Blocking unwanted calls and messages is an essential feature on any smartphone, including the iPhone. Whether you’re dealing with spam calls, persistent telemarketers, or harassing text messages, knowing how to block a number on your iPhone can help you regain peace of mind. In this tutorial, I will guide you through the steps to block a number on iPhone text messages.
Step 1: Open the "Phone" app on your iPhone’s home screen.
Step 2: Tap on the "Recents" tab at the bottom of the screen to view your recent call history.
Step 3: Locate the phone number or contact you want to block and tap the blue "i" icon next to it.
Step 4: Scroll down and tap on "Block this Caller."
Step 5: A confirmation pop-up will appear with the option to block the phone number. Tap on "Block Contact" to proceed.
Step 6: The number is now blocked, and you won’t receive any calls, messages, or FaceTime requests from that contact.
It’s important to note that blocking a contact on your iPhone will prevent them from contacting you through phone calls, messages, and FaceTime. They will also be unable to leave voicemails.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Provides peace of mind by blocking unwanted calls and messages. | 1. May lead to missing important calls or messages if a number was blocked accidentally. |
| 2. Easy to use and accessible from the Phone app. | 2. Blocked numbers can still leave voicemail messages, which you may or may not want to receive. |
| 3. Offers a straightforward way to protect yourself from spam, telemarketing, or harassing calls. | 3. Blocked numbers can still reach out using other platforms or alternate phone numbers. |
Blocking a number on your iPhone text messages can help maintain your privacy and protect yourself from unwanted communication. By following these simple steps, you can take control of who can reach you through calls and messages on your iPhone.
Video Tutorial: Can you block someone from just texting you?
When you block someone on iPhone What do they see when they text you?
When you block someone on an iPhone, they may perceive various indications depending on the settings and conditions. Here’s what typically happens:
1. Messages not delivered: When you block someone, they won’t receive any notification or indication that they have been blocked. However, when they try to send you a message, it will not be delivered to your device. They won’t see the "Delivered" status underneath the message.
2. No read receipts: If you have read receipts enabled, blocking someone will prevent them from seeing if you have read their messages. The messages they send will remain marked as unread, regardless of whether you have opened them or not.
3. No typing indicator: Blocking someone will prevent them from seeing the typing indicator when you’re composing a response to their messages. They won’t be aware if you’re actively typing a reply.
4. Calls go straight to voicemail: When someone you’ve blocked attempts to call you, the call will go directly to voicemail without ringing on your device. They won’t receive any indication that their call has been blocked.
5. No FaceTime access: If you block someone, they won’t be able to initiate a FaceTime call with you. From their perspective, they may see a perpetual "Connecting" screen or an error message indicating that the call cannot be made.
6. Silent treatment: Ultimately, when you block someone, they won’t receive any obvious notifications or indications that they have been blocked. From their perspective, it may seem like their messages are being ignored, as they won’t receive replies and calls won’t go through.
It’s essential to remember that though blocking someone on an iPhone provides certain restrictions, they may still be able to deduce that they have been blocked based on the lack of response and other contextual clues.
How do I stop unwanted spam messages?
As a tech blogger, I understand the nuisance and potential security risks associated with unwanted spam messages. Here’s a step-by-step approach to help you stop them:
1. Enable built-in spam filters: Most smartphones and email services have built-in spam filters that can automatically detect and filter out spam messages. Ensure these filters are enabled, as they can effectively divert potential spam into a separate spam folder.
2. Be cautious with your contact details: Avoid sharing your phone number or email address indiscriminately. Be cautious about giving out your contact information on online platforms or to unknown entities, as this can prevent your details from being added to spam lists.
3. Unsubscribe from mailing lists: If you receive unwanted marketing emails or newsletters, check for an "unsubscribe" option usually found at the bottom of the email. Clicking on this link should remove you from the sender’s mailing list.
4. Report spam messages: Many messaging platforms and email services provide options to report spam messages. Familiarize yourself with these reporting features and make use of them to help the platform’s algorithms identify and reduce spam.
5. Use third-party spam filters: Consider using third-party spam filtering applications or plugins. These tools analyze incoming messages and help identify and block spam emails or messages. Research reputable options and choose one that suits your needs.
6. Don’t respond or click on suspicious links: Engaging with spam messages can potentially invite more spam. Avoid responding to messages or clicking on any suspicious links, as this could verify your active contact information and increase the spam you receive.
7. Regularly update your software: Keeping your device’s operating system (e.g., iOS) and messaging applications up to date helps protect against potential security vulnerabilities. Software updates often include improvements to spam filtering algorithms, ensuring better protection from unwanted messages.
8. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): Implementing an extra layer of security through 2FA can help prevent unauthorized access to your accounts. This can deter spammers from gaining control of your accounts to send spam messages on your behalf.
9. Manage privacy settings: Take some time to review the privacy settings on your devices and messaging platforms. Adjusting these settings can limit the potential exposure of your contact information to spammers.
10. Consider using disposable contact information: For situations that require providing contact information online, consider using temporary or disposable email addresses or phone numbers. These can help isolate spam from reaching your main accounts.
By following these steps, you can significantly reduce the influx of unwanted spam messages, enhancing your online security and overall messaging experience.
Can you block someone from texting you on iPhone?
Yes, you can block someone from texting you on an iPhone. Blocking someone will prevent them from sending text messages, making phone calls, and FaceTiming with you. Here’s how you can block a contact on an iPhone:
1. Open the "Settings" app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap on "Messages".
3. Inside the Messages settings, tap on "Blocked".
4. Tap on "Add New" to select the contact you want to block. You can choose from your contact list or recent calls/messages history.
5. Select the contact you wish to block, and they will be added to the blocked list. Once added, they won’t be able to send you text messages anymore.
Blocking someone on an iPhone is an effective way to prevent unwanted messages from reaching you. It’s worth noting that blocking a contact only affects communication within the Messages app. It doesn’t block other messaging platforms or phone calls, so if the person tries to contact you through another means, they may still be able to reach you.
Additionally, when a contact is blocked, you won’t receive any alerts or notifications for their messages. However, the messages will still be delivered to your device but sent to a separate "Blocked Messages" folder, which you can access in the Messages app settings. If you change your mind and decide to unblock a contact, you can easily remove them from the blocked list by following the same steps mentioned above.
Can you block someone just from texting?
Yes, it is possible to block someone from texting on an iPhone. Here are the steps to do so:
1. Open the Messages app on your iPhone.
2. Locate the conversation with the person you want to block.
3. Tap on the person’s name or number at the top of the conversation to access their details.
4. Scroll down and tap on "Info" or "i" icon.
5. In the contact details screen, tap on "Block this Caller" or "Block this Contact."
6. Confirm your decision by tapping "Block Contact" or "Block."
By following these steps, you will effectively block the person from sending you any text messages. Any future texts from them will not be delivered to your device, and their messages will not appear in your Messages app.
It’s important to note that blocking someone from texting does not block them from calling you or reaching out through other means. If you want to block their calls as well, you need to take additional steps to block their phone number.
Additionally, keep in mind that the specific steps may vary slightly depending on the iOS version you’re using. The instructions provided above are based on the assumption of using iOS 16, the latest version at the time of discussing the iPhone 14 in 2023.
Does * 67 work on text?
Yes, *67 is a feature that allows you to hide your caller ID when making phone calls. However, it does not work when sending text messages. When sending a text message, your phone number or other identifying information will be displayed to the recipient unless you have a separate option within your messaging app to hide your identity. Utilizing *67 only affects voice calls and not text messages.
To summarize, *67 does not work for hiding your identity when sending text messages.
