How to block a phone number or text on your smartphone

At a glance

Both iPhone and Android phones let you quickly block unwanted calls and texts in just a few taps.
You can block saved contacts, unknown numbers, and private callers directly from your phone settings.
Built-in spam filters on Messages apps help catch junk texts before they reach you.
Removing your phone number from data broker sites can help reduce future spam.

There are tons of reasons why you’d want to block a phone number. Maybe you got a spam call and want to make sure you don’t get another call from that same number. Or maybe you no longer want to hear from someone.

Whatever the reason, you should know how to stop unwanted calls or texts. The steps below work with the latest iOS 26.4.1 on iPhone and Android 16 on Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel devices, so you’ll be covered no matter which phone you use.

Be sure to update your software first so these steps match what you see on your screen.

A woman changing the settings on her phone

How to block a phone number on an iPhone

There are two ways that you can block a number on your iPhone in iOS 26.4.1. Apple’s support still centers blocking through the number/contact details and also shows Settings > Privacy & Security > Blocked Contacts for managing blocked entries. If you want to block a random number that has called you, follow these steps.

Open your Phone app (the green one with the telephone icon)
Tap Recents at the bottom of the screen
When you see the phone number you want to block, In iOS 26, swipe left on a number you want to block, and an orange hand icon appears – this is the fastest way to block
- On previous iOS versions, you need to tap the lowercase “i” to the right of the date to achieve the same steps
Scroll to the bottom and select Block Contact
Tap Block or Block and Report Junk to confirm.

If you want to block a number on your iPhone in iOS 26.4.1 that you have saved as a contact, follow these steps:

Open your Phone app (the green one with the telephone icon)
Tap Contacts at the bottom of the screen
Select the name of the Contact you wish to block
Scroll to the bottom and select Block Contact
Tap Block Contact to confirm

How to block a phone number on an Android

You can block numbers using the Phone app, Contacts, or call log.

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer

To block a contact on a Samsung Galaxy phone

Open the Contacts app.
Tap the contact you want to block.
Tap More (⋮)
Tap Block contact.
Confirm by tapping Block.

The contact stays in your address book, but calls/texts from them will be blocked.

To block a number (even if not saved as a contact) on a Samsung Galaxy phone

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer

Open the Phone app.
Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) or “More options.”
Go to Settings → Block numbers (or “Blocked numbers”).
You can either:
- Tap Add phone number and enter the number to block.
- Or, go to your Recents tab, tap the number → tap Info (i) → then tap Block.

To block unknown/private numbers on a Samsung Galaxy phone

In the same “Block numbers” settings, there should be a toggle “Block calls from unknown numbers.” Turn that on to block calls from caller IDs that are private or not identified.

To block numbers or block unidentified numbers on Google Pixel (or other “stock Android” devices)

You can block numbers or block unidentified/unknown callers directly through the built-in Phone app.

To block a specific number

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer

Open the Phone app.
Go to the Recents or call history.
Tap the call from the number you want to block.
Tap Block.

To block a number manually (not from recent calls)

Open the Phone app
Tap the three-dot menu
Tap Settings.
Go to Blocked numbers.
Tap Add a number, enter the number you want to block
Then tap Block.

To block unknown/unidentified callers

In Settings → Blocked numbers, toggle on Block calls from unidentified (private/hidden) callers. This prevents calls from numbers flagged as private or unknown.

How to block spam texts on an iPhone

With an iPhone running iOS 26.4.1, you can block spam texts in a few quick steps.

Open the Messages app on your iPhone
Tap the message from the number you want to block
Tap the number or contact name at the top of the conversation
Scroll down and tap Block Contact
- In iOS 26, the Messages app now shows a “Report and Block” option for unknown senders, which reports the number as spam to Apple and the carrier simultaneously.

How to block spam texts on an Android

Here are the updated steps for Google Messages, Pixel devices and Samsung Galaxy phones.

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.

Block spam texts on Google Messages or Google Pixel

If your phone uses the Google Messages app, you can turn on spam protection and block numbers manually.

Turn on spam protection

Open Google Messages.
Tap your profile photo in the top right.
Select Messages settings.
Tap Spam protection.
Toggle Enable spam protection ON.

Block a specific spam sender

Open Google Messages.
Press and hold the spam conversation.
Tap Block.
Choose Block & report spam if you want to help filter future spam.

When you block someone, their texts go to your spam folder, and you won’t see alerts.

Block spam texts on Samsung Galaxy phones

Samsung Messages has its own blocking tools and filters.

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.

Block a spam text

Open the Messages app.
Open the unwanted message.
Tap the three-dot menu.
Select Block number or Block & report spam.

Turn on Samsung’s spam filter

Open Messages.
Tap the three-dot menu.
Go to Settings.
Tap Block numbers & spam.
Turn on Spam protection.

Block unknown senders

Open the Phone app.
Tap the three-dot menu.
Go to Settings.
Select Blocked numbers.
Toggle Block unknown/private numbers ON.

This filters messages and calls from unidentified senders.

How to block texts using your carrier

Most carriers also offer options to block spam calls and texts, such as Verizon’s Block Calls & Messages, AT&T’s Secure Family, and T-Mobile’s Message blocking. The exact steps to use these features will vary depending on your carrier.

How to keep spammers from getting your phone number

Regrettably, there is a high probability that your phone number is readily available on many lists sold by data brokers to hundreds of people search websites. However, if you remove it from the web, it can reduce the likelihood of spammers and telemarketers obtaining your number and contacting you.

Incogni, a service I trust 100% and use myself, helps automate the process by submitting removal requests to hundreds of data brokers and people-search sites on your behalf.

Incogni automatically contacts data brokers on your behalf and requests the removal of your personal information. It also continues monitoring those sites and submits new removal requests if your data reappears.

Incogni currently removes personal data from 420+ data broker and people-search websites, and its Unlimited plan allows you to request removals from as many additional sites as you need.
Incogni has also received third-party assurance from Deloitte, validating its marketing claims.
The goal is simple: make it much harder for strangers, scammers, and cybercriminals to find your personal information online.

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If you are a victim of identity theft, the most important thing to do is to take immediate action to mitigate the damage and prevent further harm.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Blocking unwanted calls or texts is one of the easiest ways to keep your phone quieter and your day stress-free. With the tools built into the latest iOS 26.1 and Android 16 software, you can quickly stop numbers you no longer want to hear from and filter out spam before it distracts you. Keep your device updated so these steps stay accurate and you always have the strongest protection available.

Have you ever had to block a number or deal with persistent spam messages? What worked for you? Share your experiences in the comments below, as we’d love to hear from you.

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