Blocking unknown incoming calls on your child's Apple Watch

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Level 1

12 points

Blocking unknown incoming calls on your child's Apple Watch

Having an Apple Watch with cellular for my child, with parental controls on and explicitly setting Communication Limits to Contacts Only (both during Screen Time and Downtime), I was led to believe my child would not receive calls from strangers. This is not so!

After repeatedly receiving calls from unknown numbers, Apple Support told me, after connecting with a senior advisor, that Screen Time Communication Limits on a Family Member only limits outgoing calls, not incoming calls. This is shocking, as a parent, and long-time Apple consumer.

What are other parents doing, other than selling their child's Apple Watch?

Apple Watch SE

Posted on Nov 12, 2022 11:41 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 14, 2022 10:56 AM in response to XDM

Hi XDM,

For help with checking the limitations of the restrictions feature, check the steps for silencing unknown callers found in the article here: Detect and block spam phone calls

However, it is mentioned in the article here: Set up Apple Watch for a family member

"Note that some Apple Watch features depend on having a companion iPhone, and aren't available on an Apple Watch that you pair using Family Setup."

As you've already spoken with a Senior Advisor, feel free to leave feedback on the Apple website here: Product Feedback

Cheers.

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Answer 2

XDM Author

Level 1

12 points

Nov 14, 2022 11:48 AM in response to OrigamiFan1

The article referenced is for blocking unwanted callers on your iPhone, and as you noted this isn't useful here since the problem is blocking unwanted callers on an Apple Watch paired with Family Setup, not my own iPhone or nor my personal Apple Watch. Short answer: I, as a parent, don't need to block unwanted callers, but I certainly do for my child and their Apple Watch with cellular.

As a side note, there IS an Apple Watch setting that works (Settings->Phone->Silence Unknown Callers) which is very useful. This is mostly what's needed (unknown callers are silenced and sent to VM), except that this setting is NOT restricted in any way (e.g. no Screen Time passcode necessary), meaning a child can turn this off.

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Blocking unknown incoming calls on your child's Apple Watch

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