How to Block Texts on iPhone: Essential Guide

Blocking texts on your iPhone is simple! You can block individual contacts directly from your Messages app or Phone app, or even block unknown numbers. This guide provides easy, step-by-step instructions to help you regain control and peace of mind on your iPhone.

Getting unwanted text messages can be annoying, and sometimes even a little stressful. Whether it’s spam, a persistent stranger, or someone you’d rather not hear from, your iPhone gives you the power to stop those messages from coming through. You might think it’s complicated, but it’s actually quite straightforward! I’m Mahima Khan, and I’m here to walk you through exactly how to block texts on your iPhone. We’ll cover blocking specific people, stopping unknown senders, and even how to unblock someone if you change your mind. By the end of this guide, you’ll feel confident managing your text message experience and enjoying a more peaceful iPhone.

Why Block Texts on Your iPhone?

There are several good reasons why you might want to block someone from texting you on your iPhone. It’s all about creating a more comfortable and secure digital environment for yourself. Let’s look at some common scenarios:

• Spam and Marketing Messages: Many of us receive unsolicited texts from companies or unknown numbers trying to sell us something. Blocking these can declutter your inbox and save you from unwanted promotions.
• Harassment or Unwanted Contact: If someone is bothering you, sending abusive messages, or making you feel uncomfortable, blocking them is a crucial step in protecting your well-being.
• Ex-Partners or Difficult Relationships: Sometimes, you need to create distance from people you no longer wish to communicate with, and blocking texts is an effective way to do that.
• Robocalls and Scammers: While many robocalls come via voice calls, some can also masquerade as text messages. Blocking these numbers helps prevent potential scams.
• Privacy and Peace of Mind: Simply put, you have the right to decide who can contact you. Blocking unwanted texters gives you control over your personal space and reduces distractions.

How to Block Texts from a Specific Contact (The Easiest Way!)

This is the most common way to block someone, and thankfully, it’s super simple. You can do this directly from your Messages app or your Phone app. Let’s start with the Messages app, as that’s where most text conversations happen.

Method 1: Blocking from the Messages App

Imagine you just received a text from someone you want to block. Here’s how to do it in just a few taps:

1. Open the Messages App: Find the green speech bubble icon on your Home Screen and tap it.
2. Find the Conversation: Locate the text message thread with the person you want to block. Tap on the conversation to open it.
3. Tap the Contact Name/Number: At the very top of the conversation screen, you’ll see the name of the contact (if they’re saved) or their phone number. Tap directly on this name or number.
4. Tap the “i” Info Button: A new screen will appear with details about the conversation. Look for a small, blue circle with an “i” inside (it stands for “information”). Tap this “i”.
5. Scroll Down and Tap “Block this Caller”: On the next screen, you’ll see options like “Create New Contact” or “Add to Existing Contact.” Scroll all the way down. You’ll find a red option that says “Block this Caller.” Tap it.
6. Confirm Blocking: A pop-up will ask if you’re sure you want to block the contact. Tap “Block Contact” to confirm.

That’s it! They are now blocked. You won’t receive any more text messages, phone calls, or FaceTime calls from this contact. Easy peasy!

Method 2: Blocking from the Phone App

If you prefer to block someone from your call history or contacts list, you can also do that using the Phone app.

1. Open the Phone App: Tap the green phone icon on your Home Screen.
2. Go to “Recents”: At the bottom of the screen, tap on “Recents.” This shows you a list of your recent incoming and outgoing calls.
3. Tap the “i” Next to the Number: Find the phone number or name of the person you want to block in your Recents list. To the right of their name or number, you’ll see a small blue circle with an “i” inside. Tap this “i”.
4. Tap “Block this Caller”: On the contact information screen, scroll down to the bottom and tap the red option that says “Block this Caller.”
5. Confirm Blocking: A confirmation pop-up will appear. Tap “Block Contact.”

Alternatively, if the person is saved in your Contacts:

1. Open the Contacts App: Find the “Contacts” app (it looks like an address book) on your Home Screen.
2. Find the Contact: Search for or scroll to the contact you wish to block. Tap on their name.
3. Tap “Edit”: In the top right corner of the contact’s page, tap “Edit.”
4. Scroll to the Bottom: Scroll all the way down on the editing screen.
5. Tap “Block this Caller”: You’ll see the red “Block this Caller” option. Tap it.
6. Confirm Blocking: Tap “Block Contact” in the pop-up.

How to Block Unknown or Unidentified Senders

Do you get texts from numbers that aren’t in your contacts? These are often spam or automated messages. While you can’t block a specific unknown number if it keeps changing (as they often do in spam campaigns), you can filter out messages from people who aren’t saved in your contacts. This is a great way to reduce the number of unwanted texts you see daily.

Here’s how to enable this feature:

1. Open the Settings App: Tap the gray gear icon on your Home Screen.
2. Scroll Down to Messages: Scroll through the Settings menu until you find “Messages.” Tap on it.
3. Enable “Filter Unknown Senders”: In the Messages settings, scroll down until you see the option “Filter Unknown Senders.” Toggle the switch next to it to the ON position (it will turn green).

