How to Block Text Messages on Android

We all get unwanted or annoying text messages on our smartphones from regular intervals of time. It may be from spammers or maybe from someone you don't want to talk to anymore or other third-parties sources (like marketing agencies). Here, we will discuss some techniques or ways to block text messages on an Android device. The steps and commands to block text messages vary from Android device to device and operating system on which our device is running.

Method 1: Block Number Directly from the Message

It is the simplest and easiest method to block text messages from a particular person by blocking them straight from text message conversation. The steps or process may vary based on the device model or OS version, but mostly the same.

To block a particular number, open the conversation thread from that person in the Message app. Tap on the menu or people option. It will prompt a screen with multiple options; click on Add to the blacklist. It maybe pop-up screens that ask you to confirm block this number. Confirm it by clicking the Add button. Now, you will no longer receive a text message and phone call from that specific block number.

Method 2: Block the Number Manually

If you don't have an open message from the person you want to block, you can also manually type their number to block them. To do so, launch your default Message app, tap on the menu (three horizontal lines), and select the Harassment filter. Now, go to blacklist and tap on the Add icon at the bottom and click on the Manually add button. Finally, enter the number in the text field you want to block and click the OK button to confirm.

From now, you can't receive any messages from that particular number, regardless of which message app you are using, until you unblock that number.

3. Block text messages on Google Messenger

Google Messenger comes as preinstalled on Pixel and Nexus phones; if you don't have this messenger on your phone, you can download it from Google Play Store. Google Messenger allows blocking text messages by just a few clicks.

1. Launch the Messenger app on an Android phone that looks like a round blue icon showing a white bubble coming from the upper-right.

2. Go to the conversation screen and select a sender number that you want to block.

3. Tap on the menu icon available at the top-right corner of the screen.

4. From the dropdown list, tap on People & options. You will see a new screen containing the conversation details.

5. Click on the Block & report spam It will prompt a screen to confirm that you want to block the number.

6. Confirm it by clicking the OK Now, from this number, the messages are blocked.

Now, you can't get notifications of messages received from the blocked numbers.

4. Using an SMS Blocking App

There are numerous message or SMS blocking apps available on Google Play Store. Launch the Google Play Store app on your device and search for "sms block app." You will get plenty of results displaying message or SMS blocking apps, including some popular apps:

• Clean Inbox SMS Blocker
• Text Blocker
• Block call and block SMS

1. Download and install any one of the apps which you like. All the apps have a different set of features, including block text messages.

2. Tap on YES to set your new downloaded SMS app as the default SMS app if it prompts. Now, you will receive and send messages from a new app rather than your old messaging app. Only the exception is Text Blocker.

3. Launch the app, and you will be at the Blacklist screen as it is the default screen of the app (or open it in another).

4. Tab on the Add contacts section to add the new number you want to block. Now, select a contact or enter a number to add to the block list.

5. You can also block unknown numbers, which helps to avoid spam and telemarketing-messages.

How to Unblock Phone Number for Text Message on Android: Method 1

If you decide to unblock the number which you blocked earlier to get text messages and call from them once again, you can unblock such blocked numbers in just a few taps. Follow the below-mentioned steps (steps and options may vary based on device) to unblock the number:

1. Launch the Message app of your device and go to the menu > Harassment filter
2. Now, tap on the Blacklist option and click on the number that you want to unblock. If you want to unblock all the numbers which you blocked earlier, tap on the Clear
3. Confirm the unblock number by clicking the Remove It will remove the number from the block list.

How to Unblock a Number for Text Message on Android: Method 2

In some Android smartphones, you may found different steps to unblock the earlier blocked number. To unblock a number and receive text messages once again, go to Messages > Blocked Contacts and click on the "X" just next to the number which you want to unblock.

If there is more than one messaging app on your smartphone, you can set one messaging app as a default messaging app. To change back to your default messaging app that you were previously using, open it. It may prompt a screen to set it as a default messaging app of your device. You can also set it using another way, visit Settings > Apps > Default Apps menu and choose your preferred Message app under the "Messaging app" entry.