How to block a number on your phone on Android
How to block a number on your phone on Android
From the Google Phone app, open the menu and go to Call History. Select a contact and click "Block/Report Spam".
On Samsung Galaxy devices, go to Settings> block numbers and enter a phone number to block it.
One of the most annoying things when holding the phone in your pocket is unwanted phone calls. Whether it's spam calls or someone you don't want to talk to anymore, we'll show you how to block them on Android.
All Android devices are slightly different, so the methods in this guide may not work for the situation. We will illustrate with your Samsung Galaxy phone and your Google Pixel. If you don't have one of these, you can proceed loosely.
How to block numbers on Android
Google Pixel phones come pre-installed with the "Phone by Google" app. This app can be installed on some non-Pixel devices, but not all features work.
First, open the Phone app and go to the "Recent" tab. From here, tap on the three-dot menu icon in the top search bar.
Select "Call History" from the drop-down menu.
Tap Call from the menu and more options will expand. Just select "Block/Report Spam".
A pop-up window will appear. You can also choose to report the number as spam by checking the box before confirming that you want to block the phone number by clicking on the "Block" button.
That's all there is to it! Blocked numbers can be found in the phone app settings under "Blocked numbers". From there, you can unblock them.
How to block unwanted calls on Android
Whether you have Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, or any other Android device, you can block spam calls. We'll show you how it works with the "Phone by Google" app and Samsung's default phone app.
Block spam calls with Google Phone
We'll go to the "Spam & Call Screen" section in Settings to block spam calls in the Phone by Google app. First, open the app and click on the three-dot menu icon in the search bar.
Select "Settings" from the list.
From the settings menu, tap on "Spam and Call Screen". It may also be called "caller ID and spam".
Here's where things will be a little different depending on your phone. Google Pixel devices have access to a feature called the "Call Screen". Select it and choose Spam> Silently reject. You can have Google Assistant monitor the call for you, if you wish.
Non-Pixel devices using the Phone by Google app will have the option to "filter out unwanted calls".
Block spam calls using Samsung phone
Samsung Galaxy phones include a default "Phone" app with an option to block spam calls. First, open the app and tap on the three-dot menu icon at the top right.
Select "Settings" from the drop-down menu.
Go to "Caller ID and spam protection".
Launch it at the top of the screen, then switch to "Block spam and fraudulent calls."
After switching to the first option, you will be able to choose between "Block all spam and fraudulent calls" or "Block only high-risk fraudulent calls".
That's all there is to preventing spam calls on Android. If your device does not have one of these phone apps, you can still find a similar option.
How to block calls on Samsung Galaxy phones
Open the virtual phone app that was pre-installed on your Samsung phone. Make sure you are in the "Recent" tab and click on the three-dot menu icon in the upper-right corner.
Select "Settings" from the drop-down menu.
At the top, click on "Block numbers".
Here, you can toggle the switch to "Block unknown callers" automatically. You can also add phone numbers manually to block them or choose from "Contacts" and "Recent".
When entering a number manually, click the + button to add it.
Selecting from "Recent" or "Contacts" will immediately add them to the list, which can be seen on this screen as well.
That's all there is to it! You can simply click the red minus icon to stop blocking a number.
How to Unblock Android Number
Unblocking a number is usually the same as blocking, and some phone apps have a section dedicated to blocked numbers.
In the Phone by Google app, go to Settings> blocked numbers and tap the "X" icon next to the number you want to unblock.
In the Samsung Phone app, go to Settings> block numbers and tap the minus icon next to the number you want to unblock.
It's so easy! You will now be able to receive calls from the pre-blocked number.
How to check if someone has blocked your number on Android
There's no definitive way to know if someone has blocked your phone number – you won't be notified – but there is some evidence to look for that that might indicate that this is happening.
First, if your calls always go straight to voicemail or ring only once before moving on to voicemail, it could be a sign that they're blocked. A typical call will be made more than once. However, the recipient may have simply turned off their phone or put it into Do Not Disturb mode.
You can also try to leave a message and see if you will be answered. If your number is blocked, they will not receive voicemail. Again, this is not a sure way to know if you have been banned. They may be slow to respond.
For better or worse, you will have to find out for yourself or ask friends and family to conduct a survey for you. If you suspect that it has been banned, it is better to respect their wishes.
How to block text messages on Android
You can block text messages directly from the messaging app on your Android phone. Numbers you block from the Phone app – as described in the sections above – won't be able to send you text messages. You don't have to block phone calls and text messages independently, but this can be done from either app.
With the Google Messages app, you can tap the three-dot menu icon in a conversation and select "Details" to access the "Block and Report Spam" option.
In Samsung's default Messages app, open a conversation and click on the drop-down arrow next to the contact's name. Click on the information icon, then select "Block contact" from the three-dot menu.
For more detailed instructions, check out our complete guide on blocking text messages on Android.