How to Block Text Messages on Android

We all get unwanted or annoying text messages on our smartphones from regular intervals of time. It may be from spammers or maybe from someone you don't want to talk to anymore or other third-parties sources (like marketing agencies). Here, we will discuss some techniques or ways to block text messages on an Android device. The steps and commands to block text messages vary from Android device to device and operating system on which our device is running.

How to know if it is spam

Before you reply to the message from an unknown number, use the following given hints to find if the message sender is genuine or spam:

• The message is unsolicited: Check twice or more the message sender if you are not willing to receive text messages next time. If the sender is unknown to you, think before interacting.
• Link available in the message: Closely review the message containing a link. For instance, if the message is from Example Page, but the URL doesn't link to examplepage.com, don't click on it.
• If the message forces you to an urgent call for action: If the message claims that you have won a lottery prize and call the given number for further processing, such a message could be fake.
• The message should be error-free: Professional organizations always care about their public image, and take care about their communication must be error-free. Messages containing misspelled and grammar mistakes are signs of spam messages.
• A message saying for financial help: If someone unknown to you messages for financial help, don't reply to a text. Instead, make a call to them and take complete information and confirm. Spammer uses such tricks for cybercrime.

Method 1: Block Number Directly from the Message

It is the simplest and easiest method to block text messages from a particular person by blocking them straight from text message conversation. The steps or process may vary based on the device model or OS version, but mostly the same.

To block a particular number, open the conversation thread from that person in the Message app. Tap on the menu or people option. It will prompt a screen with multiple options; click on Add to the blacklist. It maybe pop-up screens that ask you to confirm block this number. Confirm it by clicking the Add button. Now, you will no longer receive a text message and phone call from that specific block number.

Method 2: Block the Number Manually

If you don't have an open message from the person you want to block, you can also manually type their number to block them. To do so, launch your default Message app, tap on the menu (three horizontal lines), and select the Harassment filter. Now, go to blacklist and tap on the Add icon at the bottom and click on the Manually add button. Finally, enter the number in the text field you want to block and click the OK button to confirm.

From now, you can't receive any messages from that particular number, regardless of which message app you are using, until you unblock that number.

Method 3: Block text messages on Google Messenger

Google Messenger comes as preinstalled on Pixel and Nexus phones; if you don't have this messenger on your phone, you can download it from Google Play Store. Google Messenger allows blocking text messages by just a few clicks.

1. Launch the Messenger app on an Android phone that looks like a round blue icon showing a white bubble coming from the upper-right.

2. Go to the conversation screen and select a sender number that you want to block.

3. Tap on the menu icon available at the top-right corner of the screen.

4. From the dropdown list, tap on People & options. You will see a new screen containing the conversation details.

5. Click on the Block & report spam It will prompt a screen to confirm that you want to block the number.

6. Confirm it by clicking the OK Now, from this number, the messages are blocked.

Now, you can't get notifications of messages received from the blocked numbers.

Method 4: Block text messages on Android phones using the Phone (Dialer) app:

Another trick to block text messages on Android phones is blocking the sender's phone number on the Phone app. It is a simple way to block text messages and phone calls by the number you blocked. Phone app comes pre-installed on the phone, whose primary task is to make phone calls, but it also offers additional functionality. There are two ways to block phone numbers via the Phone app (based on the device/app user interface). We will briefly discuss both of them below:

Block a number using the Phone's Recents tab

1. Launch the Phone app on your Android smartphone
2. Switch to the Recents tab at the bottom of the Phone app screen
3. Long-press on the contact/phone number you want to block on your phone
4. You will see a pop-up screen with available options, tap on the Block & report spam
5. Choose whether you want to report it as spam, or Block

You are all done; now you can't receive text messages and even phone calls from that particular blocked number on your phone.

Block a number using the Contacts tab

1. Launch the Phone app on your Android smartphone
2. Please switch to the Contacts tab at the bottom (in some phone apps, it is at the top)
3. Long-press on the contact's name (or phone number) you want to block
4. You will see a pop-up screen with available options; tap on the Add to blocklist (Block & report)
   
5. Confirm your action by tapping on the "Add to blocklist" option (Block)
   

These methods successfully block the number of contacts you want on your phone. You can choose either method based on your phone app's user interface. From now, you can't get messages and phone your device from the blocked number. To unblock contact numbers again, check out how to see and unblock a blocked number.

