How to send unknown callers directly to voicemail in iOS 18?

Settings>Apps>Phone>Silence Unknown Callers.

Tip: Settings has a search box at the very top of the main screen (you may have to pull down to see it). If I don't know where something is in settings, that's where I start.

Hiding something that used to be visible is not helpful at all. Yes, I found it but I shouldn’t have had to search.

Helpful or not, it's how it is now. And we are all users here on this user to user only forum, NOT Apple Support.

If you don't like how Apple is doing this, feel free to tell them, as we cannot change anything with iOS in any way shape or form --> Feedback - iPhone - Apple

Lowbflat wrote:

Hiding something that used to be visible is not helpful at all. Yes, I found it but I shouldn’t have had to search.

Then don't ever update your phone, especially a major update as every year, a new iOS means new features and changes.

The_Dude_7HD wrote:

Search doesn’t show it on iOS 18 on the iPhone 16 Max Pro. Part of the reason it doesn’t show is because phone is an app now rather than a primary setting.

Stupid move Apple.

I definitely don't agree. People complained for years about how hard it was to find the settings for their apps, ALL Apple did was create a button called Apps, which takes to a completely alphabetical listing of every app you have, which you can then tap to get to the apps available settings. It's a change. And to many a welcome change. At least it is to me.

That was not helpful at all. It's still a phone with a camera. Phone settings shouldn't be hidden in an app.

If Apple wants to start calling it the iCamera that also makes phone calls, then your response would be right on the money — but that day hasn't happened (yet)?

I’m 71 and have bad eyes. I also have a TBI. People with no disabilities have no idea how difficult these changes are. I didn’t want an update to 18, but it was done anyway. These are not extreme requests. I have to get a call from a doctor and I can’t turn off the filter for unrecognized numbers because I can’t find it. So stressful and what I DONT NEED is stress.

Simplysmashink wrote:

I’m 71 and have bad eyes. I also have a TBI. People with no disabilities have no idea how difficult these changes are. I didn’t want an update to 18, but it was done anyway. These are not extreme requests. I have to get a call from a doctor and I can’t turn off the filter for unrecognized numbers because I can’t find it. So stressful and what I DONT NEED is stress.

Open Settings App

Scan ALL the way down to the bottom, where you see Apps and tap it

Then look for Phone in the alphabetical list

Tap Phone, scan down to see and turn off Silence Unknown Callers

It took me almost an hour to find & fix it. In the meantime I missed 4 very important calls. My son is missing and I am stuck trying to fuxaround with a stupid contrary device. And of course I googled it and the first 9 had me ready to throw it at the wall.

So thanks apple.

sgszeta wrote:

Bizarre to hid the phone in "apps" -- is the telephone really an app?

Yes, it's an app.

The camera, on the other hand, is apparently not an app and in the main settings menu. The telephone evidently ought also to be in the main settings menu.

Tell Apple:

Product Feedback - Apple

I suspect that the Phone app is less frequently used than the Camera app.

Lilisbuddy wrote:

I just hate it when something has been constant for many IOS versions and they change it.

They do it every year with something so, you could say that's a constant, too.

Search doesn’t show it on iOS 18 on the iPhone 16 Max Pro. Part of the reason it doesn’t show is because phone is an app now rather than a primary setting.

Stupid move Apple.

Lowbflat wrote:

Hiding something that used to be visible is not helpful at all. Yes, I found it but I shouldn’t have had to search.

If someone bought their first iPhone today and Apple changed things back to the way they were in iOS 17, that person would have to search it. We all get used to things. But most of us can get used to new things, too.

Bizarre to hid the phone in "apps" -- is the telephone really an app? The camera, on the other hand, is apparently not an app and in the main settings menu. The telephone evidently ought also to be in the main settings menu.