How Can I Automatically Block Calls from Unknown Numbers?

You might want to try the Do Not Disturb feature in your settings. You can customize it to suit your needs and still receive calls from contacts.

On my Samsung Galaxy S22, I set up a night mode that only allows calls from contacts. I have it scheduled from 9 PM to 9 AM to avoid spam overnight.

If you're using an iPhone, you can easily set up call blocking by going to Settings and searching for "silence." You'll find the option to silence calls from unknown numbers. Just enable Silence Unknown Callers for Phone, and it won't ring; it might still show up in your notifications, though.

Be cautious with this approach, though! If a friend gets a new number or if important calls come from unknown numbers, you might miss them. I also deal with a lot of spam since keeping the same number for over 20 years. Just something to think about!

It would help to know what type of phone you have, but many devices do offer a feature to allow calls only from saved contacts. For instance, on Samsung phones, you can go to Phone > Settings > Block Numbers and enable the option to block calls from unknown numbers.

I recommend using Google Voice linked to your phone. This way, unknown callers are required to leave a message before your phone rings. You hear their message when you answer, and you can decide whether to accept or decline the call. Plus, you can block all calls from numbers not in your contacts.