Notice: Apple's upcoming iOS 26 release, expected in September 2025, and the potential impact it may have on the way users receive calls/texts from your district through PowerSchool's SmartFind Express callout process.
Apple introduced two new features?Screen Unknown Senders and Screen Unknown Callers?designed to reduce unwanted communications:
Screen Unknown Senders (Messages): Filters messages from numbers not saved in Contacts into a separate folder. While recipients can still access these messages, they will not appear in the main inbox by default. Screen Unknown Callers (Calls): Screens incoming calls from unsaved numbers, presenting the caller's name/reason before the user decides whether to answer.
How Could This Affect SmartFind Express District Communications?
Voice calling impacts: Job offers to substitutes. Calls from SmartFind Express district phone numbers not saved in the employees and substitutes Contacts may be screened before ringing through. Even verified/branded calls will not bypass screening unless the employees and/or substitutes have already engaged with the SmartFind Express district number or saved it in Contacts.
Recommended Next Steps for Districts:
Encourage employees and/or substitutes to save district numbers (for both SMS and Voice) into their Contacts. Go to your Apple iOS 26 settings so employees and/or substitutes can check your ?Unknown Senders? folder and adjust filtering preferences.