How to Stop Unwanted Texts on iPhone

By John Adebimitan

Your iPhone now does nothing but vibrate and emit sound notifications. Why? Telephone numbers belonging to people completely unknown to you promptly send you countless messages full of advertising and other unwanted content. Everything is becoming frustrating, and, at the moment, it is almost impossible for you to concentrate on what you have to do. Your phone continuously buzzes like a call center.

So here you have taken the situation in hand. You sat in front of your computer and started scanning the Net to find a solution to the problem. You queried Google, asking “how to stop unwanted texts on iPhone,” and here you are. So, while you’re at it, let me help you by explaining how to block unwanted messages on your iPhone.

Why You’re Getting Unwanted Texts on iPhones?

You’re getting unwanted texts on your phone because the sender is trying to get some information from you so they can defraud you. As we mentioned in another post answering the same question, unwanted or spam texts contain malware that can steal your private information when installed (by clicking on links sent, etc.).

You may also get unwanted texts because some companies you signed up with shared your number with telemarketers. As a result, they have your number in their list of targets for their products or services. These telemarketers are hard sellers who forcibly market their products using all unethical means. As I explained earlier, you can file a lawsuit or complaints and sue them using a Robo Revenge service

How to Stop Unwanted Texts on iPhone

Next, I’ll show you how to stop unwanted texts on iPhone from a contact or multiple contacts using three different methods:

Filter Messages Received from Unknown Numbers Through iMessage

Step 1: Launch the iPhone Settings app

Launch the iPhone Settings app - Stop Unwanted Texts on iPhone

Again, the Settings app is characterized by a gray gear icon in your device’s Home.

Step 2: Tap Messages

Scroll down the list and select the Messages option. It’s in the fifth group of items in the “Settings” menu.

Step 3: Tap on “Message Filtering” and toggle on the “Filter Unknown Senders” switch

Message Filtering - Stop Unwanted Texts on iPhone

Scroll down the menu and activate the white switch named Filter unknown senders. After toggling the button, it will take on a green color.

At this point, the iPhone will automatically filter messages from unknown senders (not present in the contact list) by displaying them in a separate tab of the Messages app.

There will be two tabs within the Messages app: Contacts & SMS and Unknown Senders. Note that you won’t be notified of messages automatically placed in the “Unknown” tab.

Read also: How to Text Someone Who Blocked You on Android & iPhone Apps

Block the Sender from the Messages App

This procedure is perfect for blocking the receipt of messages sent by a specific person, regardless of whether or not they are registered in the iPhone address book.

Step 1: Launch the iPhone Messages app

Tap the iPhone Messages app. It’s a white speech bubble on a green background.

If the number you want to block has contacted you by phone, launch the Phone app, go to the Recent tab, then skip the next step.

Step 2: Select the SMS

Tap on the message you received from the person you want to block. You can block any contact or phone number from which you have received an SMS.

If you see an existing conversation screen after launching the Messages app, tap on the “Back” button in the upper-left corner of the screen to go to the application’s main screen.

Step 3: Tap the info “ⓘ” icon

This is in the upper-right corner of the screen. The page will display details of the selected conversation.

Step 4: Tap the message sender’s name or number.

Once you do this, the page will display detailed contact information.

Step 5. Tap “Block this Caller.”

Block this Caller - Stop Unwanted Texts on iPhone

Scroll down the page to be able to select this option. It’s at the bottom of the “Info” screen.

Step 6. Tap on the Block Contact button when prompted

Tap on the Block Contact button when prompted - Stop Unwanted Texts on iPhone

This will add the selected contact or number to your iPhone’s blocked senders list. Any future messages from the indicated number will be automatically blocked, and the sender will not receive any notification.

If you need to delete a number or contact from the blocked list, do the following:

  1. Launch the Settings app
  2. Then select the Messages item
  3. Touch the Blocked option
  4. Tap the Edit button
  5. Then press the button next to the phone number or the contact you want to unblock.

Read also: What Happens When You Call Someone Who Blocked You?

How to Block a Contact from the Settings App

1: Launch the iPhone Settings app

Launch the iPhone Settings app - Stop Unwanted Texts on iPhone

The Settings app is characterized by a gray gear icon in your device’s Home.

This method is ideal when you need to block one of the existing contacts in your phone’s address book and prevent them from sending you an SMS. However, you cannot perform the same operation with a number, not in the phonebook. You can use this method to block receiving other SMS from an unknown number that has already contacted you.

Read also: How to Unblock Someone on Duo

2: Tap Messages

Scroll down the list and select the Messages option. It’s about halfway through the “Settings” menu.

3. Tap “Blocked.”

You’ll need to scroll down the Messages screen to be able to select the Blocked item. It’s halfway down the page, in the SMS/MMS section.

4. Select “Add New.”

Scroll the new menu and touch the Add new… item. It’s at the bottom of the blocked numbers list.

If the list of blocked numbers is empty, only the indicated option will be present, so you will not need to scroll the page.

5. Find the contact you need to block

Scroll through your phone’s address book until you find the person you want to block, then touch their name. This will add them to the list of blocked contact names.

Note

Unfortunately, the iOS operating system does not allow you to block the receipt of all SMS except those sent from allowed numbers. Therefore, it is only possible to stop numbers already in your phone’s address book or from which you have already received an SMS.

Adding a telephone number to the blocked list is impossible without first receiving a call or having it in the device address book.

Advice

Contact your cell phone provider if you still receive many text messages from unknown senders. Your service provider can directly stop the spam SMS you are receiving, given that the assistance staff has much more powerful tools than we can generally find online.

Are There Apps to Stop Spam Texts on iPhone for Free?

Yes, there are! TextKiller is one of the best free spam text blockers on the App store. Truecaller is also a powerful free spam-blocking app that you can download on the App store.

Read also: 10 Best Free and Paid Spam Call Blocker Apps for iPhones and Android Phones

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