How do I block all notifications except calls (only) from select people?

Do Not Disturb setup has been made much more flexible, but this has come at the cost of much more complication. To get it working again, do these steps ONCE:

• Tap Settings
• Tap Focus
• Tap on any Focus settings that you will never use and remove them (you can add them back later if you change your mind, and even create new, custom ones)
• Tap Do Not Disturb
• Tap People
• Tap Allow Notifications From
• If anyone is listed who should not call you when DND is on delete them; if you don’t want any calls from anyone, any time, delete all people
• Add any people you DO want calls from
• Tap the dropdown next to Allow Calls From and choose Allowed People Only
• Optionally, tap on Apps, then Allow Notifications From and don’t add any apps.

All of the above is a one-time setup. After that, turn DND on or off with the Control Center Focus button. You can optionally set one or more schedules by going to:

Settings/Focus/Do Not Disturb/Set a Schedule.

rederle wrote:

I'm not sure I understand the concept of a temporary block of numbers. If you bug me, you get blocked. Regardless the method I described is not permanent. Apple keeps the list of blocked numbers, both for texts and phone calls on the iPhone. Those numbers on the list can be unblocked if one chooses to do so.

Some of us want to restrict personal calls during business hours but get calls from them after work hours ((or vice versa) ). That's what Focus/Do Not Disturb is for. It allows you to control who can contact you when. And, unlike your method (which is great if you never want to hear from the person again), you can turn entire groups of people on and off with just a tap. I don't want to spend the time to block everyone other than business contacts every morning and then unblock them all every evening.

Sorry, I need to allow phone and text messages from people not in my contact list. If I need to block a number their is a less klunky way of doing this that doesn't involve having to create a 'temporary' contact in order to block that number or turning on the Unknown Caller filter.

In the messages app, tap on the message (your just opening the message, not tapping on any link within the message). At the top of the message is the phone number that sent the message with a white silhouette in a dark gray circle. Tap this. In the new screen tap the "Info" button on the right. Now scroll to the bottom of the info list to "Block this Caller" in red letters. Tap this. Confirm by tapping the red lettered "Block Contact". Exit this screen. Your done.

For phone calls the process if very similar. In the phone app go to the "Recents" list. Tap the "info" icon, the "i" inside the circle. Now scroll to the bottom of the info list to "Block this Caller" in red letters. Tap this. Confirm by tapping the red lettered "Block Contact". Exit this screen. Your done.

Violà!

rederle wrote:

Sorry, I need to allow phone and text messages from people not in my contact list. If I need to block a number their is a less klunky way of doing this that doesn't involve having to create a 'temporary' contact in order to block that number or turning on the Unknown Caller filter.

In the messages app, tap on the message (your just opening the message, not tapping on any link within the message). At the top of the message is the phone number that sent the message with a white silhouette in a dark gray circle. Tap this. In the new screen tap the "Info" button on the right. Now scroll to the bottom of the info list to "Block this Caller" in red letters. Tap this. Confirm by tapping the red lettered "Block Contact". Exit this screen. Your done.

For phone calls the process if very similar. In the phone app go to the "Recents" list. Tap the "info" icon, the "i" inside the circle. Now scroll to the bottom of the info list to "Block this Caller" in red letters. Tap this. Confirm by tapping the red lettered "Block Contact". Exit this screen. Your done.

That's fine if you want to block folks permanently. However, the OP said they only wanted to block them while the phone was on Do Not Disturb.

I'm not sure I understand the concept of a temporary block of numbers. If you bug me, you get blocked. Regardless the method I described is not permanent. Apple keeps the list of blocked numbers, both for texts and phone calls on the iPhone. Those numbers on the list can be unblocked if one chooses to do so.