select "Ignore filter" to unblock it*.

Visit How to use Call Filter to learn how to unblock numbers.

Visit How to use Call Filter for instructions to set up and use these Call Filter features:

• Get started with Call Filter
• Manage spam numbers
• Block and unblock numbers
• Manage Neighborhood Filter
• Manage notifications with Call Filter
• Manage pictures
• Look up a number's city and state
• Opt out of blocking high-risk spam calls on iPhone
• Unsubscribe from Call Filter

Visit How to opt out of blocking high-risk spam calls on iPhone to learn how.