Method 5: Using an SMS Blocking App

There are numerous message or SMS blocking apps available on Google Play Store. Launch the Google Play Store app on your device and search for "sms block app." You will get plenty of results displaying message or SMS blocking apps, including some popular apps:

• Clean Inbox SMS Blocker
• Text Blocker
• Block call and block SMS

1. Download and install any one of the apps which you like. All the apps have a different set of features, including block text messages.

2. Tap on YES to set your new downloaded SMS app as the default SMS app if it prompts. Now, you will receive and send messages from a new app rather than your old messaging app. Only the exception is Text Blocker.

3. Launch the app, and you will be at the Blacklist screen as it is the default screen of the app (or open it in another).

4. Tab on the Add contacts section to add the new number you want to block. Now, select a contact or enter a number to add to the block list.

5. You can also block unknown numbers, which helps to avoid spam and telemarketing-messages.

Block text messages on Samsung Galaxy phones

Samsung Galaxy phones have their own Messages app to handle messages and its setting functionalities. It even gives the option to block text messages on it. To block text messages on a Samsung Galaxy smartphone (different phone model has different steps), follow the below-given steps:

1. Launch the Messages app on your Samsung phone
   
2. Select the conversations tab and tap on the more (three-dots) icon
   
3. Choose Settings
   
4. Tap on the Block numbers and messages
   
5. Tap on the Block numbers
   
6. Now, enter the number your want to block and hit the plus (+) button
   

You will no longer receive text messages from blocked numbers on your Samsung Galaxy phone.

Enable Spam Protection

If you don't want to do all the settings by yourself to block spam number on your phone, handle it with Google's AI. Google Artificial Intelligence does that magic task for you. It will identify and block spam numbers from sending text messages to you.

In many devices, the "Enable spam protection" is already turned on, just like auto spam filters on the Gmail app. Google does many of its tasks in the background. If it is not turned on in your phone or turned off accidently, you can do this setting yourselves.

Before Google AI does this job for you, you need to enable spam protection in your message settings. Here are the steps on how you can do this in Google Messages app:

1. Launch the Google's Messages app on your Android smartphone
2. Tap on the more (three-dots) icon in the upper-right corner
3. From the list of available options, tap on Settings
4. Now, tap on General to see the Messages app's general settings
5. Tap on the Spam protection option
6. Finally, turn on the toggle button next to Enable spam protection

Block contact (text) on WhatsApp to avoid getting disturbed

As we all know, WhatsApp is a popular messaging app that most people use on their phones. Business organizations, individuals, or even spammers are messaging on WhatsApp app. If you want someone (spam message) to block on WhatsApp to avoid their message, here are the simple steps:

1. Open WhatsApp and go to the chat section.
2. Select the contact you want to block.
   
3. If the sender is not in your contact list:
   1. WhatsApp allows blocking them at the bottom of its message screen.
   2. Please tap on the Block option to block it.
      
4. Alternatively, if the sender is present in your contact list:
   1. Tap the menu (three dots) option at the screen's upper-right.
      
   2. From the available options, select More, and then select Block.
      
5. Confirm your action by tapping on Block on the confirmation screen.
   

How to block text on Facebook Messenger

If you want to avoid getting messages from any contact on your Facebook Messenger app, here are the steps to block it.

1. Launch the FB Messenger app on your Android
2. From the chat section, tab on a contact you want to block message
3. Tap on the information icon "i" in the screen's upper-right
4. Scroll the page and tap on Block.
5. Please choose whether you want to block it only on Messenger or the entire Facebook

Now, the blocked person can't reach you with a text message.

How to Unblock Phone Number for Text Message on Android: Method 1

If you decide to unblock the number which you blocked earlier to get text messages and call from them once again, you can unblock such blocked numbers in just a few taps. Follow the below-mentioned steps (steps and options may vary based on device) to unblock the number:

1. Launch the Message app of your device and go to the menu > Harassment filter
2. Now, tap on the Blacklist option and click on the number that you want to unblock. If you want to unblock all the numbers which you blocked earlier, tap on the Clear
3. Confirm the unblock number by clicking the Remove It will remove the number from the block list.

How to Unblock a Number for Text Message on Android: Method 2

In some Android smartphones, you may found different steps to unblock the earlier blocked number. To unblock a number and receive text messages once again, go to Messages > Blocked Contacts and click on the "X" just next to the number which you want to unblock.

If there is more than one messaging app on your smartphone, you can set one messaging app as a default messaging app. To change back to your default messaging app that you were previously using, open it. It may prompt a screen to set it as a default messaging app of your device. You can also set it using another way, visit Settings > Apps > Default Apps menu and choose your preferred Message app under the "Messaging app" entry.