Call barring is a phone feature that blocks entire categories of calls — like all outgoing calls, or all international calls — at the network level. Unlike blocking one annoying caller, barring is a broad switch: turn on "bar all outgoing international calls," for example, and the phone simply won't place any of them, no matter who you dial.
It's a handy tool for controlling costs, locking down a child's or employee's phone, and avoiding nasty surprises like premium-rate or roaming charges. Here's how call barring works, how it differs from call blocking, the types available, and how to set it up on iPhone and Android.
What is call barring?
Call barring (sometimes called "call restriction") is a carrier/network feature that prevents specific types of calls from being made or received on a phone line. Because it's enforced by the network rather than just the handset, a barred call is stopped at the source — it never connects.
You typically control it from your phone's settings, protected by a call barring password (PIN) provided by your carrier, so it can't be changed casually.
Call barring vs. call blocking — the key difference
These two get mixed up constantly, but they're not the same:
- Call blocking is per-number. You block a specific nuisance caller, and only that number is stopped. It's handled on the device.
- Call barring is per-category. You bar a whole class of calls — all outgoing, all incoming, all international — regardless of the number. It's handled by the network.
Think of blocking as a blacklist of individual numbers, and barring as a master switch for entire call types.
Types of call barring
Most carriers offer the same standard set of options:
| Barring option | What it does |
|---|---|
| Bar all outgoing calls | No calls can be placed at all |
| Bar outgoing international calls | Blocks all calls to other countries |
| Bar international except home country | Useful when traveling — blocks costly calls except back home |
| Bar all incoming calls | No calls can be received |
| Bar incoming calls while roaming | Stops expensive incoming charges abroad |
You can usually mix and match — for example, allow outgoing local calls but bar all international and premium-rate dialing.
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How to set up call barring on iPhone
On many iPhones, call barring appears under your carrier settings (availability depends on your carrier and plan):
- Open Settings → Phone (or Settings → Apps → Phone on newer iOS).
- Look for Call Barring or Call Forwarding & Barring.
- Choose the barring type you want and toggle it on.
- Enter your call barring PIN from your carrier if prompted.
If you don't see the option, it's controlled by your carrier — contact them to enable it.
How to set up call barring on Android
Steps vary slightly by manufacturer, but generally:
- Open the Phone app and tap the menu (⋮) → Settings.
- Tap Supplementary services or Call barring (sometimes under Calling accounts → your SIM).
- Select the barring type (outgoing, incoming, international, roaming).
- Toggle it on and enter your call barring password.
A note on the PIN: carriers often set a default barring password (commonly 0000 or 1234). For security, change it — and if you've forgotten it, your carrier can reset it.
Common reasons to use call barring
- Control the bill — bar premium-rate and international numbers so no one runs up charges.
- Kids' and family phones — allow incoming calls but bar outgoing international or premium dialing.
- Company-issued phones — restrict what employees can dial on a work line.
- Travel — bar incoming calls and outgoing calls while roaming to avoid surprise charges abroad.
- Security and focus — temporarily bar all incoming calls when you don't want any interruptions.
Troubleshooting call barring
- Option is greyed out or missing? Your carrier may not support it on your plan — call them to enable it.
- Wrong password error? Try the carrier default, and if that fails, ask the carrier to reset your barring PIN.
- A barred call still got through? Barring applies to the line/SIM; make sure you set it on the right SIM (on dual-SIM phones) and that the setting saved.
- Need to undo it? Return to the same menu and toggle the barring type off (you'll need the PIN again).
Call barring for business lines
On personal phones, barring is a simple per-line switch. For a business, you usually want finer control — different rules for different teams, the ability to block international or premium dialing across many users at once, and reporting on who's calling what.
That's where a cloud phone system is far more flexible. Instead of fiddling with each handset, you set outbound calling rules centrally — bar international or premium-rate destinations by user, team, or time of day, and adjust them from a dashboard.
A provider such as My Country Mobile lets you apply these call restrictions across your whole organization, so cost control and security don't depend on every employee's settings.
Key takeaways
- Call barring blocks entire categories of calls (outgoing, incoming, international, roaming) at the network level.
- It's different from call blocking, which stops individual numbers on the device.
- Set it up under your phone's Call Barring settings using your carrier's PIN (change the default for security).
- Great for cost control, kids' phones, work devices, and travel.
- For businesses, a cloud phone system offers centralized, per-team call restrictions instead of per-handset settings.
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Frequently asked questions
What is call barring on a phone?
Call barring is a network feature that blocks whole categories of calls — such as all outgoing calls or all international calls — rather than individual numbers. A barred call simply won't connect.
What's the difference between call barring and call blocking?
Call blocking stops specific individual numbers on your device. Call barring stops entire call types (outgoing, incoming, international, roaming) at the network level.
How do I turn on call barring?
Go to your Phone app or device settings, find Call Barring, choose the call type to bar, and enter your carrier-issued barring PIN. Availability depends on your carrier.
What is the default call barring password?
Carriers often use 0000 or 1234 by default, but it varies. Change it for security, and contact your carrier if you've forgotten it.
Can I bar only international calls?
Yes. "Bar outgoing international calls" blocks calls to other countries while still allowing domestic calls — useful for cost control.
Why is call barring greyed out on my phone?
The feature is carrier-controlled. If it's unavailable, your plan may not support it — contact your carrier to enable it.
Does call barring stop spam calls?
Not specifically. Barring works by category, not by identifying spam. To stop nuisance numbers, use call blocking or a spam-filtering app instead.
Can a business restrict what employees dial?
Yes. While per-handset barring works, a cloud phone system lets you set outbound calling rules centrally — barring international or premium numbers by user or team from one dashboard.
