The exact process depends on who initiated the block. Follow these steps in order.
Sometimes, the "block" is unintentional and self-inflicted. Modern smartphones have aggressive spam filters.
If you cannot unblock the phone line after 14 days of trying, consider these backup methods (subject to facility rules):
Do NOT attempt to use a call forwarding service, Google Voice, or a second phone line to “trick” the system. That is a violation of prison telecom policy and can result in the inmate losing all phone privileges for 90 days or more.
We tend to think of prison walls as solid, immovable things—concrete, steel, and razor wire. But for millions of families, the most frustrating barrier isn’t the one you can see; it’s the one you hear in a robotic voice: “Your call cannot be completed as dialed.” The blocked prison call is a modern paradox: technology designed to connect has become a master of separation. To unblock it is not merely a technical fix; it is an exercise in bureaucratic archaeology, emotional endurance, and creative problem-solving.
First, understand what “blocked” really means. In the free world, a blocked call might be a carrier glitch or a spam filter. In the corrections system, it’s almost always intentional—but not necessarily because you’ve done something wrong. Prison phone systems are run by a handful of private telecom giants (Securus, GTL, IC Solutions) that operate under state contracts. Their first priority is not connection; it is control. Every number is vetted, recorded, and often geo-filtered. A “block” can mean your number was never approved, your inmate’s privileges were revoked, your area code falls outside an allowed region, or simply that the facility changed vendors overnight without notice.
So how do you fight back? Step one: abandon the myth of customer service. Calling the provider’s toll-free number will lead you through a labyrinth of automated menus designed to exhaust you. Instead, begin with the prison’s mailroom—yes, the mailroom. In many facilities, phone number approvals are processed by the same staff who screen packages. Send a handwritten request to the facility’s communications manager (find their name via public records or advocacy groups like the Prison Policy Initiative). Include the inmate’s full name and ID number, your own legal name and number, and a one-sentence statement: “I request that my number be added to the approved calling list for [Inmate Name], ID #[X].” Keep a copy. Mail is slow, but it creates a paper trail that automated systems cannot delete. how to unblock a prison call
Step two: check for “third-party verification” traps. Some prisons require that the inmate initiate the approval by calling you first—but they can’t call if you’re blocked. To break this loop, you may need to schedule a paid “pre-approval call” through the provider’s website. It feels like extortion because it is. Expect to pay $3–$10 simply to have your number manually reviewed. Keep your receipt; if the block persists, file a complaint with your state’s Public Utilities Commission. Telecoms hate PUC inquiries because they threaten their lucrative contracts.
Step three: the technical bypass. If all official channels fail, consider a VoIP workaround. Some families use a second phone number from a different carrier (e.g., Google Voice on a different area code) to test whether the block is number-specific or facility-wide. Others have found that scheduling calls for non-peak hours—3 a.m. on a Tuesday, for instance—sometimes slips past automated filters that trigger during high-volume periods. This is not guaranteed, but prisons’ IT systems are notoriously underfunded; nighttime gremlins often work in your favor.
The deeper lesson, however, is that unblocking a prison call is never just about dialing correctly. It’s about recognizing that the system is built on a logic of distrust. Every blocked call is a tiny act of power—a reminder that the state controls not just bodies but voices. To persist is to reclaim a sliver of humanity. I’ve spoken to grandmothers who spent six months fighting a block only to hear their grandson’s voice for the first time in a year. They don’t remember the hold music or the automated menus. They remember the click of connection, and the small miracle of a conversation that should never have been silenced.
So here is the final, unglamorous truth: unblocking a prison call is less like hacking and more like gardening. You water the mail. You pull the weeds of bureaucracy. You wait. And if you are lucky—and stubborn enough—the line will open, and for ten minutes, the walls will fall.
To unblock a prison call, you must first identify where the block is occurring: at the prison system level, with the third-party phone provider (like Securus or GTL), on your phone's hardware/software, or through your service carrier. 1. Unblocking via the Service Provider
Most prison calls are managed by specific third-party companies. If you accidentally pressed a button during a call to block the number, you must contact these companies directly to have the restriction removed. Securus Technologies: The exact process depends on who initiated the block
Log in to your Securus online account, navigate to "Block/Unblock Calls," select the number, and click "Unblock".
Alternatively, call their customer service at 1-800-844-6591 if you have exceeded spending limits or have a new number that needs verification. Global Tel Link (GTL) / ViaPath:
Call customer service at (800) 388-7346 to ask for the specific reason for the block.
If unresolved, you may need to contact the facility's administration directly. ICSolutions:
Contact their customer service team at 888-506-8407 or email Customer@icsolutions.com to request a number be unblocked. 2. Unblocking on Your Mobile Device
Sometimes the block is simply a setting on your smartphone that identifies the prison's number as spam. How to Deal with a Block on Your Phone Do NOT attempt to use a call forwarding
I understand you're looking for information on "how to unblock a prison call." However, it's important to clarify that individuals cannot "unblock" a prison call themselves in the way you might unblock a regular phone number.
Here’s how it actually works and what “blocked” means in the prison phone system:
If the Inmate Blocked You: This is the hardest to reverse because you cannot override it. The incarcerated person is the only one who can remove the block using the prison’s phone system. You will need to communicate via mail or approved messaging apps to ask them to unblock you on their next phone access day.
If the Prison or Provider Blocked You (Most Common): The vast majority of prison calls in the U.S. are managed by a few major telecom providers (e.g., Securus, GTL/ViaPath, IC Solutions, PayTel). Here’s how to unblock:
If Your Personal Carrier Blocked the Call:
Once you successfully unblock a prison call, take these precautions: