Mr. Number is now a Premium service only from Hiya. Mr. Number now requires a monthly or yearly subscription to use for all users.
Mr. Number provides the world’s most comprehensive caller ID and spam protection service. As the volume of robocalls have exploded worldwide, the cost of providing our service has also grown substantially. Our subscription model allows us to continue delivering our best-in-class service in a sustainable and cost effective way.
For users interested in our current free services and app on the iPhone please use our other app, Hiya.
Q: My Caller ID name is wrong. How do I change it?
A: If you notice that wrong information is shown or missing from your own number or someone else’s or, if you would like to remove your information from our services altogether, please click here and we can help you.
Q: How do I report inaccurate or offensive comments
A: If your number has inaccurate or offensive comments please follow the steps on this linked form and we can look into getting them removed for you.
Q: Mr. Number is not working correctly. What can I try to fix it?
A: Update the app in the App Store. If you still have issues, try the steps below:
If you are on an older version of the iPhone operating system, you may not be able to update to the most recent version of the app. Please update the phone to a more recent version of iOS to update the app. We are only compatible with iOS 13 or above.
A: Do not force quit the app during everyday use. Mr. Number needs to do updates periodically and if the app is forced closed in the middle of the update then blocking and your block list may not work. It is best to not force quit the app to ensure the app works properly. This is usually what happens when a blocked call rings through.
Incoming calls are looked up on a database of numbers downloaded and cached on the iPhone in order to block. This downloaded database is usually around 200,000 phone numbers. We are not able to include every suspected number in the downloaded list. Any number you manually block will also be on this downloaded database.
The key thing is that anytime you make a change or removal to the block list an update will have to happen.
The app will usually update automatically as long as you don't close the app. However, the iPhone does close apps on its own after a period of inactivity. It is usually good to open the app every 24 hours to ensure the update happens.
A: The fail-safe: In rare cases, uninstalling and reinstalling the app can resolve technical issues you may be encountering.
However, it’s important to note that when you uninstall the app, you will lose the numbers in your blocklist. I would suggest writing down the numbers in your blocklist or taking a screenshot before doing this step. With that said, use this as a last resort if you have an extensive blocklist and don't want to write them down or take a screenshot. (“Save Blocklist” functionality is a popular request and we are looking into it for future updates).
- Disable Mr. Number in Settings
- Force-quit Settings
- Uninstall Mr. Number
- Restart your device
- Reinstall Mr. Number
If you are a Premium subscriber you will need to go to the Premium tab. Then scroll down and tap on the option to "restore purchases" after you reinstall. This should bring the Premium subscription back into the app.
Q: The 'Enable Mr. Number' option in the iPhone settings is not working. What do I do?
A: We have been in communication with Apple and this is a known bug. Apple offered a workaround that seems to work (and it doesn’t require an uninstall of the app which causes you to lose your blocklist). So, if you are experiencing issues after updating to the latest version, please try this:
Wait more than one hour after the app won't let you enable. This can take up to 12-24 hours. Reboot the phone, then try to enable the app again and it should correct itself.
We've been told it can take as long as 2-3 days for the phone to finally register the app. The only thing to do is wait and keep trying the above steps periodically.
If this doesn't work then try the fail-safe at the beginning of this article.
Q: My Caller ID name is wrong. How do I change it?
A: If you notice that wrong information is shown or missing from your own number or someone else’s or, if you would like to remove your information from our services altogether, please click here and we can help you.
Q: How do I report inaccurate or offensive comments
A: If your number has inaccurate or offensive comments please follow the steps on this linked form and we can look into getting them removed for you.
BLOCKING CALLS
Q: Can I block Spoofed Calls / Neighbor Scam (calls that show as my area code and prefix) on Mr. Number?
A: If you receive a lot of spam calls from a specific area code and prefix, you have the ability to block that in the Hiya app.
We can't block an entire area code on the iPhone due to restrictions from Apple, but we can block an area code and prefix.
If you receive a lot of spam calls from a specific area code and prefix, you have the ability to block that in the Hiya app. There is a way to block spoofed calls in the iPhone app. In the Hiya app, tap on the Protect tab, then scroll down to the Neighbor Scam option tap on it, turn it on, and choose block. You can add the numbers below this.
If you have a subscription to Premium you can block up to 20 of these number combinations.
You can Whitelist your contact list on the iPhone. Go to the Protect tab and scroll all the way down to see the option to whitelist. You will need to make sure the number in question is in your contact list for it to go through. Make sure you don't close the app after this. A call list update will have to go through for the change to take effect.
You can remove an area code and prefix by sliding the number to the left and then tapping Delete.
Q: Is there a way to prevent blocked calls from going to voicemail?
A: Unfortunately, we cannot prevent blocked calls from going to voicemail. This is a limitation from Apple that prevents us from hanging up on blocked calls. As soon as Apple lifts this limitation, we will eagerly make it available. We want to hang up on them as well.
Q: Is there a way to see calls that have been blocked?
A: Unfortunately, not. This is another implementation detail from Apple that we can’t work around (we can provide a blocked calls list with Android). We have no idea why we can’t have a “Hey! We’re awesome and here’s a list of calls we’ve blocked for you” section somewhere. The day that changes is the day you’ll see it.
Q: Is there any way to block all unknown/private callers?
A: Unfortunately, there’s no way to block all unknown callers, in the app or iOS itself. We can only block an actual number. Private callers typically don’t have a number, because they’re sneaky sons of guns. Android has some cool features like block by area code, not in my contacts, etc., but at this time, we can’t provide that feature on iOS.