What happens when you enable this?

Your iPhone will now separate messages from people who are not in your contacts into a separate list. You’ll still receive their messages, but they won’t trigger alerts (like sounds or vibrations), and they’ll be in a different tab within your Messages app. You’ll see a new section called “Unknown Senders” above your “All Contacts” list. To see these messages, you’ll need to go into the Messages app, tap “Back” in the top left until you see the list of conversations, and then tap “Unknown Senders.”

Important Note: If you enable “Filter Unknown Senders,” you won’t receive notifications for messages from people not in your contacts. You’ll need to manually check the “Unknown Senders” tab to see if any legitimate messages ended up there. Sometimes, a legitimate business or service that isn’t saved in your contacts might get filtered. If you find a message you want to receive notifications for, you can tap on the conversation, tap “Edit” in the top right, tap the contact’s name, and then tap “Create New Contact” or “Add to Existing Contact” to save them. Once saved, their messages will start appearing in your main “All Contacts” list and trigger notifications.

How to Block a Number from an iMessage

This is very similar to blocking from a regular text message. If you receive an iMessage (which usually appears in a blue bubble), the process is identical to blocking from a standard SMS text message.

1. Open the Messages App and tap on the iMessage conversation.
2. Tap the contact’s name or number at the top.
3. Tap the “i” (info) button that appears.
4. Scroll down and tap “Block this Caller.”
5. Confirm by tapping “Block Contact.”

How to Block a Number that Texted You but Isn’t in Your Contacts

Even if a number isn’t saved in your contacts, you can still block it directly from your Messages app. This is very handy for those spam or random texts.

1. Open the Messages App and tap on the conversation with the number you want to block.
2. Tap the phone number at the top of the screen.
3. Tap “info” (you might see an “i” icon or just the word “info”).
4. Tap “Block this Caller.”
5. Tap “Block Contact” to confirm.

How to Block an Email Address from Sending iMessages

Yes, people can send iMessages using their email address! If you’re receiving unwanted iMessages from an email address, you can block it just like a phone number.

1. Open the Messages App and tap on the iMessage conversation from the email address.
2. Tap the email address at the top of the screen.
3. Tap “info” (or the “i” icon).
4. Tap “Block this Caller.”
5. Tap “Block Contact” to confirm.

How to View and Manage Your Blocked Contacts

Your iPhone keeps a list of all the contacts you’ve blocked. It’s useful to know where this list is so you can see who you’ve blocked, and importantly, unblock someone if you need to.

Accessing the Blocked Contacts List

Here’s how to find your list of blocked contacts:

1. Open the Settings App (the gray gear icon).
2. Scroll down and tap on “Phone.”
3. Tap on “Blocked Contacts.” You might need to scroll down a bit to see this option.

You’ll now see a list of all the phone numbers and email addresses that are blocked. This screen is also where you can unblock people.

How to Unblock a Contact

Changing your mind? It’s easy to unblock someone. Follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts.
2. Find the contact you want to unblock in the list.
3. Tap “Edit” in the top right corner of the screen.
4. Tap the red minus sign (-) next to the contact you wish to unblock.
5. Tap “Unblock” which will appear to the right of the minus sign.
6. Tap “Done” in the top right corner to save your changes.

Once unblocked, that person will be able to text and call you again. You’ll need to block them again if you wish to stop their messages in the future.

What Happens When You Block Someone?

It’s good to know exactly what blocking does. When you block a contact on your iPhone:

• No More Texts: You will not receive any SMS, MMS, or iMessages from the blocked number or email address.
• No More Calls: You will not receive any phone calls from the blocked number.
• No More FaceTime: You will not receive any FaceTime calls from the blocked contact.
• No Notifications: You won’t be notified when they try to contact you.
• They Won’t Know (Usually): The blocked person generally won’t receive a notification that they’ve been blocked. However, if they try to call you, their call might go straight to voicemail. If they send you a text message, it will just seem like it was sent normally, but it won’t be delivered to you. This is why it’s not a foolproof way to “catch” someone being blocked.
• No Message History Deleted: Blocking someone does not delete past conversations. Your message history with them remains in your Messages app until you manually delete it.

Blocking Specific App Messages (e.g., WhatsApp, Signal)

The methods described above are for the built-in Apple Messages app (SMS/MMS and iMessage). If you’re using third-party messaging apps like WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, or others, they have their own blocking features. These apps are designed to be self-contained, and blocking within them is separate from blocking on your iPhone’s system level.

General Steps for Third-Party Apps:

While the exact steps vary slightly between apps, the general process is usually similar:

1. Open the specific app (e.g., WhatsApp).
2. Go to the conversation with the person you want to block.
3. Tap on their name or profile picture at the top of the chat.
4. Look for an option like “Block,” “Block Contact,” or “Mute and Block.” This is often found under a “More Options” or settings menu within the chat.
5. Confirm the block.

