How to block a text message sender
The steps to block a text depend on what phone you have. On an iPhone, open the Messages app, find the conversation you want to block, swipe left on it, tap the trash icon, then tap "Delete and Block." On Android, open your default messaging app (usually Google Messages or Samsung Messages), long-press the conversation, tap the three-dot menu, and select "Block." Both methods prevent that person from texting you, and their messages will no longer appear in your inbox.
If you want to block someone before they text you, you can also block them through your Contacts app. On iPhone, open Contacts, find the person, tap "Block this Caller" at the bottom. On Android, open Contacts, select the person, tap the three-dot menu, and choose "Block number." The result is the same either way — their texts won't reach you.
Key Takeaways
- iPhone users can block a texter by swiping left on a conversation in Messages and tapping "Delete and Block."
- Android users can long-press a conversation in their messaging app and select "Block" from the menu.
- You can also block someone through your Contacts app before they ever text you.
- Blocked contacts cannot text you, call you, or reach you through FaceTime or iMessage, depending on your phone type.
- You can unblock someone at any time by going to your phone's settings or the contact's profile.
Blocking on iPhone
On iPhone, the fastest way to block a texter is through the Messages app. Open Messages, find the conversation from the person you want to block, swipe left on it with one finger, and a red trash icon appears on the right. Tap it, then confirm by tapping "Delete and Block." The conversation disappears from your inbox, and that person's future texts won't come through.
If you've already deleted the conversation, you can still block the number. Open your Phone app, go to Recents, find the person's number, tap the info icon (a circle with an "i"), scroll down, and tap "Block this Caller." You can also block through Contacts by finding the person, tapping "Block this Caller" at the bottom of their card.
When you block someone on iPhone, they cannot text you, call you, or reach you through FaceTime or iMessage. They won't receive a notification that they're blocked, but they may figure it out if their messages never get a response and calls go to voicemail every time.
Blocking on Android
On Android, the process varies slightly depending on which messaging app you use. If you use Google Messages (the default on most newer Android phones), open the app, long-press the conversation you want to block, tap the three-dot menu at the top, and select "Block." If you use Samsung Messages, the steps are the same: long-press, tap the menu, and choose "Block."
You can also block through your Contacts app. Open Contacts, find the person, tap the three-dot menu, and select "Block number." On some Android phones, you may see an option to "Block and report as spam" — this sends feedback to your carrier or Google about unwanted messages, which can help reduce spam overall.
Once blocked on Android, the person cannot text you through standard SMS or through most messaging apps. However, if they use a different app like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger, you may need to block them separately within that app.
What happens when you block someone
When you block a texter, their messages stop appearing in your inbox immediately. On iPhone, blocked iMessages appear as regular SMS texts if the sender has an iPhone, but they still won't reach you. On Android, blocked SMS messages are typically moved to a spam folder or deleted, depending on your phone's settings.
The blocked person won't see a notification saying they've been blocked. However, if they try to call you, they may hear a busy signal or the call may go straight to voicemail, which can tip them off. Text messages from blocked numbers typically fail silently — the sender may see a delivery failure after a delay, or they may not notice anything at all.
Blocking is different from muting a conversation. If you mute instead, you'll still receive the messages, but your phone won't notify you about them. Blocking removes the messages entirely.
Unblocking a contact
If you change your mind and want to receive texts from someone again, you can unblock them. On iPhone, go to Settings, tap Phone or Messages, scroll down to "Blocked Contacts," find the person, and tap "Edit" in the top left, then the red minus icon next to their name. On Android, go to Settings, find "Blocked numbers" or "Blocked contacts" (the exact name varies by phone), find the person, and tap the unblock option.
Once unblocked, that person can text you again, and their messages will appear normally in your inbox. You won't receive a notification that you've unblocked them — it happens silently on your end.
Blocking spam and unknown numbers
Most phones let you block numbers you don't recognize without saving them as contacts first. On iPhone, if you receive a text from an unknown number, open the conversation, tap the info icon, and select "Block this Caller." On Android, long-press the conversation and tap "Block."
Both iPhone and Android also offer spam-filtering features. On iPhone, go to Settings > Messages and turn on "Filter Unknown Senders" — this moves texts from people not in your contacts to a separate tab. On Android, open your messaging app, go to Settings, and enable spam protection. Google Messages includes built-in spam filtering that catches many unwanted texts automatically.
If you receive repeated texts from a blocked number using different numbers, or if spam continues after blocking, contact your carrier. They can add numbers to a network-level block list and may offer additional spam-filtering tools.
Blocking through third-party apps
If your phone's built-in blocking doesn't meet your needs, third-party apps offer more control. Apps like TrueCaller, RoboKiller, and Nomorobo let you block numbers, report spam, and see caller information before you answer. These apps work on both iPhone and Android, though some features may require a paid subscription.
Third-party apps can block calls and texts more aggressively than your phone's native tools, and some let you create custom block lists or set up rules (for example, blocking all calls from unknown numbers during certain hours). However, they require you to grant permission to access your contacts and messages, so review their privacy policy before installing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a blocked person tell they've been blocked?
Not directly — they won't receive a notification. However, if they try calling and always reach voicemail, or if text messages fail to deliver after several attempts, they may suspect they're blocked. There's no way for them to know for certain without asking you or trying to contact you through another method.
What's the difference between blocking and reporting as spam?
Blocking stops messages from reaching you. Reporting as spam does the same thing but also sends feedback to your carrier or phone manufacturer about unwanted messages, which helps improve spam filters for everyone. On Android, you can often do both at once.
If I block someone, can they still leave me voicemails?
On iPhone, blocked callers typically cannot leave voicemails — their calls go straight to voicemail, but the message is not saved. On Android, it depends on your carrier and phone settings. Contact your carrier to confirm how voicemail works with blocked numbers on your account.
Can I block a number if I don't know who it is?
Yes. On both iPhone and Android, you can block any number, even if it's not saved in your contacts. Just find the text or call in your history, tap the info icon or menu, and select the block option. You don't need to know the person's name.
Will blocking someone remove old text conversations?
On iPhone, selecting "Delete and Block" removes the conversation. On Android, blocking typically keeps the old conversation visible but prevents new messages from coming through. If you want to delete the conversation on Android, swipe left on it or long-press and select delete separately from blocking.