Q: Can you block text messages?
A: Mr. Number, on both iPhone and Android, does not block text messages from numbers you block.
Q: In iOS is there a way to import or export the block list after un/reinstalling?
A: We don’t have a “save block list” function right now… However, it is a popular request so we are looking into it.
PROTECTION
Q: How do I use Mr. Number to look up unknown numbers?
A: First go to your Recent calls within the iPhone Phone application and tap on the info icon (the “i” with a circle around it) for the number you wish to look up. Once you’re on the contact card tap on Share Contact, then tap on Hiya. You can then either view in Hiya, Report spam, or Block.
Q: How do I report and leave a comment on a call that I received?
A: After you have searched a number in "Identify" in the bottom left, tap on "Report." Tap on the type of call it was and then you also have the option to leave a comment.
Q: Why does an inbound call not get marked as spam, even if Mr. Number reports show it as a spam number?
A: There are a couple of things that can happen in this scenario:
1) Our database of spammers is gigantic. Unfortunately, we are not able to enter every single spam number in the world into CallKit (the list of known spammers we update everyday). We have to be picky and so we choose only the spam numbers that we have the highest confidence in to ID on the incoming call. For the remaining numbers, sometimes you’ll have to manually look them up in the app to see if they are Suspected Spam or not.
2) When a call comes in, we look up the number to see if it’s spam. Usually, it takes less than one second, but sometimes it simply takes longer and calls can get through.
Q: When I switch options to send calls directly to voicemail (vs. identifying spam calls), the app seems to stop identifying the calls and they ring through. Am I doing something wrong?
A: This is a hard one to explain because with iPhone, we aren’t able to show you the calls that we block (we can with Android but Apple won’t let us). Many times with spam calls, if they’re blocked and sent automatically to voicemail, they don’t leave a voicemail. When that happens, you don’t have a record of the call so you don’t know that we’ve blocked it for you. With that said, when calls come through that aren’t screened, you’re bound to notice it more if the only calls you see are the ones that aren’t being ID’d (and as much as we’d love to ID every call, we simply can’t – there are too many spammers out there).
Q: I have installed the app, but so far no calls have been identified….?
A: If calls are not being identified at all when you get them, then something has probably gone wrong. A simple check is to see if any calls are identified in the native phone call log. You should see some Mr. Number entries in there if it’s working.
If not, revert to the fail-safe (see above) and then, go back into the app, in the Call Protection tab, click on “Update Now” and give it about a minute to update, then check the call log again.
Q: How does Mr. Number identify incoming scam and spam calls?
A: Mr. Number downloads a file containing thousands of phone numbers for known-to-be spammers and scammers. If you get an incoming call matching one of these numbers, Mr. Number will block or alert you depending on your settings. Because scammers and spammers are constantly changing their phone numbers to avoid detection, we update our entries at least once a day, often more.
Q: In iOS, are spam numbers updated in the background or do I have to manually launch the app occasionally to update?
A: If you enable Mr. Number (through the phone's Settings> Phone> Call Blocking and Identification), then our spam lists will update in the background.
Q: Why do the number of scam and spam calls I am protected from keep changing?
A: Scammers and spammers are constantly changing their phone numbers to avoid being blocked by our app. We update the lists of scammers and spammers at least once a day, as long as the app is active to ensure that you stay protected from unwanted calls.
Q: What is the difference between scam calls, spam calls and blacklisted calls?
A: Scams are calls trying to get you to send them money or are found to be fraud in some other way. Spam calls are calls from telemarketers, bill collectors, solicitors, etc. Spam is not dangerous, but can be very annoying. Blacklisted calls are from numbers that you choose to blacklist because you want them blocked. This is someone such as an ex-boyfriend, ex-girlfriend or anyone you just don’t want to talk to.
Q: Does the “real-time” notification only work over wifi or 3g?
A: Mr. Number doesn’t require any network connection; if you can receive a phone call, it works!
PRIVACY
Q: Why do you need access to my contacts?
A: Sharing your contacts with us is optional (If you do, they don't leave your phone) Although we do not require it, allowing access to your contact list helps us to identify callers under the name you prefer to see, and to filter out numbers that may look spammy, but are actually legitimate for you (like your Doctor's office). More information can be found here.
Q: Do you have access to my call logs on the iPhone?
A: We do not have access to call logs on the iPhone.
Q: I've uninstalled Mr. Number but why do calls still seem to be getting blocked?
A: If you are still having issues after uninstalling Mr. Number you might have to reinstall the app and then try these steps:
- Disable Mr. Number in the iPhone Settings (Settings->Phone->Call Blocking & Identification)
- Force-quit Settings
- Uninstall Mr. Number
- Restart your device
GET ME STARTED
Q: Why am I not seeing “Mr. Number” in Settings>Phone>Call Blocking & Identification?
A:Wait more than one hour. Reboot the phone, then launch Mr. Number again and it should correct itself.
If this doesn't work then try the fail-safe at the beginning of this article.
Q: The Mr. Number widget doesn’t appear as a choice on Notifications.
A: If you’ve already tried the fail-safe (see above), let’s give this a whirl instead: Pull down the notification center by swiping down from the top of the screen. Swipe right to bring up the widgets page, scroll to the bottom. Tap the circular “edit” button, and tap the “+” button next to Mr. Number.
Q: How can I give feedback or contact support?