iOS 26 is here and with it come the much anticipated changes in how users receive unknown text messages and calls. Before we start it’s worth saying that while these changes are undoubtedly significant, they shouldn’t change a strategy based on trust or a cause your supporters already care about. We’ll help you navigate the changes in this article and our account managers are on hand if you need any specific help.
Among the most notable changes are the ‘Screen Unknown Senders’ and ‘Screen Unknown Callers’ options, which promise to reduce spam, phishing attempts, and other unsolicited comms.
These changes will definitely be welcomed by individuals seeking a calmer digital experience, i.e less spam and scams, but they also bring up new concepts for campaigners who rely on text messaging or phone banking to communicate with supporters.
One such tactical change will be to use branded RCS. If you'd like help setting this up, you can talk with your account manager, if you're not a current client you can organise a call with us here.
More folders for sorting messages
The ‘Screen Unknown Senders’ option allows iPhone users to filter incoming messages with a new level of granularity.
What’s worth noting is that this filtering unknown senders and callers option needs to be manually enabled by the end-user, iOS 26 will not automatically start filtering. So it should only be an initial minority who use this setting, giving campaigners time to get themselves added to the contacts of their supporters and become ‘known’ contacts (more on this later).
Once enabled, messages from contacts, previously messaged numbers, or those marked as “Known” will appear in the main conversation view, while others are directed to separate folders. These include Unknown Senders, Spam, Recently Deleted, and an Unread folder aggregating unread messages across categories.
Crucially, Apple has introduced notifications that distinguish between these folders. Messages from unknown senders trigger a badge on the folder, but no sound or haptic alert, while spam messages arrive silently. Time-sensitive communications, such as verification codes or order confirmations, are surfaced for one hour in the main inbox even if sent from an unfamiliar number. Users can also choose to receive notifications for messages categorised as Personal, Transactional, or Promotional, adding flexibility to the filtering process.
By default, Spam filtering is enabled, but Screen Unknown Senders is disabled in most regions outside Brazil, India, and China. Users who opt in can manage settings through a new folder menu in Messages, allowing them to mark unknown contacts as known and recover messages from the Spam folder.
Screening Calls
Complementing the message filters, the ‘Screen Unknown Callers’ option intercepts incoming calls from numbers not saved in Contacts or previously contacted by the user. The feature can either screen these calls automatically, asking the caller for a name and purpose – or silence them entirely, sending them to voicemail. A real-time transcript of the caller’s information is displayed to the recipient, who can then choose to answer, ignore, or reject the call.
We’d say that you don’t need to worry too much about this setting, it’s existed for a while with Android and we’ve not seen any issues for phone banking campaigns with it. Calls have gotten through at the same rate vs Apple users in recent years.
These changes extend to voicemail logs as well, with transcripts of missed or rejected calls shown in the Recents tab. Users can also enable a badge count in the ‘Phone’ app to indicate screened calls, though these will not initially produce traditional call notifications.
Like message filtering, Screen Unknown Callers is disabled by default and must be activated manually. Again a good opportunity to run an ‘add us to contacts’ campaign. You can talk to us about how to set this up by booking a call here, or talking to your account manager if you’re already a customer.
Why this matters for digital campaigning
For campaigners who rely on messaging or voice channels to reach supporters the implications are worth thinking (but not stressing too much!) about:
Messaging implications: Messages sent to users who have enabled ‘Screen Unknown Senders’ may be redirected to the ‘Unknown Sender’ folder, potentially delaying engagement.
As iOS 26 lands today (on the 15th of September 2025), Apple has not indicated the precise criteria for identifying spam. This leaves the possibility that legitimate messages could occasionally be filtered out. Or equally, unknown messages could still be included in the main inbox if their keywords are deemed suitable by Apple’s inbox.
Call handling implications: Although we’ve not seen this issue with Android doing the same thing, screening could delay supporter response or obscure metrics like call-length and answered calls. Even verified callers may be routed through the screening process if they are not previously known to the user, challenging assumptions about engagement rates and interaction patterns.
Best Practices for campaigners
While this might seem dramatic, in many ways you should behave no differently to how you’re meant to behave, building trust and bonding with your supporters who already care about your cause. Here’s a few tactics to think about:
- Maintain trusted relationships: Encourage your users to save your number and mark it as known early in the supporter journey. Regular, expected communications build recognition and increase the likelihood that messages will reach that main inbox.
- Adopt multichannel strategies: Don’t rely solely on messaging or calls. Use email, WhatsApp, and other channels to reinforce important communications.
Movement is the multi-channel tool. Allowing you to automate supporter journeys via multiple channels and cultivate deeper bonds while doing it. Hit the Get Started button to chat to us about getting your set up. Or talk to your account manager if you’re already a customer.
- Use Clear, Recognisable Formats: Structured message templates and branded content help users quickly identify legitimate communications.
- Switch to RCS and Branded Channels: RCS and branded calling can help your messages and calls stand out in filtered folders. Displaying a recognisable logo and brand name also increases the likelihood of supporter engagement.
- Track engagement and adapt: Expect metrics such as delivery rates, read receipts, and call interactions to fluctuate. Use analytic tools like Movement’s to monitor patterns and adjust your comms accordingly.
Looking Ahead
iOS 26’s approach to filtering and screening represents a shift in how users manage their communications. But they also bring complexity to charities and campaigns keeping up direct contact with supporters.
Organisations that proactively adapt their messaging strategies, educate users, and leverage multichannel communication are likely to navigate these changes more successfully.
It’s also worth getting on RCS to help with verification, showing a name and logo instead of an unknown number means you’re more likely to be recognised by your supporters.
We’ll continue to monitor developments in iOS 26 as adoption grows and as Apple issues point releases that may refine default behaviours. We’d advise you to stay informed and review messaging practices to ensure they remain visible, trusted, and effective in a landscape increasingly defined by user control.
If you’d like to talk to us about RCS, SMS or phone banking (or indeed anything else) then hit the Get Started button, or reach out to your account manager.
