Message blocking stops texts and calls from reaching you, and how you disable it depends on whether your phone, your carrier, or an app is doing the blocking

Message blocking can happen at three different places: on your phone itself, through your carrier's network, or inside a messaging app. The steps to turn it off are different for each one. Start by figuring out where the block is coming from — usually by checking whether the blocked person can reach you through a different method, or by looking at your phone's settings first.

If you recently blocked someone by accident, or if you want to receive messages from a number you previously blocked, the fastest fix is often in your phone's built-in settings. If that is not where the block is, your carrier may have set it up, and you will need to contact them directly.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone, go to Settings > Messages > Blocked Contacts, or Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts, to see and unblock numbers you blocked yourself.
  • On Android, open Messages or Phone, find the blocked contact, and select Unblock — the exact steps vary by phone maker and Android version.
  • Your carrier may offer message filtering or blocking through their own network, which you can usually turn off by calling customer service or logging into your account online.
  • Some messaging apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and iMessage have their own block lists separate from your phone's system blocking.
  • If you cannot find where a block is set, contact your carrier to ask whether they are filtering messages on their end.

Unblocking on iPhone

On iPhone, blocked contacts are stored in two places depending on what you blocked: phone calls, FaceTime, or iMessage. To see your blocked list, open Settings and tap either Messages or Phone, then look for Blocked Contacts. Tap Edit in the top-left corner, then tap the red minus sign next to the contact you want to unblock, and confirm by tapping Unblock.

If you blocked someone in iMessage specifically, the steps are the same — go to Settings > Messages > Blocked Contacts. If you do not see the contact listed there, check Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts as well, since calls and texts can be blocked separately. Once you unblock them, they can text or call you normally again.

Unblocking on Android

Android phones vary by manufacturer, but the most common path is to open your default Messages or Phone app, find the contact or number you want to unblock, and look for a menu option to unblock. On Samsung phones, open Messages, tap the three dots in the top-right corner, select Settings > Blocked Numbers, find the number, and tap Unblock. On Google Pixel phones, open Messages, tap the three dots, select Settings > Blocked Numbers, and unblock from there.

If you use a different Android phone, the steps may differ slightly. A faster way is to search your phone's Settings app for "blocked" — most Android versions have a Blocked Numbers or Blocked Contacts section that shows you everything you have blocked across calls and texts. Once you find the number there, select it and choose Unblock.

Turning off carrier-level message filtering

Your carrier — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or another provider — may offer message filtering or blocking services that work at the network level, before messages reach your phone. These services often have names like Verizon Call Filter, AT&T Call Protect, or T-Mobile Scam Shield. If you turned one of these on, messages from certain numbers may be blocked before you ever see them.

To turn off carrier filtering, log into your account on your carrier's website or call their customer service number on the back of your bill. Ask them to disable message filtering or blocking on your account. Some carriers let you manage this in their mobile app as well. If you are not sure whether your carrier has filtering turned on, customer service can tell you and walk you through turning it off.

Unblocking in messaging apps

If you use WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, or another messaging app, those apps have their own block lists separate from your phone's system. To unblock someone in WhatsApp, open the app, tap Settings > Privacy > Blocked Contacts, find the person, and tap Unblock. In Facebook Messenger, tap your profile picture, scroll to Settings & Privacy > Settings > People > Blocked, find the person, and tap Unblock.

Each app stores its block list differently, so if you blocked someone in an app but not on your phone, they will still be able to reach you through your phone's native text or call features. Check any messaging apps you use regularly to see if the block is there instead.

What to do if you cannot find where the block is

If you have checked your phone's settings, your messaging apps, and you still cannot find a block, the block may be on your carrier's network. Call your carrier's customer service and tell them you are not receiving messages from a specific number. They can check whether they are filtering or blocking that number on their end and remove it if needed.

Another possibility is that the other person has blocked you instead — in that case, they will not receive your messages, and you will not see a notification that you are blocked. If you suspect that is what happened, try reaching them through a different method like email or social media to ask.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person I unblock know that I unblocked them?

No. Unblocking someone does not send them a notification. They will only know if you tell them, or if they try to contact you and suddenly their messages go through after being blocked before.

Can I block and unblock someone repeatedly?

Yes, you can block and unblock as many times as you want. There is no limit to how many times you can change your block list on your phone or in apps. Your carrier may have different rules, so ask them if you are unsure.

If I unblock someone, will I see their old messages?

No. Messages that arrived while someone was blocked are usually deleted and will not reappear. You will only see new messages sent after you unblock them.

Why am I not receiving texts from someone even after I unblocked them?

Check whether your carrier is filtering the messages at the network level, or whether the other person has you blocked on their end. You can also ask the person to try calling you instead to confirm you are receiving their attempts to reach you.