How to Make the Phone Not Reachable to Avoid Unwanted Calls?

From Airplane Mode to call-forwarding, there are several ways to temporarily prevent you from receiving unwanted calls without disconnecting from the network:

By enabling “Airplane Mode,” you can instantly disconnect your phone from cellular networks, making it unreachable for incoming calls and messages.

Steps:

• Open your phone's settings.
• Locate the Airplane Mode option and turn it on.

This mode is available on both Android and iPhone devices and can be easily switched on and off.

Turning on DND mode blocks all calls or allows only calls from specific contacts. It stops all incoming calls and alerts/ notifications to reach your device. You can instantly turn off the mode from the device settings once you’re ready to take the calls again. This feature is available on both Android and iPhone.

Steps to turn on DND mode on iPhone:

• Swipe down the Control Center menu from the top-right corner of your screen.
• Select the ‘Focus’ button.
• Choose ‘Do Not Disturb’ from the available options.
• The DND mode is now activated on your iPhone - you’ll see the Crescent Moon icon on the top of the screen.

Steps to turn on DND mode on Android:

• Swipe down the notification bar from the top of your screen.
• Find and tap on the “Do Not Disturb” option to turn on DND mode.

You can temporarily disable your SIM card from the settings. By doing so, your phone will no longer connect to cellular networks, meaning you won’t receive any incoming calls, messages, or notifications. However, you can still use other functions of your phone.

Steps:

• Go to your phone settings.
• Locate the SIM card Settings and choose to disable the SIM.

This method is quick and easy to reverse once you’re ready to be reachable again.

Call-blocking apps like Truecaller, Hiya, or Call Control are some best apps to block unwanted calls, marking your phone as unavailable for those numbers. To use these apps, you simply need to download the app on your phone and add the number. The app then blocks those calls before they reach you.
 

Steps to Block Calls Using Truecaller:
 

• Download Truecaller from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
• Register with your phone number and allow access to contacts.
• Go to "Block" and add the unwanted number manually or from the call history.
• Turn on spam detection to block flagged numbers automatically.

Steps to Block Calls Using Hiya:

• Download Hiya via the Play Store or App Store.
• Register your number and allow necessary permissions.
• Go to settings and find the call-blocking or spam filter option.
• Enable spam filter and block the specific numbers.

Steps to Block Calls Using Call Control:

• Download the Call Control app from your app store.
• Register and allow Call and Contact access.
• Add unwanted numbers from recent calls or manually.

Another way to avoid unwanted calls is to set up call forwarding to voicemail and customize your voicemail message to read “Switched off” or “Out of service.” This way, you can make callers think that your phone has been turned off without them realizing you're avoiding them.

Steps:

• Go to your phone’s call settings.
• Enable call forwarding to voicemail.
• Record a message that says your phone is switched off.

This will send calls directly to voicemail, and callers will hear your “switched off” message instead.

Another effective method of making your phone number unreachable for everyone is by using Call-Barring features. Call barring is a network feature that lets you restrict calls (incoming or outgoing) according to your preferences. Once you enable it, callers will get the message “Unavailable” or “Unreachable” whenever they try to reach you.

Steps:

• Go to your phone’s call settings.
• Find the “Call Barring” option, and choose the type of barring you prefer (such as barring all incoming calls).

*Some networks may require a password to activate this feature.

If you are continuously receiving telemarketing, spam, or other calls, you can simply block that specific number to prevent the caller from reaching you. Other people in your contacts list can still reach out to you. Only your selected number is blocked.

Steps:

• Open your call log or contacts list.
• Find the number you wish to block, and select the "Block" option.

Once blocked, the caller will receive a "busy" or "unreachable" message when they try to call you.

Lastly, powering off your phone is the simplest method to prevent unwanted calls. It ensures that no calls can reach you. This method is best for short-term solutions, such as when you are sleeping or away from your phone. However, you will not be able to receive other important calls, too, during this time.

Steps:

• Press and hold the power button.
• Select "Power Off."

Your phone will now be unreachable for all incoming calls until you turn it back on.

Making your phone unavailable reduces interruptions and helps you focus on your work, but you may also miss important calls while doing so.

• Reduce Interruptions: When your phone is unreachable, unexpected calls won’t disturb you, allowing you to focus on tasks without distractions.
• Improve Focus: Avoiding constant notifications can help you concentrate better, whether working, studying, or spending quality time alone.
• Privacy Control: Making your phone unreachable helps you control who can reach you, adding a layer of privacy when you need it most.
• Stress Reduction: Constant notifications can be stressful. Limiting unwanted interruptions can create a calmer environment, especially when spending personal time.

• Missing Important Calls: While blocking unwanted calls, you may also miss urgent or important ones.
• Delay Messages and Notifications: Messages, voicemails, or notifications might not arrive in real-time, leading to delays in important information or responses.
• Inconvenience to Callers: Callers who repeatedly try to reach you may become frustrated and may stop calling you in the future.

Sometimes, you just need to make your phone unreachable to avoid annoying calls. There are many ways to do this. But keep in mind making your network unreachable also means missing important calls. So, it’s all about finding a balance that works for you.

If you only want to block certain numbers, you can do it from your device’s default settings or using call-blocking apps. However, if you're looking for something more advanced, consider upgrading your phone system to Calilio. Our smart call-blocking features allow you to filter out spam, robocalls, and other unnecessary interruptions without blocking the necessary calls. Sign Up today!

“Phone Not Reachable” means that the phone is temporarily disconnected from the network, so incoming calls and messages cannot be received. This happens when your phone is in Airplane Mode, out of service range, turned off, or set to restrict calls.

Yes, Airplane Mode disconnects your phone from all cellular networks, so you won’t receive calls or texts until you turn it off.

People may make their phones unreachable to avoid unwanted calls, reduce interruptions during important events, or maintain privacy during personal time.

Yes, Do Not Disturb mode allows you to customize settings so only selected contacts can reach you while blocking others.

Most call-blocking apps, including Truecaller, can work offline for numbers saved in the app. However, spam updates and other key features may require an internet connection.

You can stop incoming calls without blocking them by enabling Airplane Mode on your phone. You can also use DND mode to silence calls or activate call barring to restrict all incoming calls.