Avoid unwanted calls with Verizon Call Filter FAQs

Call Filter 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
  
• Report spam

Call Filter Plus gives additional features:

• Caller ID
• Spam lookup
• Personal block list
• Spam risk meter
• Block by category

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 $3.99/month. Call Filter Plus includes these additional features: Caller ID, Spam lookup, Personal block list, Spam risk meter and Block by category.
  
• Call Filter Plus (multi-line) for $10.99/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™.

If your device isn’t compatible with the Call Filter app, you are still able to manage Call FIlter in My Verizon.

Note: Some devices aren’t compatible with the Call Filter app. Find out if your device is compatible or if you can manage Call Filter in My Verizon instead.

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 device, Call Filter (free) is included on your account.

To see which devices are compatible with Call Filter, visit our Call Filter page and scroll down to the supported devices list.

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. You can manage Call Filter in My Verizon.

These devices aren't compatible with the Call Filter app. However, you can use Call Filter in My Verizon with these devices:

• Android smartphones made 2017 or earlier
• Basic phones
• Home Phone Connect
• Prepaid Android Phone in a box
• Smart accessories in standalone mode (e.g., connected watches)
• Google Experience Devices (Pixels, Red Hydrogen One, Nexus series, etc.)
• Bring your own Android devices

These devices types aren't compatible with any Call Filter service:

• Verizon LTE 4G Broadband Router with Voice
• 3G-only voice capable devices
• Data only/non-voice capable devices (e.g., tablets, 4G LTE broadband routers, mobile hotspot devices, MiFi internet)
• Smart accessories (not in standalone mode)

Call Filter is available on lines with Dual SIM-capable devices when the eSIM and physical Verizon SIM are active on the device at the same time.

If your line has a Dual SIM-capable phone with:

• Only one SIM activated (i.e., eSIM or physical SIM) - You can use the Call Filter app and manage Call Filter through My Verizon (app and website).
• Both SIMs active on Verizon - You can add Call Filter on both lines through My Verizon. However, the Call Filter app is eligible with only one SIM at a time. During setup or at any time through the Account tab, you can choose which SIM you want to use with the Call Filter app.

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 through My Verizon.

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.

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

Call Filter app 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 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.

Yes, Call Filter can identify and block spam calls from international numbers the same way as domestic spam calls. You don’t need to take additional action to block these calls if your spam filter is turned on.

Spam calls will either go to voicemail or be terminated depending on what you select in the Call Filter app or My Verizon. If you do not update your settings, spam calls will go to voicemail by default.

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.

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 the Call Filter app. 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 make sure you receive calls from a number with an area code/prefix that you’ve blocked with Neighborhood Filter, save the number to your contacts or allow the number in the Call Filter app.

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

For select Verizon-purchased Android devices*, the Call Filter app can no longer be updated. As a result, some functionality (e.g., spam filter settings) may exist in the app but won’t update to our systems or sync with My Verizon. On these devices, it’s best to use and manage Call Filter in My Verizon.

Check if your device is or isn’t compatible with the Call Filter app and if you can manage Call Filter in My Verizon.

Visit My Verizon Website - Manage Call Filter to learn how to turn off your spam filter or update your block preferences in My Verizon.

*Verizon-purchased Android devices from 2017 or earlier, or which don’t support Android 9 or above Includes (i.e., Samsung Galaxy S8, Samsung Galaxy J7V, LG G6™, and LG K20™ V).

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

On a Verizon purchased Android device, only the newest, most updated version of the Call Filter app will match the settings in My Verizon. To fix this, update* your Call Filter app in the Google Play Store.

*Eligible device required. Only Verizon-purchased Android devices can use or update the Call Filter app. BYOD devices are not included.