How to block a text on an android phone

Thankfully, spam text messages are not that common as compared to spam emails. However, it is still important to know about the methods available on your Android Phone to block unwanted text messages. This knowledge can be useful in case you do come across the need to block text messages on your Android Phone.

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Block Text Messages On Android Phone

As mentioned above, you may start looking for ways to block text messages in case you come across someone who starts bothering you with unwanted text messages or you run into a company that starts targeting you with unwanted promotions and offers.

Even if the spam text messages are harmless and nothing to worry about, you may still want to block them in order to avoid being charged for those useless messages or exceeding your texting plan limits (in case you have a limited text plan).

In this post we will be showing you the steps to block text messages on most commonly used messaging apps like Android Messenger app, Google Hangouts and the Messages App on Samsung Galaxy phone that has more spam control features.

Block Text Messages on Android Messenger App

The default Android messaging app offers an effective in-built spam filter. You can make use of this to block spam or unwanted text messages.

1. Open up Messenger 

2. Tap and hold on the Text Message of the sender that you want to block.

3. You will see options to Archive, Delete, Notify and Block the person at the top of your screen, tap on Block.

4. You will see a popup informing you, that you will not be notified about messages from this contact.

Note: Although your contact can send you text messages, you won’t be aware of them.

5. Tap on OK to Block text messages from this sender.

Block Text Messages On Samsung Galaxy Phones

The messenger app on Samsung Galaxy Phones offers more options for spam control and blocking text messages.

1. Tap on More at the top right corner of the screen.

2. Next, tap on Settings

3. On Messenger Settings, tap on Spam Filter

4. On the Next Screen you will see three options – Manage Spam numbers, Manage Spam phrases, Spam Messages.

Manage spam Numbers

This option allows you to add specific numbers manually by entering the phone number or by finding the phone number in your Inbox/list of Contacts.

Once you find the number, tap on the “+” sign to add the number to spam list.

Manage Spam Phrases

Using this option you can specify certain common phrases that you are finding in spam messages directed to you.
Messenger will check incoming messages for such words and phrases and automatically mark such messages as spam.

However, you need to be careful about how you use this feature and choose phrases that are most likely to block spam messages and not messages from your contacts containing such phrases.

Spam Messages

This option allows you to check messages classified as spam by the messenger settings. It is a good idea to take a look at this section in order to make sure that your spam filters are not blocking any of your contacts.

Nowadays, people hardly use SMS to communicate. Instant messaging apps has overtaken traditional text messages. However, SMS is still useful regarding getting information and notifications. You get the verification codes for logging to your online account. You get your banking transactions notifications via text messages.

However, you also get messages from popular brands about their latest products. But when you start receiving promotional messages too much, it gets irritating. Every time your phone chimes, you check it if anything important comes and it turns out a promotional SMS. Here in this article, you will know how to block spam messages on your Android phone.

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Block SMS using Android inbuilt Feature

Even Google knows that you are tired of receiving spam messages. That’s why they have included the Spam Filter in the inbuilt Messages app. You can enable the Spam Filter, and it will automatically filter the unwanted messages.

Tap on the three vertical dots in the Messages App and then tap on Settings. Choose the SIM card on which you want to enable the spam filter.

Now tap on Spam protection. Use the Toggle button to enable it. You can do the same for your other SIM card if you are using dual SIM on your phone.

Alternatively, if you want to block a particular sender, you can also do that. Long tap on the SMS thread and tap the Block icon. Now tap OK. The sender will be blocked, and you won’t receive text or calls anymore. The current thread will be archived.

You can also report the sender as a spammer. Google receive up to 10 last messages that you receive from the sender. Google will even get the number of the sender. It helps Google to understand the pattern of Spam messages, and then they apply it in their automatic spam filter which you enabled earlier. Don’t worry; Google will not receive the messages that you sent. Their last SMS could also go to your carrier; they might take action against the sender regarding spam. If you don’t want to report and block the sender, then deselect the option of Report as spam.

Use Third-Party Apps to Block Unwanted Texts

If you are not satisfied with the Android’s inbuilt spam filter, then you can check out third-party messaging apps. These apps work great in filtering the unwanted SMS and also has some great feature.  I am listing four such third-party apps that are available in the Google Play store.

1. TrueCaller

TrueCaller is your best friend if you are fed with the promotional messages and calls. It automatically identifies the spam and promotional messages and blocks them. You can also get the ID of the unknown sender. It has an extensive database of numbers and name. If you are receiving a call from an unknown number, you get the caller ID, and if it is spam, it also shows the number of people reported the caller as spam.

TrueCaller also offers a few other features such as call recording, backup call history, and UPI Payment method. One thing to note that when you install TrueCaller, it uploads your phone book to its database. That’s the way it gets the proper ID of unknown callers. If you do not want some app to gain access to your phone book, then don’t install this app.

2. SMS Organizer from Microsoft

I use this app, and I am in love with it. The way it handles the SMS is impressive. It filters the spam and promotional messages automatically and moves them to the promotional folder. You won’t get any notifications when you receive an unwanted text. It shows notifications for transactional and personal messages and puts them in a separate folder. If any promotional messages get in the main folder, you can move it the promotional folder by swapping right. From the next time, you won’t see a text from that sender.

We often receive OTP for transactions and to view it; we had to open the message. But SMS Organizer directly shows the OTP in big fonts on your notification area. So you don’t have to open the SMS. You can also back up the texts in your Google Drive account. You have to link the drive account to enable it.

It fetches the information from SMS and shows you reminders of things like bill payment, upcoming train or flight journey, and other important stuff. The finance tab shows you the balance in your savings account and credit card limit. It pulls these details from the SMS so if you didn’t receive an SMS of a transaction then these details would not be accurate.

It can also automatically delete the promo messages, OTP messages, and blocked messages after a predefined time. This setting is disabled by default; you have to enable it by visiting Settings and Rules.

3. Key Messages

Another great way to avoid spam SMS is to use Key Messages. It automatically detects the promotional and spam messages and blocks them. It also organizes your messages in different tabs, so you can easily find them. You can prevent the SMS by name, number, content keyword, and wildcard rule. It also counts the characters and shows how many text messages are going to charge if send all those texts.

Key Messages also backs up your SMS to Google Drive. You can restore them to your new phone or current without any duplication. It also backs up the allow and blocked list. With the search option, you can search a message from the thousands of SMSes in your inbox.

4. Reos SMS

This app is much more like SMS Organizer from Microsoft. It categorizes your inbox into social and business messages. The app also shows OTPs in big font and gives you the status of train, cab, movie ticket bookings. It automatically blocks spam messages to keep your inbox clean.

Reos SMS also has the instant messaging feature which you can use to chat with your friends. Clean UI and UX is the specialty of this app. The only problem with this app is, it doesn’t show the blocked SMS. The SMS Organizer, on the other hand, displays the blocked SMS in another folder but Reos doesn’t show them.

You don’t need to use all these apps to block unwanted message on your Android device. Use one that is suitable for your need. If you receive few spam messages, then Android inbuilt messaging app is best for you. However, if you receive tons of spam messages, then I would recommend you to install SMS Organizer from Microsoft.

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