Safari Blocking Phone Number Links ("tel" Links) on Mobile Devices
When users tap a phone number link (a “tel” link) on your Zibster website using Safari on an iPhone or iPad, the browser may behave differently from other mobile browsers.
This guide explains why Safari might block the call prompt and how users can reset it if that happens.
Understand How Safari Handles Phone Number Links
When a user taps a phone number link in Safari on a mobile device, the browser will first show a prompt asking whether to Call or Cancel.
Here’s what happens if the user repeatedly chooses “Cancel”:
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First Tap: Safari displays a prompt with the options Call or Cancel.
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Second Tap: If the user taps Cancel again, Safari will continue showing the same prompt the next time the number is clicked.
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Third Tap: If the user cancels three times in a row, Safari interprets this as the website possibly trying to start unwanted calls.
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To protect users, Safari will display this message:
“This website has been blocked from automatically starting a call.”
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Reset the Block in Safari
If Safari displays the block message, users can easily restore normal behavior.
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When the message appears, simply tap Allow Call.
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Safari will then reset the block, and future taps on phone number links will once again show the Call / Cancel prompt normally.
Why Safari Does This
This feature is designed to protect users from websites that could repeatedly or automatically trigger call requests.
It’s not an issue with your Zibster website — it’s simply Safari’s built-in safety measure to prevent unwanted calls.
Example
Here’s an example of what the Safari message looks like:
“This website has been blocked from automatically starting a call.”
Support Tip
If your clients report that phone number links on your site aren’t working in Safari:
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Let them know they can tap Allow Call when prompted.
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This will immediately restore the normal call prompt behavior.
