Many iPhone 17 Pro max, iPad users are reporting a major blocking issue after updating to iOS 26.4, where iPhones suddenly stop properly blocking:

• phone calls
• spam emails
• voicemails
• text messages

The issue affects multiple iPhone models including:

• iPhone 15 Pro Max
• iPhone 17 Pro Max
• older iPhones running iOS 26.5

Users say the problem started immediately after installing the update.

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What Exactly Happens?

Normally, when users:

• swipe left on a phone number or email
• tap “Block” or “Block and Report Spam”

the iPhone should:

• show the blocked icon
• add the sender to blocked contacts
• stop future communication from appearing normally

But after iOS 26.4:

• the “Block” option appears to work temporarily
• the blocked icon disappears afterward
• the sender is not actually blocked permanently
• the “Unblock” option never appears

Many users confirm the block action completely fails.

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Common Symptoms

Affected users report:

• blocked emails still appearing in Inbox
• blocked calls continuing normally
• spam texts not staying blocked
• blocked icon disappearing after reopening app
• blocked contacts list not updating
• “Move to Trash” failing for blocked emails

Some users also noticed:

• Gmail works correctly
• Exchange / Office 365 accounts are more affected

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Why This Happens

The issue appears to be a bug introduced in iOS 26.4.

The system:

• visually recognizes blocked senders
• but fails to save or apply the block permanently

Many users believe:

• contact blocking database fails to update
• synchronization between apps is broken
• Mail and Messages filtering rules fail after update

Several users say the issue did not exist before updating.

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Apps Affected

The bug appears across multiple Apple apps including:

• Apple Mail
• Messages
• Phone

Some users report:

• email blocking broken
• spam texts still arriving
• voicemail blocking failing

all at the same time.

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Troubleshooting Steps Users Tried

Users report trying:

• restarting iPhone
• force restart
• toggling airplane mode
• signing out of Apple ID
• resetting network settings
• reblocking contacts
• checking blocked contacts list

But for many users:

• none of these solved the issue permanently

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Does iOS 26.4.1 Fix the Problem?

Some users say:

• updating to iOS 26.4.1 solved the issue completely

especially for:

• call blocking
• contact blocking

However:

• others report the bug still exists
• especially for email blocking and spam texts

Some users even say the issue continues in iOS 26.5.

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Exchange and Office 365 Users Hit Hardest

Many users with:

• Exchange accounts
• Office 365 mail

say blocked emails still appear in Inbox even with:

“Move to Trash”

enabled.

The Mail app:

• labels emails as blocked
• but refuses to move them correctly

This appears heavily connected to Exchange synchronization.

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Temporary Workarounds

Until Apple fixes the bug, users are trying:

For Calls and Texts

• manually creating contacts
• blocking from Contacts app
• restarting device after blocking

For Emails

• using Outlook app instead of Apple Mail
• creating server-side spam rules
• manually moving emails to junk

General

• updating to latest iOS version
• checking:
  • Settings → Phone → Blocked Contacts
  • Settings → Mail → Blocked Sender Options

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Why Users Are Frustrated

For many users:

• blocking spam is essential
• spam volume increased after the update
• blocked senders are flooding inboxes again

Some users receive:

• dozens of spam texts
• robocalls
• junk emails

daily, making the broken blocking system a serious problem.

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Final Thoughts

The iOS 26.4 update appears to have introduced a serious bug where iPhones fail to properly block:

• calls
• emails
• texts
• voicemails

Although some users report improvements in iOS 26.4.1, many still experience:

• blocked senders reappearing
• spam bypassing filters
• failed “Move to Trash” actions