Start by identifying what kind of message you’re getting
Not all spam texts are created equal. The way you block them depends on where they’re coming from, and that’s not always obvious at first glance.
The easiest ones to spot come from regular phone numbers that look just like yours. Ten digits, normal area code. These are often scammers pretending to be your bank or a delivery service. You can usually block these right from your phone’s messaging app.
Then there are the five or six digit numbers, called short codes. These are legitimate marketing channels used by retailers, political campaigns, and services you might have signed up for months ago. They usually include an option to reply STOP at the bottom. Blocking these works differently because they’re not traditional phone numbers.
Some messages appear to come from an email address instead of a phone number. You’ll see something like “[email protected]” as the sender. These are called email-to-SMS messages, and they slip through regular phone number blocks because they’re routed differently through the network.
Finally, watch for messages that mention they’re from apps like WhatsApp, iMessage, or other messaging services. These aren’t technically text messages at all, even though they show up on your phone. They need to be blocked within the app itself, not through your phone’s SMS settings.
Take a quick look at the sender before you try to block. That format tells you which tool will actually work. Using the wrong blocking method is like trying to lock a door when the window’s wide open.
Block a specific number the right way on your phone
Blocking a number does exactly what it sounds like: it stops that sender from reaching you through calls and texts. When you block someone, their messages won’t show up in your inbox anymore, and their calls won’t ring through. It’s the most straightforward way to silence a persistent pest.
Most phones let you block a number right from the message thread itself. Open the conversation, tap the contact name or number at the top, and look for an option like “Block this Caller” or “Block Contact.” You can also usually block numbers through your phone’s general settings or contact list. The exact wording changes depending on your phone, but the feature is almost always there.
Here’s where things get a little tricky. A blocked sender might still be able to leave you voicemails, depending on your carrier and phone settings. Those voicemails usually end up in a separate folder, but they’re not completely gone.
If you use multiple devices like a tablet or computer that share the same account, blocking on one device doesn’t always block everywhere. You might stop texts on your phone but still see them pop up on your laptop. Make sure blocking is turned on across all your devices if you want complete silence.
The biggest gotcha? Spammers and scammers often rotate through different numbers. Blocking one number might stop that specific sender today, but tomorrow they might text you from a completely different number. That’s why blocking alone isn’t always enough to end a spam campaign. It works great for that one annoying person, but mass spammers play a different game.
Stop marketing texts and short codes without making things worse
Marketing texts usually come from short codes, those five or six digit numbers that look nothing like a regular phone number. These are typically used by real businesses to send promotions, order updates, and verification codes. The good news is that many of these messages are legitimate and can actually be stopped.
Before you do anything, take a minute to think about where these texts might be coming from. Did you recently order food delivery? Sign up for a store loyalty card? Create an account somewhere that texted you a login code? A lot of marketing subscriptions start when you check a tiny box during checkout or type your number into a form.
If the message looks like it’s from a real company you recognize, replying with STOP or UNSUBSCRIBE often works. Legitimate businesses are required to honor these requests, and most will confirm that you’ve been removed within seconds. This is the safest way to handle texts from actual retailers, restaurants, or services you’ve used.
But here’s the catch: if a text feels even slightly suspicious, don’t reply at all. Scammers send fake marketing messages hoping you’ll respond to anything, even STOP. Your response just confirms your number is active, which makes you a bigger target. If you don’t recognize the sender, if the message promises something too good to be true, or if it’s pushing you to click a sketchy link, just delete it.
The rule is simple: opt out from businesses you know, ignore everything else. When in doubt, go directly to the company’s website or app to manage your text preferences instead of replying to the message itself.
When the sender keeps changing: third-party and rotating-number spam
You block a spam number. The next day, another message arrives from a completely different number. Then another. And another. It feels like you’re playing whack-a-mole with your phone.
This happens because spammers use systems that send messages from hundreds or thousands of different numbers. Sometimes these are real phone numbers borrowed without permission. Other times they’re generated automatically by software designed to dodge your blocking. Either way, blocking one number does nothing when ten more are waiting in the queue.
This is where chasing individual numbers stops working. Instead, you need to shift your strategy to filtering patterns rather than playing catch-up with every new sender.
Start by turning on your phone’s built-in filter for unknown senders. On most phones, this setting moves messages from anyone not in your contacts into a separate folder. You can check it when convenient, but it won’t interrupt your day. It’s not perfect, but it catches most rotating-number spam automatically.
Pay attention to the messages themselves, not just the numbers. Spammers often send nearly identical wording, the same suspicious links, or repeated offers about debt relief, package deliveries, or prizes. Recognizing these patterns helps you delete faster and report smarter.
Every time you report a message as spam, you’re training your phone’s filtering system to get better. The filters learn what spam looks like and catch similar messages before they reach you. This improvement happens slowly, but it’s more durable than blocking numbers one by one.
Your goal isn’t to stop every single unwanted message forever. That’s unrealistic. Your goal is to reduce how often they bother you and make the ones that slip through easier to ignore.
