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Learn this article how to Silence Unknown WhatsApp Callers on Android and iPhone. With over two billion active users around the world, there is no doubt that WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps. The app lets you share messages, photos, and other files, and it also lets you make free voice and video calls. And even though the free call feature is great for users, scammers have been taking advantage of it for the past few weeks to trick people by making spam calls from international numbers.
At the moment, there is no way to STOP getting spam calls on WhatsApp, but you can silence calls from unknown numbers when you need a break. These calls can also come from numbers that aren’t on your list of contacts. The feature was announced earlier last week and is now available on both the Android and iOS stable versions of WhatsApp for mobile. Users will still be able to see when they miss a call from a number they don’t recognize.
Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, announced last week that WhatsApp users will soon be able to silence calls from people they don’t know. At the moment, the feature is available on stable versions of both WhatsApp for Android and WhatsApp for iOS. So, keep reading to find out how to Silence Unknown WhatsApp Callers on Android and iPhone.
What Is the Silence Unknown Callers Feature?
On WhatsApp, a person is unknown if you haven’t saved them in your contacts, sent them a message, or called them before. Once you turn on the app’s “mute calls” feature, all of these people’s calls to your phone will be muted. You can then go to the app’s “Calls” tab to see who called and, if you want, call them back. Silence Unknown Callers is a feature of WhatsApp that screens your incoming calls in the background. If it recognizes a call from a number that isn’t in your phonebook, it will automatically put it on hold.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Text messaging | Send and receive text messages, photos, videos, and documents. |
| Voice calls | Make and receive voice calls over Wi-Fi or cellular data. |
| Video calls | Make and receive video calls over Wi-Fi or cellular data. |
| Group chat | Create groups of up to 256 people to chat and share photos, videos, and documents. |
| Status updates | Share your status with your contacts, such as what you’re doing or how you’re feeling. |
| Disappearing messages | Send messages that disappear after they’re read. |
| Google Play Store | Download Now |
| iOS Store | Download Now |
Not to mention all of WhatsApp’s hidden features. But the point of WhatsApp was to replace SMS with a new platform that could get around the problems with the old carrier-based messaging services. SMS was stuck in the dark ages of technology and still is, with a 160-character limit and no way to send anything but text. Its younger brother, MMS, lets you send small pieces of media, like low-resolution photos and sound bites, but it can’t send videos and still doesn’t have features like read receipts and status indicators.
Why might you want to silence unknown WhatsApp callers?
- Privacy: It protects your privacy by stopping random or unknown people from calling you during the day.
- Spam: Unknown callers might be telemarketers, spam accounts, or people who didn’t ask to talk to you. Putting them on silent can help you avoid calls you don’t want.
- Distraction: Unexpected calls from people you don’t know can be annoying, especially when they come during important meetings, work, or your own time.
- Control: You decide who can call you through WhatsApp, so you can prioritize calls from people you know and trust.
- Peace and Quiet: If you block calls from unknown numbers, you can be sure to have peace and quiet when you want it.
- Security: It can protect you from scams or phishing attempts that could come through unwanted WhatsApp calls.
How to Silence Unknown WhatsApp Callers on Android
- Get WhatsApp started on your phone.
- Tap the icon with the three dots in the upper right corner.
- Choose Settings, then click on Privacy.
- Calls on Tap.
- Set the switch to Silence Unknown Callers.
How to Silence Unknown WhatsApp Callers on iPhone
- Tap the Settings icon at the bottom of the screen.
- After that you’ve opened WhatsApp.
- Click on Privacy.
- Enable Silence Callers who are unknown.
- Any calls from unknown numbers will be muted, but the Calls tab will still show you a history of all the calls you get.
Privacy and Security Considerations
- End-to-End Encryption: WhatsApp calls are protected by end-to-end encryption, which means that only you and the person you are calling can access the conversation. This ensures that your call content remains private.
- Data Collection: WhatsApp collects some metadata about your calls, such as the duration, timing, and phone numbers involved. While the content of the call is encrypted, metadata can still reveal information about your communication habits.
- Contact Access: WhatsApp accesses your phone’s contacts to help you connect with others on the platform. Ensure that you are comfortable with the app having access to your contact list.
- Account Verification: To enhance security, you can enable two-step verification for your WhatsApp account, adding an extra layer of protection against unauthorized access.
- Phishing and Scams: Be cautious of unsolicited calls or messages, as scammers may use WhatsApp to impersonate someone you know or trust. Verify the identity of the caller before sharing sensitive information.
Conclusion
You can make sure you don’t get calls from anyone on WhatsApp by changing your privacy settings, which we show you how to do. If someone has your phone number, it’s easy for them to check if it’s registered on WhatsApp. If that’s the case, they can call you on WhatsApp without first saving your number. By default, anyone on Meta can call you through the messaging app, even if you haven’t saved them as a contact or talked to them before. You don’t have to give up your privacy, though.
Questions and Answers
Users of WhatsApp should not answer these calls because they are dangerous. If you get these kinds of calls, it’s likely that scammers are trying to get money from you. Because of this, you must not answer such calls. Many of these calls are part of scams that come from other countries.
Tap the phone icon, which is usually at the bottom of your home screen, on an Android phone. Then tap the three dots in the upper right corner of the screen, then Settings, and then Blocked Numbers. Then, turn on “Block Calls From Unidentified Callers” by tapping the right-hand toggle switch.
At the moment, the feature is available on stable versions of both WhatsApp for Android and WhatsApp for iOS. Users will still get these calls or a message that they missed a call if they don’t answer, but if they silence calls from unknown numbers, these calls won’t ring and won’t be a bother.
But, just like regular text messages or phone calls, other WhatsApp users who have your phone number can get in touch with you. They might be in your contacts list or they might not. These people might send you messages because they want to spread false information or get you to give them money.