iOS 26 Call Screening Feature Not Working? All Fixes Here!

It's frustrating when a brand-new feature doesn't work as advertised. Apple's iOS 26 introduced a highly anticipated Call Screening function, designed to transcribe incoming calls in real-time and let you see who's calling and why before you even pick up. This is a game-changer for avoiding spam and unwanted interruptions. However, if you've updated your device only to find the iOS 26 call screening not working, you're not alone.

Many users have encountered issues ranging from the feature not appearing at all to it failing to transcribe calls correctly. This problem can prevent you from taking full advantage of one of iOS 26's most powerful new tools. Fortunately, there are several proven methods to troubleshoot and resolve this issue. This guide will walk you through the most effective fixes to get your Call Screening feature up and running smoothly.

Part 1. What Is the iOS 26 Call Screening Feature?

iOS 26 introduces a new Call Screening feature designed to help iPhone users manage calls from unknown numbers more effectively. This feature acts as a virtual assistant, answering calls from numbers not saved in your contacts and prompting the caller to state their name and the reason for their call. Their response is then transcribed and displayed on your screen, allowing you to decide whether to answer the call or not.

How to Enable Call Screening on your iPhone?

To activate this feature, navigate to: Settings > Apps > Phone > Screen Unknown Callers. Then select "Ask Reason for Calling".

Part 2. Why Is iOS 26 Call Screening Not Working?

1. Incorrect Language and Region Settings: For the feature to work, your iPhone's language and region must be set to a supported combination (e.g., Language: English (US), Region: United States). A mismatch can prevent the feature from appearing.

2. The Feature Isn't Turned On: Call Screening is not enabled by default. You must manually activate it in Settings > Phone > Screen Unknown Callers.

3. Cellular Carrier Conflicts: Your mobile provider's network settings or services could potentially interfere with how the Call Screening feature operates.

4. Interference from Other Apps: If you have a third-party call-blocking or spam-filtering app installed, it might be conflicting with Apple's built-in tool.

5. Software Bugs: As a new feature in iOS 26, there could be underlying software glitches that Apple will need to fix in a future update.

Part 3. How to Fix iOS 26 Call Screening Not Working?

Before attempting the troubleshooting methods below, ensure you have enabled call screening on your iPhone as described in the guide above.

Method 1: One-click to Fix iOS 26 Call Screening Not Working Caused by System Glitch

A persistent iOS system glitch on your iPhone can cause iOS 26 Call Screening not working issue. In this case, a dedicated iOS system repair tool like TunesKit iOS System Recovery can resolve deeper software problems without erasing your data.

It is specifically designed to target and resolve over 150 types of underlying iOS system errors, including problems such as the AFK Journey app freezing on iPhone, a black screen, or being stuck on the Apple logo. Moreover, it also offers features such as downgrading or upgrading iOS, entering or exiting recovery mode, and fixing iTunes errors.

Here's a step-by-step guide to fix iOS 26 Call Screening not working caused by system glitches using TunesKit iOS System Recovery.

Step 1Connect Your iPhone and Launch the Software

First, you'll need to download this program and install it on your Windows or Mac computer. Open it on your computer. Then, connect your iPhone to the computer using a USB cable. Select iOS System Repair on the main screen, and hit the Start button to move on.

Step 2Select the Repair Mode

There are two repair modes for you to choose from, if you want to keep your device's data intact, choose the Standard Repair to begin. Only if the Standard Repair won't work, you can choose another repair mode, please note that Deep Repair will erase all your data.

Step 3Download the Firmware Package

TunesKit will detect your device's model and iOS version. Click the Download button to get the appropriate firmware package for your iPhone. This may take some time depending on your internet connection speed.

Step 4Initiate the Repair Process

After the firmware has been successfully downloaded and verified, click the Repair button. TunesKit will then begin to fix the iOS system glitches on your iPhone.

Once the repair is complete, your iPhone will restart and should be free of the system glitches that were causing the call screening problems.

Method 2: Disable Low Power Mode

iOS 26's Call Screening feature relies on background processes to analyze incoming calls and detect spam or unwanted calls. When Low Power Mode is enabled, the system reduces background activity to save battery. Some services, including Call Screening, may not run properly or may be delayed.

So, if Call Screening is not functioning, turning off Low Power Mode can restore its full functionality.

Step 1: Open Settings on your iPhone.

Step 2: Scroll down and tap Battery.

Step 3: Find Low Power Mode and toggle it off. The toggle will turn gray, indicating it's disabled.

