No matter how much you try to avoid it, there is no dodging spam. One of the biggest issues that Android and iOS users have with spam texts is that they clutter their phone’s native messaging app and make it hard to locate important messages and conversations. Deleting spam texts individually is a time-consuming task, so your best hope is to intercept them before they get delivered to your device. In this article, we bring the 7 best ways to block spam text messages on Android and iPhone.
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Enable spam protection on Google Messages
Google’s messaging app has a special feature that recognises spam on your phone and keeps it from flooding your inbox. It works for most spam messages, but some may still get past the filter. Here’s how you can enable spam protection on Google Messages.
Step 1: Install and launch Google Messages on your smartphone.
Step 2: Tap the profile icon at the top right corner of the screen.
Step 3: Select ‘Message settings’.
Step 4: Scroll down and tap on ‘Spam protection’.
Step 5: Turn the toggle bar on for ‘Enable spam protection’.
Block spam senders individually
This may feel like an arduous task, but over a period of time, you will be able to reduce a large portion of spam by individually blocking all the senders. Here’s how you can individual spam messages and senders on an Android smartphone.
Step 1: Long press a message from the sender you want to block.
Step 2: Tap on the ellipses (three dots) at the top right corner of the screen.
Step 3: Select ‘Block’.
You will not receive any messages from the sender in future. You can view the messages from spam and blocked senders by tapping on the hamburger menu and selecting ‘Spam and blocked’.
Turn on spam protection on Samsung smartphones
Samsung’s One UI comes with a helpful spam filter as well. This feature is excluded from the One UI ‘Core’ version which is usually found in budget Samsung phones. Here’s how you can enable it on the flagship One UI OS.
Step 1: Launch the messages app and tap on the ellipses at the top right corner of the screen.
Step 2: Select ‘Settings’.
Step 3: Tap on ‘Block numbers and spam’.
Step 4: Select ‘Caller ID and spam protection’.
Step 5: Turn the toggle bar on for ‘Caller ID’ and ‘Block spam and scam calls’.
Use your network provider’s DND service
If you’re tired of receiving spam texts and calls, you can filter them out using your network provider’s Do Not Disturb service. Most network providers give you the option to create a blacklist and a whitelist of numbers that can contact you. You can add recurring spam senders to the blacklist. Here’s how you can sign up for DND on Airtel.
Step 1: Visit the DND section on Airtel’s website. Click here to be directed to the DND page.
Step 2: Scroll down and select ‘Click here’ in the ‘Airtel Mobile Services’ section.
Step 3: Enter your number and select ‘Get OTP’.
Step 4: Enter the OTP in the relevant field and click on ‘Validate’.
Step 5: Select the kind of messages you want to block in the following screen. You can choose to block all messages from unknown senders (except transactional messages) or block all promotional messages sent to your number. In order to reduce spam without risking filtering messages from legitimate senders that aren’t in your contact list, we would suggest the latter option. You can also choose to filter your senders by category.
Step 6: Hit ‘Submit’ once you’re done.
You can also activate DND on your Airtel number by sending ‘START 0’ to 1909 or call 1909 and following the instructions relayed to you on call.
Use a third-party app
There are several third-party apps on the Google Play Store that will help you tackle and cut down spam messages. While the good ones may require a premium plan or download fee, some apps like SpamHound SMS Spam Filter are free to use. TextKiller, SMS Spam Stopper, True Caller, and SMS Shield are some other apps that provide the same service. Most spam killer apps let you create a blacklist of spam and use the keywords from those messages to block any new spam senders. The process may take some time, but the results get much better as more data is collected.
Block text messages from spam senders on iPhone
Here’s how you can block spam senders on your iPhone.
Step 1: Launch the Messages app.
Step 2: Open a text message from the sender you want to block.
Step 3: Tap the profile icon of the sender.
Step 4: Tap on the info icon.
Step 5: Select the info icon again from the sender’s profile.
Step 6: Select ‘Block this Caller’.
The sender won’t be able to call you or send texts to your number.
Filter messages from unknown senders on iPhone
A great way to reduce spam texts on your iPhone is by filtering messages from unknown senders. Here’s how you can do that.
Step 1: Go to Settings and select Messages.
Step 2: Tap on ‘Unknown & Spam’ in the Message Filtering section.
Step 3: Turn the toggle bar on for ‘Filter Unknown Senders’.
Step 4: Make sure you’ve selected the ‘SMS Filter’ option.
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Conclusion
These are the 7 best ways to block spam text messages on Android and iPhone. With every OS update, spam protection is getting better on Android and iOS devices. Some Android smartphones have a dedicated section for messages from your contacts in their native messaging apps. This offers a very clean texting experience, without letting spam ruin your conversations.
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