WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging applications in the world. Millions of people use it every day for chatting, voice calls, and video calls. While these features are useful for staying connected with friends, family, and colleagues, they can also become a source of disturbance. Many users receive unwanted voice and video calls from unknown numbers, telemarketers, scammers, or people they simply do not wish to communicate with.
If you are looking for a way to block WhatsApp voice and video calls, this complete guide will explain everything in detail. You will learn how WhatsApp’s call blocking works, how to block specific contacts, how to stop unknown callers from disturbing you, how to increase your privacy, and what you should know before using any third-party app that claims to block WhatsApp calls.
What Is WhatsApp Call Blocking?
WhatsApp Call Blocking means preventing someone from contacting you through WhatsApp voice or video calls.
There are different ways to achieve this:
- Block a specific contact.
- Silence calls from unknown numbers.
- Restrict your privacy settings.
- Archive or mute unwanted chats.
- Use your phone’s Do Not Disturb mode.
Each method works differently depending on what you want to achieve.
Why Do People Want to Block WhatsApp Calls?
Many users prefer to block WhatsApp calls for several reasons.
1. Unknown Callers
Random people may call after getting your number from social media, online groups, or business listings.
2. Spam Calls
Scammers often use WhatsApp to promote fake investments, lottery scams, or phishing attempts.
3. Privacy
Some people want to use WhatsApp only for messaging and do not want voice or video calls.
4. Work-Life Balance
Continuous calls during work, study, or sleep can be distracting.
5. Child Safety
Parents may want to prevent children from receiving calls from unknown people.
How to Block a Contact on WhatsApp
Blocking a contact is the easiest solution.
Android
- Open WhatsApp.
- Open the chat of the person.
- Tap the three-dot menu.
- Select More.
- Tap Block.
- Confirm.
iPhone
- Open WhatsApp.
- Open the chat.
- Tap the contact name.
- Scroll down.
- Tap Block Contact.
- Confirm.
Once blocked, that person cannot:
- Send messages.
- Make voice calls.
- Make video calls.
- View your last seen (depending on your privacy settings).
- See your profile photo updates (subject to your privacy settings).
Silence Unknown Callers
WhatsApp includes a feature to reduce interruptions from unknown numbers.
To enable it:
- Open WhatsApp.
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Privacy.
- Select Calls.
- Turn on Silence Unknown Callers.
With this enabled:
- Calls from unknown numbers will not ring loudly.
- They will still appear in your call history.
- This helps reduce spam without missing legitimate contacts entirely.
Hide Personal Information
Protecting your privacy can reduce unwanted contact.
Go to:
Settings → Privacy
Review these options:
- Last Seen & Online
- Profile Photo
- About
- Status
- Read Receipts
- Groups
Choose My Contacts or Nobody where appropriate.
Restrict Group Invitations
Unknown users sometimes add people to groups and then contact them.
To change this:
Settings → Privacy → Groups
Choose:
- Everyone
- My Contacts
- My Contacts Except…
Selecting My Contacts gives you more control.
Mute Chats Instead of Blocking
If you do not want to block someone permanently:
- Open the chat.
- Tap Mute Notifications.
- Choose:
- 8 Hours
- 1 Week
- Always
This silences notifications while keeping the conversation available.
Archive Chats
Archiving removes chats from the main screen.
To archive:
- Long press the chat.
- Tap Archive.
You can restore it anytime.
Use Do Not Disturb Mode
Android and iPhone both include Do Not Disturb mode.
Benefits:
- Blocks notification sounds.
- Reduces interruptions.
- Allows exceptions for important contacts.
This is useful during meetings or while sleeping.
Can You Disable Only Voice Calls?
No.
WhatsApp currently does not provide an option to disable only voice calls while keeping video calls active, or vice versa.
Available options include:
- Blocking contacts.
- Silencing unknown callers.
- Using phone notification settings.
Can You Disable WhatsApp Calls Completely?
There is no official setting that completely disables all incoming WhatsApp calls while allowing messages.
If you only want messaging:
- Silence unknown callers.
- Block unwanted contacts.
- Use Do Not Disturb mode when needed.
Third-Party WhatsApp Call Blocker Apps
You may see apps online claiming to block WhatsApp calls automatically.
Be cautious.
Potential risks include:
- Privacy issues.
- Malware.
- Account compromise.
- Data theft.
- Poor reliability.
Avoid apps that request unnecessary permissions or ask for your WhatsApp login details.
Tips to Reduce Spam Calls
- Do not share your number publicly.
- Avoid joining unknown WhatsApp groups.
- Never reply to suspicious callers.
- Report spam accounts.
- Block suspicious contacts immediately.
- Keep WhatsApp updated.
- Enable two-step verification.
Enable Two-Step Verification
Extra security protects your account.
Steps:
- Open WhatsApp.
- Settings.
- Account.
- Two-Step Verification.
- Enable.
- Create a PIN.
- Add an email address.
This makes it harder for someone to hijack your account.
Report Spam Users
If someone repeatedly bothers you:
- Open the chat.
- Tap the contact name.
- Scroll down.
- Tap Report.
- Choose whether to block as well.
Reporting helps WhatsApp identify abusive accounts.
Benefits of Blocking Unwanted Calls
- Better privacy
- Less disturbance
- Protection from scams
- Improved productivity
- Peace of mind
- Safer experience for children and elderly users
Common Myths
Myth 1
Blocking deletes the chat.
Reality: Existing chats remain unless you delete them yourself.
Myth 2
The blocked person gets notified.
Reality: WhatsApp does not notify someone when you block them.
Myth 3
Blocking removes them from your contacts.
Reality: Blocking does not delete the contact from your phone.
Myth 4
You can block only video calls.
Reality: WhatsApp does not currently support blocking only voice or only video calls from a contact separately.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I stop unknown WhatsApp calls?
Yes. Enable Silence Unknown Callers in WhatsApp Privacy settings.
Can blocked contacts send messages?
No. They cannot send messages or make voice/video calls to your WhatsApp account.
Will blocked users know they are blocked?
WhatsApp does not send a notification, but they may notice that their calls do not connect and they no longer see certain profile information.
Can I unblock someone later?
Yes. Open the contact’s profile and choose Unblock Contact.
Are WhatsApp call blocker apps safe?
Many are not. Use caution and prefer WhatsApp’s built-in privacy and blocking features.
Best Privacy Practices
- Regularly review your privacy settings.
- Keep WhatsApp updated.
- Use strong device security (PIN, fingerprint, or Face ID).
- Never share verification codes.
- Avoid clicking suspicious links.
- Block and report suspicious contacts.
Conclusion
WhatsApp offers several built-in tools to help you manage unwanted voice and video calls. While there is currently no official feature to disable all WhatsApp calls while keeping messaging enabled, you can effectively reduce disturbances by blocking unwanted contacts, silencing unknown callers, adjusting your privacy settings, and using your phone’s Do Not Disturb mode.
