iOS 26 Call Screening Feature Not Working: All Tested Fixes

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

The iOS 26 Call Screening feature is designed to manage unknown and spam calls when it is enabled from the Settings app. Once toggled on, it uses a built-in assistant and requests callers for their name and reason for calling. After that, the caller's spoken response is transcribed on the device so that you can decide whether to answer it or not.

Alongside this feature, Apple has introduced the Hold Assist option that waits on hold for you and notifies you once a real person picks up. Hence, this feature altogether offers convenience for customer service and support calls.

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

If you are unable to take advantage of the call screening issue, the following are the reasons that might be preventing it from working properly:

1. Limited Country Support: This call screening feature is not available in all countries, which means users will be unable to access its functionality.
2. Beta Bug: Call Screening issues can be caused by bugs in the beta version, which can disturb the performance of this feature.
3. Call Blocking Apps: Third-party call-blocking or spam-filtering apps may conflict with iOS's built-in Call Screening, leading to performance issues or feature disruption.
4. Network Issue: This feature relies on online network access for certain real-time processes; poor or misconfigured cellular or Wi-Fi connections can affect its performance.
5. System glitches: System glitches or temporary system bugs can hinder the feature's ability to properly manage the calls.

Part 3. How to Fix iOS 26 Call Screening Not Working: 7 Ways

To overcome the issue of the iOS 26 call screening feature not working, the following guide will provide you with some fixes:

Fix 1. One-Click Approach to Resolve All System Issues in iPhone: Dr.Fone - System Repair (iOS)

The most suggested fix is Dr.Fone - System Repair (iOS), a trusted tool, as it can repair the iOS issues while keeping your data safe and secure. It can repair more than 150+ iOS system problems, such as boot loop and 1110 error. As per these faults, there are 2 repair modes provided by this iPhone repair toolbox, including Advanced and Standard modes.

Advanced Mode is mainly used to perform a deep scan of the device for repair purposes. In contrast, Standard Mode can be used when the user wants to resolve all system issues quickly without losing data. You can also utilize this software to upgrade your iOS version to the latest firmware without requiring a jailbreak or iTunes. Additionally, users can even securely downgrade from iOS 26 to any other desired version.

Step-by-Step Guide to Resolve the Call Screening Problem in iOS 26

To learn how to fix the Apple call screening feature issue in a single click, follow the step-by-step instructions mentioned below:

Step 1. Access the System Repair Tool from Dr.Fone

Using Dr.Fone's main interface, approach the "System Repair" feature in the main "Toolbox" and select the "iPhone" option to continue.

Step 2. Press the Repair Button and Connect the Phone

Press the "Repair Now" button in the iOS Repair tool and choose the "Standard Repair" option. Now, connect your device to your laptop using a cable and put it in recovery mode, and tap the "Enter Recovery Mode" button.

Step 3. Download the Suitable iOS 26 Firmware

The system will automatically show the appropriate iOS firmware options, so press the "Download" button against the iOS 26 version to install it. Once it is installed, click "Repair Now," and it will repair your call screening issues.

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Fix 2. Enable Call Screening in Settings

The call screening not working issue mainly happens because the setting is disabled, so enabling it allows you to manage the calls again. Doing so will not just display the caller's name in real-time but also save time from answering unwanted calls. Besides, when paired with Hold Assist, it enhances customer support calls by waiting on hold for you. So, enable this from the device Settings app by following the given steps:

Instructions:

Open the "Settings" of your device, then scroll down and tap the "Apps" option.

On the new interface, locate the "Phone" option and enable the "Screen Incoming Calls" option.

Fix 3. Confirm the Region and Language

If your device region is set to Asian or Gulf countries, you won't be able to use it, even if you've updated to iOS 26. Moreover, your language settings can also disrupt its working, affecting real-time transcription and voice interactions.

Thus, to overcome the call screening issue, check the region and language through the given steps. While doing so, know that changing your region may affect other apps and services, such as App Store availability.

Instructions:

From "Settings," tap the "General" option and scroll down to press the "Language & Region" option.

Now, make sure that the language is set to "English" and the region is set to countries that support the call screening feature, such as the United States.

Fix 4. Remove Conflicting Third‑Party Call‑Blocking Apps

Usually, third-party or spam filtering applications can also interfere with iOS 26's built-in Call Screening feature. These apps may override Apple's system-level functions or create conflicts regarding Apple's calling screen feature.

Thus, uninstalling them reduces the risk of legitimate calls being mistakenly blocked and helps maintain system stability. Moreover, your iPhone will better handle unknown calls and deliver accurate, real-time transcriptions once they are removed through the simple guide given below:

Instructions:

Pick the "Apps" option from the settings and head to the "Phone" option to pick the "Call Blocking and Identification" menu.

On the new interface, disable all the conflicting applications leading to this issue.

Fix 5. Test with Unknown Callers Only

This feature is designed to trigger only when a call comes from someone not in your contacts. So, while following the above-mentioned fixes, try testing its functionality with unknown callers to determine if the call screen iPhone problem is resolved or not. For that, you can call your device from another phone or ask your friend to temporarily hide their caller ID.

Hence, through this, you can know whether the screening assistant is activated. Not just that, it prompts for a name and reason, and displays the response in real time. If not, you can try other fixes mentioned in this guide to ensure it works properly.

Fix 6. Force Quit and Restart the Phone App

You can also restart the phone app if you are still facing the Apple calling screen issue. Doing so is necessary as there are chances that the app is temporarily frozen, overloaded, or affected by a minor glitch. Once the app is restarted, it refreshes its internal processes, causing the screening feature to work properly. If done through the mentioned steps, it resolves app-specific issues without needing a full device restart.

Instructions:

Swipe up from the bottom of your screen and simply slide up again on the Phone app from the list.

Fix 7. Update to the Latest iOS 26 Beta Build

If you are still facing the Apple call screening feature not working issue, it's possible you're running an outdated or unstable beta version of iOS 26. Fortunately, Apple frequently releases updated beta builds to fix bugs and improve performance. Thus, update your device to the latest iOS 26 beta build to resolve compatibility issues or glitches while adhering to the given steps for further guidance:

Instructions:

From the "General" settings, pick the "Software Update" menu.

And press the "Update Now" button if any iOS 26 update is available.

Bonus Tip: New Call & Communication Features in iOS 26

Other than the latest call screening feature, you can now leverage the following communication features introduced in iOS 26:

1. Hold Assist: This feature in iOS 26 is useful when a user is placed on hold during a live call. It notifies the user when the receiver is live so that they don't have to monitor the call continuously.
2. Improved Call Management: The Phone app in iOS 26 has made it easier to manage calls, offering a combined layer. This layer consists of Favorites, Recents, and Voicemails, which provide ease of use while dialing.
3. Live Translation: The new feature in the latest update provides a facility to the user with live translation of the call in real-time during a call. Using this feature can help you break the language barrier.
4. Enhanced Messaging: iOS 26 also brings improvement in the messages app as it now provides an option to create a poll within the group chat. You can also personalize the conversation by adjusting the custom background in the app.

Conclusion

In summary, the iOS 26 call screening feature protects against unwanted calls, but various issues can disturb its functionality. For numerous reasons, if you are unable to manage calls, this guide has uncovered some simple fixes that you can consider. While trying them, it is recommended to use Dr.Fone - System Repair (iOS), a seamless solution that regains the iOS 26 functionality by offering you Standard and Advanced modes.

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