Block a text sender on iPhone or Android

The method depends on which phone you have. On both iPhone and Android, you open the text message thread from the person you want to block, then look for a block option — usually in a menu or info screen. The exact steps differ slightly, but the result is the same: that person's texts will no longer reach your phone, and they won't be notified that you blocked them.

After you block someone, their messages disappear from your inbox. If you change your mind later, you can unblock them the same way you blocked them. The person doesn't know they're blocked unless they try to contact you and notice you never respond.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone, open the message thread, tap the contact name at the top, scroll down, and tap Block This Caller.
  • On Android, open the message thread, tap the three dots menu, and select Block or Block Contact.
  • Blocked messages never reach your phone — they don't sit in a folder you have to manage.
  • You can unblock someone at any time through your phone's settings or by finding their contact and reversing the block.
  • Blocking a text sender does not stop calls from that person — you may need to block them separately in your phone app.

Block a text sender on iPhone

Open the Messages app and find the conversation with the person you want to block. Tap their name or number at the very top of the screen — this opens a small info panel. Scroll down until you see the option that says Block This Caller, then tap it. A confirmation message will appear asking if you're sure; tap Block Contact to confirm.

Once blocked, that person's messages will no longer appear in your inbox. If they send you a text, it goes nowhere — you won't see a notification, and the message won't be stored anywhere on your phone. The person can still call you unless you block them in the Phone app separately.

Block a text sender on Android

Open the Messages app (the default texting app on your phone) and find the conversation with the person you want to block. Tap and hold the message thread until a menu appears at the top of the screen. Look for an icon that looks like a circle with a slash through it, or tap the three-dot menu icon and select Block or Block Contact. Confirm when prompted.

The exact wording and location of the block option can vary depending on which Android phone you have and which messaging app you use. If you use a third-party texting app like Google Messages instead of your phone's default app, the block option will be in that app instead. After blocking, messages from that person will not reach your phone.

Block texts from unknown or spam numbers

If you're receiving texts from numbers you don't recognize, you can block them the same way you block known contacts. On iPhone, you can also go to Settings > Messages and turn on Filter Unknown Senders — this moves texts from people not in your contacts to a separate tab so they don't clutter your main inbox.

On Android, open the Messages app, go to Settings, and look for options like Spam Protection or Block Unknown. These features automatically filter out texts from numbers your phone doesn't recognize. You can also report spam messages directly from the conversation — most phones have a Report Spam option in the message menu.

Unblock a text sender

On iPhone, go to Settings > Messages > Blocked Contacts (or Phone > Blocked Contacts if you blocked them in the Phone app). Find the person's name in the list and swipe left, then tap Unblock. You can now receive texts from them again.

On Android, open the Messages app and go to Settings > Blocked Numbers or Blocked Contacts. Find the person you want to unblock and tap the minus sign or delete icon next to their name. Confirm when prompted. They can now text you again.

What happens when you block someone

When you block a text sender, their messages never reach your phone. They don't go to spam, they don't sit in a blocked folder — they straightforward don't arrive. The person sending the text has no way to know they're blocked from your phone's perspective. They might notice you're not responding, but your phone won't send them a notification saying "this person blocked you."

Blocking only affects text messages, not phone calls. If you want to stop receiving calls from the same person, you need to block them separately in your Phone app. On both iPhone and Android, you can block a contact in the Phone app using similar steps: find their name, tap the info icon, and select the block option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a blocked person tell they're blocked?

No. When you block someone's number, their texts straightforward don't reach you. They won't get a message saying they're blocked. They might figure it out if they never get responses, but your phone doesn't notify them.

Do blocked messages get saved anywhere?

No. Blocked messages don't arrive on your phone at all, so there's no folder or archive to check. They're not stored anywhere on your device. If you unblock someone later, you won't see the texts they sent while you had them blocked.

Can I block someone without opening their message?

On iPhone, you can long-press a message thread in your inbox and look for a block option in the menu that appears. On Android, tap and hold the conversation and select Block from the menu. You don't have to open the full conversation first.

What if I block someone by accident?

Go to your blocked contacts list in Settings and unblock them. On iPhone, it's in Settings > Messages > Blocked Contacts. On Android, it's in your Messages app settings under Blocked Numbers. Once unblocked, they can text you again when ready.

Does blocking stop calls from the same person?

No. Blocking in the Messages app only stops texts. If you want to block their calls too, open the Phone app, find their contact, tap the info icon, and block them there as well. You need to block them in both apps to stop both texts and calls.