iOS 26 introduces call screening with Ask Reason for Calling to stop spam calls effectively

Apple launched iOS 26 last month, one of the most substantial iPhone design revamps in years. The release brings with it a new, beautiful visual aesthetic referred to as "Liquid Glass", imparting an ultramodern, transparent appearance to the entire interface. In addition to visual enhancements, Messages and Camera see some new features, and Apple users now have their own take on 'Circle to Search' a feature that was a hit on Android. Though opinions regarding the new look may differ, there is one feature that stands out for its usability the new call screening feature, which is aimed at managing spam and unknown calls in a smarter manner.

A Smarter Way to Handle Unknown Calls

With iOS 26, Apple is providing users more control over the way they get calls from numbers they do not recognize. The feature provides three options you can allow such calls to ring as usual, keep them silent altogether, or apply a new setting called 'Ask Reason for Calling'. It is here that things become interesting.

When you turn this on by navigating to Settings > Apps > Phone > Screen Unknown Callers, and choosing Ask Reason for Calling, your iPhone asks unknown callers to say their name and reason for calling before your phone even rings. The caller's information appears on your screen in a chat-box format, where you can choose to answer or ignore the call.

You can even reply with a text message, which the assistant in the system reads out to the caller. The feature is seamless and provides a courtesey but firm layer of spam protection. But the feature only kicks in for numbers not stored in your contact list, so routine calls are left untouched.

A Middle Ground Between Silence and Distraction

Apple’s approach with “Ask Reason for Calling” creates a balanced middle ground between letting all unknown calls through and silencing them completely.

• Never: Lets unknown calls ring normally.

• Silence: Sends them directly to voicemail.

• Ask Reason for Calling: Screens the call by requesting the reason before ringing.

This new feature is particularly handy if you sometimes get legitimate calls from non-saved numbers e.g., deliveries, service appointments, or work opportunities but don't want to miss them and still don't want spam to interrupt.

Better yet, Apple has added this feature to all phones. It is not just available on more recent iPhones with Apple Intelligence; any iOS 26 device, including phones as old as the iPhone 11, can take advantage of it.

Rivaling Truecaller

iPhones have traditionally used Truecaller to identify spam. Truecaller's Caller ID displays the name of the caller, and its Assistant can block calls, recognize spam, and tell you whether a call is worth answering. Though Truecaller is still a strong competitor, the native solution in iOS 26 provides a simpler, privacy-aware alternative without having to install a separate app.

If you’re someone who receives a lot of unknown or spam calls, enabling iOS 26’s call screening feature is definitely worth it. It not only reduces distractions but also fits perfectly with Apple’s privacy-first strategy, where the user remains in control.

The "Ask Reason for Calling" feature may not be the sexiest sounding thing, but it addresses a real-world frustration that plagues nearly every smartphone user these days. It's a quiet but important step towards smarter communication and privacy. For lots of iPhone users particularly those who prefer Apple's built-in options over third-party options like Truecaller this may be one of the most truly practical features in iOS 26.