Use built-in message filters and phone settings for lasting relief
Your phone already has tools designed to keep spam texts away from your main inbox. These built-in filters won’t catch everything, but they can dramatically reduce the clutter you see every day.
Most phones now offer a way to separate messages from unknown senders into a different folder. These are texts from numbers not in your contacts. They still arrive, but they don’t ping your notifications or appear in your main message list. You can check that folder when you have time, which means legitimate messages from delivery drivers or appointment reminders won’t vanish completely.
You can also turn on options that silence notifications from people you don’t know. Your phone will still receive the message, but it won’t buzz or light up your screen. This is particularly useful if you’re getting bombarded but still need to stay reachable for work or personal reasons.
Inside your messaging app, you’ll usually find a report and block feature right in the conversation. Reporting tells your carrier that a number is sending spam, which helps their filters learn. Blocking stops that specific sender from reaching you again.
The trade-off is worth considering. If you’re job hunting, expecting calls from doctors, or waiting for service appointments, aggressive filtering might hide something important. In that case, use lighter settings and check your filtered folder daily. If you’re past that phase and just want peace, turn the filters up higher.
These settings aren’t perfect. Spammers constantly rotate numbers, so yesterday’s block won’t stop tomorrow’s message from a new sender. But filtering unknown contacts creates a barrier that catches most of the noise without requiring you to do anything after the initial setup.
Add your carrier’s spam protection when phone blocking isn’t enough
When you block a number on your phone, you’re stopping that one specific sender. But spammers rotate through thousands of numbers, so blocking individual texts is like playing whack-a-mole. That’s where your mobile carrier can help.
Carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile can filter spam before it ever reaches your phone. They work at the network level, meaning they analyze messages as they pass through their systems. They compare incoming texts against huge databases of known spam numbers and suspicious patterns. If something looks like spam, they can block it or label it before you see it.
This is more powerful than blocking on your phone because carriers see the bigger picture. They know when thousands of customers are getting the same scam message. They can spot newly created numbers being used for bulk spam. And they can stop entire categories of unwanted messages, not just individual numbers you’ve already blocked.
Most major carriers now offer some level of spam protection. Basic filtering is often free, but more advanced features might require a paid add-on or premium service. Look for options that specifically mention text or SMS filtering, not just robocall blocking.
The best carrier tools let you block texts from unknown senders entirely, report spam directly to the carrier’s database, and sometimes filter by category like marketing or promotional messages. Some carriers also offer their own filtering apps that work alongside your phone’s built-in features.
Check your carrier’s website or app to see what’s available. The setup usually takes just a few minutes, and once it’s on, it works quietly in the background.
Report spam texts so the filters get better
When you report a spam text, you’re not just deleting it from your phone. You’re teaching the system what spam looks like. The more people report these messages, the better the automatic filters become at catching them before they reach anyone’s inbox.
Most messaging apps make this easy. On an iPhone, open the message, tap the sender’s number at the top, then choose “Info” and scroll down to “Report Junk.” On Android, the process is similar: long-press the message, tap the three dots, and select “Report spam” or “Block and report spam.” Doing both at once is ideal because it stops that sender and helps train the filters.
Your mobile carrier also wants to know about spam. In the US, you can usually forward suspicious texts to 7726 (which spells SPAM on your keypad). Your carrier will typically respond asking for the sender’s number, then use that information to investigate and block the source. It takes about thirty seconds and costs nothing.
What matters most when you report? The sender’s number or email address, any links included in the message, and the overall pattern of the scam. Don’t click those links to investigate them yourself. Don’t reply to ask questions or try to unsubscribe. Just report and block.
Think of reporting as a small act that pays forward. Each report makes the system a little smarter, and over time, that means fewer spam texts for everyone. It won’t stop every unwanted message instantly, but it’s one of the most effective long-term solutions we have.
Reduce future unwanted messages by closing the usual entry points
Blocking numbers helps, but the real trick is stopping new spam from finding you in the first place. Think of it like patching the holes in a fence instead of just chasing out intruders one by one.
Start by being careful where you post your phone number publicly. Social media profiles, online marketplace listings, and public business directories are all goldmines for spammers who scrape the web looking for numbers. If you’re selling something online or networking professionally, consider leaving your number out entirely or using a separate one just for that purpose.
Next, check your app permissions and account settings. A lot of apps ask for permission to send you texts during setup, and retailers love collecting phone numbers at checkout. Go through your phone’s settings and look at which apps have permission to contact you. While you’re at it, review your account settings on shopping sites and uncheck those boxes that say things like “send me offers and updates via SMS.”
Be wary of sketchy forms and contests online. If a website asks for your number and it feels off, trust that instinct. Free giveaways and “enter to win” promotions are common ways your number gets sold to marketing lists.
When you do get a sudden spike in spam, play detective for a minute. Ask yourself what you’ve done recently with your phone number. Did you make an online purchase? Sign up for something new? List an item for sale? That quick mental review often reveals exactly where the leak started, and you can avoid using that site or service again.
