iPhone Block Text Messages

Since (short) text messages, or SMS, is so well-known and can be used to quickly deliver a message without doing much work, advertising companies are also using it to promote their products, offering information, etc. Not only that, some people you’ve only met once could spam you with annoying texts.

Luckily, Apple implemented security features for their iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad users, which allows them to have more control over their privacy and block specific phone numbers from sending text messages (regular SMS) and iMessages.

Block call and text in iOS 9, useful iOS features for those folks who are hesitating from unwanted calls and text coming to your number. In this post, we will go through several methods which you can use to block text messages on an iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad.

Block Messages on iPhone

The built-in Block feature in the iPhone contacts allows you block a phone number from calling, sending text messages, or even facetiming you. The process is really simple and it can be found right on your iPhone without downloading third-party applications or connecting the device to a computer.

  1. Go to your stock Phone app
  2. Tap on the Contacts menu
  3. Pick a person you wish to block
  4. The last option on their page should say “Block this Caller”
  5. You will be prompted with a confirmation popup and then choose Block Contact

By pressing the Block Contact button, you will not receive phone calls, messages, or Facebook from people on the block list. Keep in mind that the contract will not disappear, but continue to display on under your Contacts list. This way you can come back and unblock the phone number using the same process.

Unblock a Contact

Decide an acquaintance served their time on the blocked list and want to digitally revive them? Like adding someone to the blocked list, they can be removed two ways:

In Settings go to Phone > Blocked, where a list of blocked contacts and numbers will appear. Tap Edit in the top right hand corner. Then, tap the red delete button to the left of the name, which will cause a red unblock button appear. Select it, and the contact is restored to unblocked bucket, with all rights, privileges and honors appertaining thereto.

From Settings, contacts can be removed from a blocked list by selecting either Messages or Facetime, and then following the above instructions.

Find the contacts’ name or the number you’d like to unblock in the Recents tab of the Phone app. Select the blue icon to the right of their name, then scroll down and tap "Unblock This Caller".

Unblock the contact via Messages by selecting the message thread with the contact, and tapping Contact in the upper right corner. Select the information icon, and proceed with the same instructions as in the Recents tab in Phone.

Block iMessages from Unknown Senders

In iOS 8.3 or later, you can filter out iMessages from people who aren’t saved in your contacts. Go to Settings > Messages and turn on Filter Unknown Senders. When you open Messages, you’ll see a new tab for Unknown Senders.

When you turn on this option, you won’t get notifications for iMessages from Unknown Senders. Note: Do not disturb is very useful features for iOS users for differ condition and situation you can apple for it.

What about if you send a text to the "blocker"?

We tried to send a text message to the phone that had blocked us. Everything proceeded as usual: the text sent, and we got no error message. But the "receiver" didn’t get any message, or any notification. When sent as an iMessage, the text gave us a "Delivered" notification and remained blue - our blocked iPhone didn’t attempt to send it as an SMS.