What blocking a text actually does
Blocking a text means telling your phone to stop showing you messages from a specific number or contact. When you block someone, their text messages still arrive at your phone company's servers, but your phone deletes them before they reach your screen. You won't see a notification, and the blocked person won't know whether the message went through — it will just sit in limbo on their end.
Blocking is different from muting or silencing. If you mute a conversation, you still receive the messages and they still show up in your message list — you just won't hear a sound or see a notification. Blocking removes the messages from your phone entirely and hides the conversation from your main message list.
Blocking does not prevent the person from calling you, emailing you, or reaching you through social media. It only stops text messages. If you want to block calls too, you'll need to use a separate blocking feature on your phone.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking a text number stops messages from that sender from appearing on your phone, but the sender won't receive a notification that they've been blocked.
- On iPhone, you block a contact by opening the conversation, tapping the contact name at the top, scrolling down, and selecting "Block this Caller."
- On Android, open the conversation, tap the three dots in the top right, and select "Block" or "Block number" depending on your phone model.
- You can unblock a number at any time by going to your phone's settings, finding the blocked contacts list, and removing the number from it.
- Blocking texts does not stop calls, emails, or messages through apps — you need separate blocking for each type of contact.
How to block texts on iPhone
Open the Messages app and find the conversation from the person you want to block. Tap their name or number at the top of the screen. A menu will appear showing their contact card. Scroll down until you see the "Block this Caller" button and tap it. A confirmation message will appear asking if you're sure — tap "Block Contact" to confirm.
If you want to block someone who hasn't texted you yet, open your Contacts app, find their name, tap "Edit" in the top right, scroll to the bottom, and tap "Block this Caller." You can also block a number directly from your phone's call history or voicemail.
After you block someone, their old messages will stay in your conversation list, but new messages from them won't come through. If you want to delete the entire conversation, swipe left on it in your message list and tap "Delete."
How to block texts on Android
Open your Messages app (the default app varies by phone maker — it might be called Messages, SMS, or Texting). Find the conversation you want to block and press and hold it until a menu appears. Look for an option that says "Block," "Block number," or "Block contact" and tap it. Some Android phones will ask you to confirm; others will block when ready.
If you're using Google Messages (the default on many newer Android phones), open the conversation, tap the three dots in the top right corner, and select "Block." On Samsung phones, the option is usually in the same three-dot menu but may be labeled "Block number."
Different Android manufacturers place this option in slightly different spots, so if you don't see it in the three-dot menu, try pressing and holding the conversation itself. You can also block a number from your phone's Contacts app by opening the contact, tapping the three dots, and selecting "Block number."
Where blocked messages go
When you block a text number, the messages don't disappear from the phone company's network — they're stored on their servers. The blocked person's phone will show the message as "delivered" because it did reach the phone company. Your phone, however, filters out those messages before they appear in your message list.
Some phones let you view blocked messages if you dig into your settings, but most people never see them. On iPhone, you can't easily access blocked messages through the regular interface. On Android, some phones store blocked messages in a separate folder, but this varies by manufacturer.
If you unblock a number later, you won't see the old blocked messages — they're gone from your phone's perspective. The person who texted you will never know they were blocked unless they call you and you answer, or unless they contact you another way and you tell them.
Unblocking a number when you change your mind
On iPhone, go to Settings, tap "Messages," scroll down to "Blocked Contacts," and you'll see a list of every number you've blocked. Tap "Edit" in the top right, then tap the red minus sign next to the number you want to unblock. Tap "Unblock" to confirm. The conversation won't reappear in your message list, but new messages from that number will come through.
On Android, the process depends on your phone. In Google Messages, tap the three dots at the top, go to "Settings," then "Blocked numbers," and tap the X next to the number you want to unblock. On Samsung, go to Settings, find "Messages" or "Messaging," look for "Blocked contacts" or "Blocked numbers," and remove the contact from the list.
After you unblock someone, their messages will arrive normally again. Old conversations won't reappear, but if they text you again, you'll see the new message in your inbox.
What the blocked person experiences
The person you block won't receive a notification saying they've been blocked. Their text will appear to send normally on their end — no error message, no "delivery failed" alert. They might suspect they're blocked if you stop responding to their messages, but they won't know for certain unless they call you and the call goes to voicemail, or unless you tell them.
Some people try to test whether they're blocked by sending another message or calling. If they call and it goes straight to voicemail without ringing, that's a sign they might be blocked, but it could also mean your phone is off or you're on another call. There's no foolproof way for them to know without asking you directly.
Blocking versus other ways to stop unwanted texts
If you're getting spam texts or scam messages, blocking individual numbers works but can be tedious if you're getting many. Both iPhone and Android have spam-filtering features built in. 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 Messages, tap the three dots, go to Settings, and enable "Spam protection."
You can also report spam texts to your phone company. On iPhone, open the message, tap "Report Junk" (this option appears if the message is from an unknown number). On Android, select the message and tap "Report spam." This helps your phone company identify patterns and block the sender for other customers too.
If someone is harassing you repeatedly, blocking is a good first step, but consider also reporting the number to your phone company or local police if the messages are threatening.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell if I blocked them?
No, they won't receive a notification. Their messages will appear to send normally. They might suspect it if you stop responding, but they have no way to know for certain unless they call you and the call behaves differently than usual, or unless you tell them.
Will I see old messages from someone I block?
The old conversation stays in your message list on most phones, but new messages from that number won't come through. You can delete the old conversation manually if you want it completely gone.
What if I block someone by accident?
You can unblock them anytime through your phone's settings. On iPhone, go to Settings > Messages > Blocked Contacts. On Android, go to your Messages app settings and find Blocked Numbers. Tap the number and select Unblock.
Does blocking stop calls and emails too?
No. Blocking a text number only stops text messages. Calls from that number will still come through, and emails will still arrive. You need to block calls separately, usually through your phone's Phone app or settings.
Can I block a number that hasn't texted me yet?
Yes. On iPhone, open Contacts, find the person, tap Edit, scroll down, and tap "Block this Caller." On Android, open Contacts, select the person, tap the three dots, and choose "Block number."