Blocking someone in WhatsApp, for example, will prevent them from sending you messages within WhatsApp, seeing your online status, or calling you through WhatsApp. It does not block them from texting you via iMessage or SMS.

Important Considerations and Tips

Here are a few extra things to keep in mind when managing your blocked contacts:

• Blocking is Not Deleting: Remember, blocking stops future communication but doesn’t erase past messages. If you want to remove past conversations, you need to delete them from your Messages app.
• Voicemail: Calls from blocked numbers typically go straight to voicemail. You won’t receive notifications for these voicemails unless you explicitly check your voicemail.
• iMessage Delivery Receipts: Blocked iMessages are not delivered, so there are no “Delivered” receipts for the sender.
• Emergency Contacts: Blocking someone does NOT prevent them from calling emergency services (like 911 or your local equivalent) if their phone is configured for emergency access.
• Spam Text Management: For persistent spam that isn’t from a specific identifiable number (or if the number keeps changing), filtering unknown senders is your best bet. You can also report spam messages to Apple. To do this, tap the “Report Junk” link that appears below the message.
• Check Blocked List Regularly: It’s a good idea to occasionally review your blocked contacts list in Settings to ensure you haven’t accidentally blocked someone you still need to communicate with, or to remove someone you no longer need to block.

Comparison: Blocking Methods

Let’s quickly summarize the main ways to block someone and their primary use cases.

Understanding iMessage vs. SMS/MMS

It’s helpful to know the difference, as it slightly impacts how blocking works, though the steps to block are the same.

• iMessage: This is Apple’s own messaging service that works over Wi-Fi or cellular data. iMessages appear in blue bubbles. When you block someone, their iMessages will not be delivered to you.
• SMS/MMS: These are traditional text messages that go over your cellular network. SMS is for text, and MMS is for messages with attachments like photos or videos. These appear in green bubbles. When you block someone, their SMS/MMS messages will also not be delivered to you.

Regardless of whether a message comes in as an iMessage (blue bubble) or an SMS/MMS (green bubble), the blocking methods outlined in this guide will stop both types of messages from reaching your iPhone.

When to Consider Blocking

Deciding to block someone is a personal choice. Trust your instincts. If a conversation is making you feel stressed, anxious, or unsafe, blocking is a valid and often necessary tool to protect your mental well-being. You don’t need a “good enough” reason; if you don’t want to receive messages from someone, you have the right to block them. It’s about maintaining control over your digital interactions and ensuring your iPhone is a source of connection and convenience, not a platform for unwanted intrusion.

FAQ

Q1: Will the person know if I block them?

A: Generally, no. The blocked person won’t receive a notification. Their calls might go to voicemail, and their texts will seem to send normally but won’t be delivered to you. They won’t have definitive proof they’ve been blocked unless they ask you directly or notice these changes.

Q2: If I block a number, will they still be able to leave me a voicemail?

A: Yes, calls from blocked numbers will usually go straight to voicemail. You won’t get a notification, but you can check your voicemail inbox to see if they’ve left a message.

Q3: Can I block someone from seeing my read receipts or typing indicators?

A: Blocking someone entirely stops their messages and calls. It inherently prevents them from seeing your read receipts or typing indicators because they can no longer communicate with you. You can also manage read receipts globally in Settings > Messages.

Q4: What happens to past messages when I block someone?

A: Blocking someone does not delete your past conversation history. All previous messages remain in your Messages app unless you manually delete them.

Q5: How do I block a number that appears as “Unknown” or “No Caller ID”?

A: You cannot block a specific “Unknown” or “No Caller ID” number because it doesn’t correspond to a fixed identifier. However, enabling “Filter Unknown Senders” in Settings > Messages will move texts from non-saved numbers to a separate tab, reducing unwanted alerts.

Q6: If I block someone, can they still find me on other apps or social media?

A: Blocking on your iPhone only affects calls and texts through Apple’s built-in Phone and Messages apps. It does not block you on other apps like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, etc. You’ll need to block them within each of those apps individually.

Q7: How do I block a number that keeps changing?

A: If a spammer is using multiple or constantly changing numbers, blocking each one individually might be difficult. Your best strategy is to enable “Filter Unknown Senders” to reduce their impact. You can also report spam texts to Apple.

Conclusion

Taking control of who can reach you on your iPhone is an essential part of digital well-being. We’ve covered how to block texts from specific contacts, filter out messages from unknown senders, and manage your list of blocked individuals. Remember, these steps are designed to be simple and accessible, so you can quickly and easily create a more peaceful messaging experience. Whether you’re dealing with spam, unwanted advances, or just need some personal space, your iPhone provides robust tools to help you manage your communications effectively. By following this guide, you can confidently block unwanted texts and enjoy a more focused and serene iPhone experience. Stay connected, but on your terms!