Block a text sender on iPhone or Android
The steps to block a text message sender depend on which phone you have. On both iPhone and Android, you can block someone directly from a conversation thread, and the blocked person won't be able to reach you by text, call, or FaceTime (on iPhone). The process takes about 30 seconds.
On iPhone: Open the Messages app, find the conversation from the person you want to block, swipe left on their name, and tap the trash icon, then tap "Delete and Block". Alternatively, tap "Edit" in the top left, select the conversation, tap "Delete" at the bottom, and choose "Block this Caller" from the menu that appears.
On Android: Open the Messages app (or your default texting app), find the conversation, press and hold the sender's name, and tap "Block" or "Block number" from the menu. Some Android phones may show "Block contact" instead. The exact wording varies by manufacturer and Android version.
Key Takeaways
- You can block a text sender directly from your Messages app in about 30 seconds on both iPhone and Android.
- On iPhone, blocked contacts cannot text, call, or use FaceTime to reach you, and they won't see a notification that they're blocked.
- On Android, blocked numbers cannot text or call you, though the behavior varies slightly depending on your phone manufacturer.
- You can unblock someone at any time by going to your phone's settings or the Messages app and finding the blocked list.
- Blocking is different from muting a conversation — a muted chat still lets messages through, but you won't see notifications.
Block a number you haven't texted yet
If you want to block a number before they text you, or if you've already deleted the conversation, you can still block them through your phone's settings.
On iPhone: Go to Settings, tap Phone, scroll down and tap "Blocked Contacts", then tap "Add New" and enter the phone number or select a contact from your list. You can also go to Contacts, find the person, tap the info icon, scroll to the bottom, and tap "Block this Caller".
On Android: Open your phone's Settings, go to Apps or Applications, find your Messages app, tap Notifications or Blocked Numbers (the exact name varies), and add the number manually. Some Android phones have a separate Phone app where you can manage blocked numbers — check there if you don't see the option in Messages.
What happens when you block someone
When you block a text sender on iPhone, they cannot send you text messages, call you, or reach you through FaceTime. Their messages won't appear in your Messages app, and they won't receive a notification that says they're blocked — their message will simply fail to send, and they may see a generic error.
On Android, a blocked number cannot text or call you, and their messages won't appear in your inbox. The exact behavior depends on your phone manufacturer and which texting app you use. Some phones show blocked messages in a separate folder you can view if needed, while others delete them entirely from your view.
In both cases, the blocked person remains in your contacts list (unless you delete them separately), so you can unblock them later if you change your mind. Blocking is not permanent.
Unblock a text sender
You can unblock someone at any time using the same settings where you blocked them.
On iPhone: Go to Settings, tap Phone, tap "Blocked Contacts", swipe left on the name you want to unblock, and tap "Unblock". Alternatively, go to Contacts, find the person, tap the info icon, scroll down, and tap "Unblock this Caller".
On Android: Open Settings, go to Apps or Applications, find your Messages app, tap Blocked Numbers, find the number in the list, and tap "Unblock" or the minus icon next to it. If you use a different texting app, the steps may be slightly different — check that app's settings menu.
Block spam and unknown numbers
Both iPhone and Android have built-in tools to filter out spam texts and calls from unknown senders, separate from blocking individual numbers.
On iPhone: Go to Settings, tap Messages, and turn on "Filter Unknown Senders". This moves texts from people not in your contacts to a separate tab in the Messages app. You can also go to Settings, tap Phone, and turn on "Silence Unknown Callers" to prevent calls from unknown numbers from ringing through.
On Android: Open your Messages app, tap the three-dot menu at the top, go to Settings, and look for "Spam protection" or "Block unknown senders". Some Android phones have this in the Phone app instead. You can also report a message as spam by pressing and holding it and selecting "Report spam" or "Block and report".
The difference between blocking and muting
Blocking and muting are two different things, and it's important to know which one you need. When you block someone, they cannot reach you at all — their messages don't come through. When you mute a conversation, the messages still arrive, but you won't see notifications for them.
Muting is useful if you want to stay in touch with someone but don't want constant alerts. To mute a conversation on iPhone, swipe left on the chat and tap the speaker-with-a-line icon. On Android, press and hold the conversation and tap "Mute notifications" or the bell icon.
If someone is harassing you or sending unwanted messages, blocking is the right choice. If someone is just texting too often and you want to reduce notifications, muting is usually better because you can still read the messages later if you need to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person I block know they're blocked?
No. On iPhone, their message will fail to send and they may see a generic error, but they won't receive a message saying they're blocked. On Android, the behavior varies by phone, but they typically won't be notified. However, if they try to call you and it goes straight to voicemail every time, they may suspect they're blocked.
Can I block someone and still see their old messages?
On iPhone, old messages from a blocked contact stay in the conversation thread, but new messages from them won't come through. On Android, this depends on your phone manufacturer — some phones hide old messages from blocked numbers, while others keep them visible. Check your Messages app settings to see if there's an option to view blocked conversations.
What if I block someone by accident?
You can unblock them immediately using the steps in the "Unblock a text sender" section above. On both iPhone and Android, unblocking takes about 15 seconds and restores full texting and calling access. There's no waiting period or confirmation step required.
Can I block a number that's not in my contacts?
Yes. On both iPhone and Android, you can block a number directly from a text conversation, or you can go to your phone's settings and add the number to your blocked list manually. You don't need the person's name or contact information — just the phone number.
Do I need to delete a conversation to block someone?
No. Blocking and deleting are separate actions. You can block someone and keep the old conversation thread, or delete the conversation without blocking them. If you delete a conversation without blocking, the person can still text you in the future.