Phone calls are the next best thing to face-to-face communication.
However, they can also be a source of significant grief and misery!
When you talk with someone face-to-face, you can walk away and diffuse a contentious situation.
You can also avoid face-to-face interaction until you feel ready to face them again.
Calls, on the other hand, are more intrusive since we carry our phones everywhere we go.
People can thus feel entitled to your time and attention, despite what your feelings may be! From jealous partners to pesky telemarketers, the list of people willing to interrupt you with a call is endless.
Sometimes the best way to handle an annoying person is to block their calls.
Blocking them gives you some peace if they prove unreasonable or abusive over the phone.
(Some partners block each other all the time! But that’s an issue for another day.)
After a while, you may feel like you are ready to try communicating with this person once more.
Unfortunately, it’s impossible to get hold of them if you don’t know how to unblock them. You may have even forgotten that you blocked them in the first place!
We’re here to help, with our Quick Guide on How To Unblock Restricted Calls in 2022!
So, Can You Unblock Restricted Calls?
The good news is that it’s not hard to unblock a number on your Android smartphone or iPhone.
If you’ve blocked a number, this guide will help you unblock it to receive the person’s calls and text messages again!
Keep in mind that all that unblocking a restricted number involves is reversing the original blocking process.
For instance, if you blocked a person through an app such as Messenger, you’ll need to go back to Messenger to unblock them.
If the number was blocked at a carrier level instead, you’ll need to contact your network service provider.
Make sure to have your account details ready before reaching out to the network provider.
Suppose you’re using a family member’s phone on their behalf; in that case, you will need their permission before the network provider can unblock a number.
They placed that restriction for a reason after all, so only they can lift it!
How To Unblock Restricted Calls On Android Phones
There are three ways you can unblock a person’s number:
- Through the phone’s Call app settings
- Using a third-party app
- Resetting your phone
Call App Settings
This process is pretty simple, and you do not need any technical expertise or assistance to manage it.
- Begin by opening the Phone app. (Tap on the icon that looks like a phone, if you were unsure.)
- Next, go to the phone app settings. You can reach the settings by tapping on the three dots at the top right corner of the app user interface (UI). Scroll down to Settings on the drop-down menu.
- Scroll through the settings until you get to the Blocked Numbers section. Tap to open the list.
- You should see a list of all numbers you have blocked on the phone. Scroll through the list and locate the number you need to unblock.
- Tap on the X icon next to the number to unblock it!
- Alternatively, you can tap on the number to bring up an options list, scroll to the Unblock option, then tap it. Depending on your Android version and phone UI, your phone will display either option.
- You will be prompted to confirm the unblock action. Confirm it to complete the process!
You should now be able to receive and make calls to the number and exchange messages once again.
Third-Party Apps
In the past, it was impossible to block numbers through the default Phone app.
The app has significantly improved functionality nowadays to allow for easy blocking and unblocking.
However, third-party phone apps still offer more functionality. If you have previously used a third-party app before, then the unblocking process will feel familiar to you whichever you choose to use!
- Truecaller is one of the most popular third-party call monitoring apps.
Not only does it allow you to block and unblock numbers easily, it also alerts you of unknown numbers (suspicious “Wireless Caller”, anyone?). You then have the option to engage with the caller or not!
- Mr. Number- Caller ID & Spam Protection is another popular app.
It goes further with its functionality to allow you to block telemarketer numbers (those pesky 4-digit ones). It also identifies numbers through data submitted by other app users.
- Call Control – SMS/Call Blocker rounds out our list of popular third-party apps. Its user database is extensive, making it proficient at identifying telemarketers.
You can also access all of the numbers you’ve blocked in the app’s Block list. Once you locate the number you wish to unblock, the process is relatively straightforward.
Factory Reset
In most circumstances, the first two options above will be sufficient.
However, if the first two solutions fail for whatever reason, you always have the option of resetting your phone back to factory settings!
Resetting should still be your very last resort, since you will have to set up your phone from scratch again if you do carry the process out.
Therefore, the blocked phone number (and attached person) needs to be significant enough to warrant this move.
We don’t recommend going with this solution unless you absolutely feel that it’s necessary.
Safety When It Comes To Phone Use
As you learn how to unblock numbers, it is crucial to consider your safety when using your phone.
When you’re considering unblocking a number, you should feel secure in doing so.
However, what if that’s not the case?
People sometimes have to block numbers out of fear for their safety. For instance, scammers and fraudsters may frustrate and harass you to the point of negatively affecting your everyday life.
Rather than changing your phone number entirely to escape them, it’s usually easier to block first to see if that’s sufficient to remove them!
A jealous ex-partner that has turned possessive and aggressive or an argument with another person can also escalate to dangers of mental and physical harm.
However, while it usually is a solid option, blocking numbers may not be the wisest solution in every situation.
Online bullying and cybercrime laws and regulations are improving each day. For instance, it is now a crime in many places for a person to threaten you over the phone.
There are departments within the law enforcement agencies where you can report these threats to your person.
Through these avenues, you may be able to achieve better, longer-lasting outcomes to some of those problems you might be experiencing!
As such, before you block a number, consider reporting seriously threatening behavior first.
Also, make sure that you very carefully review your list of blocked contacts before unblocking any of them.
You may have had a change of heart, but it’s always best to find out if the other person is open to calm and rational communication as well.
Remember: It’s always better to be safe than sorry!
In Conclusion
We all have reasons for blocking specific numbers and people, and restricting communication is your prerogative.
You’re free to reopen those lines of communication whenever you’re ready!
If you didn’t know quite how to unblock restricted calls, this guide should hopefully have been the solution you were looking for.
Whether it’s through the default Phone app, third-party software, or even via factory reset, unblocking someone on your phone is a pretty simple task.
Stay safe out there!