Block a number directly from the Messages app

The fastest way to block someone is to open the Messages app, find the conversation with that person, swipe left on their name, and tap the trash icon to delete the conversation. Then open that same conversation again from your recent list (or start a new one with that number), swipe left, and tap Block this Caller. On newer iPhones, you can also press and hold the conversation, tap Block from the menu that appears.

If you want to block without deleting the conversation, tap the person's name or number at the top of the message thread, scroll down, and tap Block this Caller. This keeps your message history but stops new texts from that number from reaching your phone.

Once you block a number, that person's texts will not appear in your Messages app, and you will not receive notifications when they text you. Their messages go to a separate folder you can check later if you need to, but you will not be interrupted by them.

Block a number from the Phone app or Contacts

You can also block a number without having a text conversation with that person. Open the Phone app, tap Recents, find the number you want to block, tap the information icon (the small circle with an "i"), scroll to the bottom, and tap Block this Caller.

If the person is already in your Contacts, open the Contacts app, find their name, tap Edit in the top right, scroll down, and tap Block this Caller. This method works whether or not you have ever texted with them.

Blocking from the Phone or Contacts app has the same effect as blocking from Messages — their calls and texts will not reach you, and you will not see notifications from them.

Key Takeaways

  • You can block a text sender by opening Messages, swiping left on their conversation, and tapping Block this Caller.
  • Blocked texts do not appear in your Messages app and do not send you notifications, but you can view them later in a separate folder if needed.
  • You can block a number from the Phone app or Contacts app even if you have never texted with that person.
  • Blocking is reversible — you can unblock a number at any time by going to Settings, tapping Messages or Phone, and removing the number from your blocked list.

Where blocked messages go

When someone you have blocked texts you, the message does not disappear entirely. Instead, it goes to a hidden folder within the Messages app. To see blocked messages, open Messages, tap Edit in the top left, and look for a Blocked folder or section. Not all iPhone versions display this the same way, but the option is usually there.

You can read blocked messages whenever you want, but you will not be notified when they arrive. This means you can block someone to stop the interruptions without losing the ability to check what they sent if you change your mind later.

Unblock a number

If you need to unblock someone, open Settings, tap Messages (or Phone if you blocked them from calls), and scroll down to Blocked Contacts. You will see a list of every number you have blocked. Tap Edit in the top right, tap the minus sign next to the number you want to unblock, and tap Unblock.

Once you unblock a number, that person's texts and calls will reach you again, and you will receive notifications from them as normal. You can block and unblock the same number as many times as you need to.

Block unknown senders and spam

If you are getting texts from numbers you do not recognize, you can turn on Filter Unknown Senders to separate texts from people not in your Contacts into a different tab. Open Settings, tap Messages, and toggle on Filter Unknown Senders. This does not block the messages, but it moves them out of your main inbox so you only see texts from people you know.

For actual spam or marketing texts, you can report them to Apple. In the Messages app, press and hold the message, tap Report Junk, and confirm. Apple uses these reports to improve its spam detection, though the message will still come through to your phone.

What happens when you block someone

Blocking on iPhone affects only text messages and calls through the Phone app. It does not block someone from reaching you through other apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, or email. If you want to block someone completely, you may need to block them in each app separately.

The person you block will not receive a notification that you have blocked them. However, if they try to call you, they may hear a message saying the call could not go through, which could tip them off. Texts from blocked numbers simply fail to deliver on their end without any explanation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I blocked them?

Not directly from iPhone's blocking feature. If they text you, the message will fail to send on their end, but they will not see a message saying "you are blocked." If they call, they may hear a generic message about the call not going through. They might suspect they are blocked, but iPhone does not tell them outright.

Will blocked messages still use my data or storage?

No. Blocked messages do not download to your phone or take up storage space. They are stored on Apple's servers in a separate folder, and you can only see them if you go looking for them in the Blocked folder within Messages.

Can I block a number that has not texted me yet?

Yes. If you know a number you want to block, open the Phone app, tap Recents or Contacts, find the number, tap the information icon, and select Block this Caller. You do not need to have received a text or call from them first.

What if I block someone but still want to see their messages?

You can view blocked messages anytime by opening Messages, tapping Edit, and looking for the Blocked folder. You will not receive notifications, but the messages will be there if you want to read them later.

Does blocking someone on iPhone block them on iMessage too?

Yes. Blocking a number blocks both regular SMS text messages and iMessages from that person. If they use iMessage and you use iMessage, blocking stops both types of messages.