Method 3: Restart Your iPhone

A quick restart can often fix call screening issues in iOS 26 by refreshing system processes and clearing temporary glitches.

Step 1: Press and hold the Side button and either Volume button until the Power Off slider appears.

Step 2: Slide to turn off your iPhone and wait until the screen is fully black.

Step 3: After 10–15 seconds, press and hold the Side button again until the Apple logo appears.

Method 4: Check the Region and Language

You can adjust iPhone's Region and Language settings. For this feature to function correctly, your device's primary language and its designated region must be aligned and set to a supported combination.

Therefore, you should first check if the country or region you have set supports the call screening feature. Please click the link below to see all the supported languages and regions.

If the language and region you have set are not on the list, or if they do not match, please follow the steps below to adjust your settings.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Scroll down and tap on General.

Step 3: In the General menu, select Language & Region. Then, set the preferred language and region to match, and ensure that this combination is on the supported list.

Method 5: Disable Third‑Party Call‑Blocking Apps

Third-party applications designed to filter spam or block calls can sometimes interfere with the built-in Call Screening feature on iOS 26. These apps often attempt to manage incoming calls themselves, which can create a conflict with Apple's native system. This can prevent the iOS call screening prompt from appearing or cause it to function incorrectly.

By disabling these external apps from managing your calls, you can restore system stability and reduce the chances of important calls being incorrectly blocked. This ensures that your iPhone can properly handle unknown numbers using its intended real-time transcription service.

Step 1: Navigate to the Settings app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Scroll down and select Phone.

Step 3: Tap on Call Blocking & Identification.

Step 4: On the following screen, you will see a list of apps that have permission to identify and block calls. Toggle the switch off for any third-party apps listed here.

Method 6: Test the Feature with an Unknown Number

A crucial detail about the Call Screening function is that it is specifically designed to work only for numbers that are not saved in your contacts. The feature will not activate for calls from family, friends, or any other saved entry. For this reason, you must test its functionality by simulating a call from an unknown number to confirm if the issue is resolved.

Step 1: Arrange for a call to be made to your iPhone from a phone number that is not stored in your Contacts. You could use a work phone or ask a friend whose number you have not saved.

Step 2: As an alternative, you can have a friend hide their caller ID before they call you. Just go to Settings, tap Phone, and then tap Show My Caller ID. Toggle the setting off to hide your number for all calls. A call from a hidden or private number will be treated as an unknown caller and should trigger the screening function.

Step 3: When your iPhone receives the call from the unknown or hidden number, watch the screen carefully.

Step 4: If the feature is working correctly, you will see the Call Screening interface activate. It will prompt the caller for their name and reason for calling, and you should see their response appear as a live transcription on your screen.

Method 7: Force Quit and Restart the Phone App

If you're still experiencing the Apple call screening issue, restarting the Phone app can help. The app may temporarily freeze, overload, or run into a minor glitch, which prevents Call Screening from working correctly. Force quitting the app shuts down its active processes and gives it a fresh start—often fixing the problem without needing to restart the entire device.

Step 1: Swipe up from the bottom of your screen and pause in the middle to open the App Switcher. On iPhones with a Home button, double-press the Home button instead.

Step 2: Find the Phone app in the list of recently used apps.

Step 3: Swipe up on the Phone app card to force close it.

Step 4: Return to the Home Screen and reopen the Phone app.

Method 8: Update to the Latest iOS 26 Version

Apple frequently releases minor updates within each major iOS version. It can fix bugs affecting features like Call Screening, improve system stability and performance, patch compatibility issues with carriers and Phone app services, and enhance support for new regions and languages in Call Screening.

Thus, you can follow these steps to update your iPhone to the latest iOS 26 version.

Step 1: Open Settings on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap General.

Step 2: Select Software Update. If an update is available, tap Update Now button.

Step 3: Wait for the update to complete—your iPhone will restart automatically.

Method 9: Contact Apple Support

If iOS 26 Call Screening is still unavailable after trying all fixes, the issue may relate to your device, region, or account. Contact Apple Support for direct assistance—they can confirm feature availability in your area and provide advanced troubleshooting. If the problem is a known bug, Apple may already be working on a fix.

Part 4. Conclusion

In a nutshell, we've provided every possible solution to fix the iOS 26 Call Screening not working issue. You can try these methods one by one until the problem is solved. For persistent iOS bugs, TunesKit iOS System Recovery offers a definitive solution. This powerful tool is specifically designed to repair a wide range of underlying iOS issues safely and without any data loss. It's a reliable way to restore the call screening feature when manual fixes failed.