How to Stop Spam Calls and Texts on iPhone and Android

FreeTechSupport Team Updated May 14, 2026 3 min read

No setting completely eliminates spam calls and texts, but combining your phone's built-in tools with a few extra steps cuts most of them off at the source.

Silence Unknown Callers (iPhone)

This is the single most effective iPhone setting for call spam. Go to Settings → Phone → Silence Unknown Callers and turn it on. Calls from numbers not in your contacts, recent calls, or Siri suggestions go straight to voicemail. You can still see missed calls from these numbers — they just don't ring.

Call Screen / Spam Protection (Android / Pixel)

Google's Phone app on Pixel devices has a Call Screen feature that answers suspected spam calls with Google Assistant and transcribes what the caller says before routing it to you. Go to the Phone app → three-dot menu → Settings → Spam and Call Screen and enable Caller ID & spam and Filter spam calls.

Samsung Phones

In the Phone app, tap the three-dot menu → Settings → Caller ID and spam protection and enable it. Samsung's system works with third-party identification databases to flag likely spam calls.

Block Individual Numbers

iPhone: Open the Phone or Messages app, find the number, tap the (i) or contact name, scroll down and tap Block this Caller.
Android: Open the Phone app, tap the number in your recent calls, tap Block / report spam.

Filter Spam Text Messages

iPhone: Go to Settings → Messages → Filter Unknown Senders. Messages from numbers not in your contacts go to a separate list and don't trigger a notification. You can review them without them bothering you.
Android: In the Messages app, tap the three-dot menu → Settings → Spam protection and enable it. Suspected spam is filtered into a Spam & blocked folder automatically.

Register With the Telephone Preference Service (UK) or Do Not Call Registry (US/Canada)

These are free official services:

UK: Register at tpsonline.org.uk. Legitimate UK companies are legally required to check this list.
US: Register at donotcall.gov. Takes up to 31 days to take effect and applies to sales calls from legitimate businesses.
Canada: Register at lnnte-dncl.gc.ca. Similar protections apply.

These registries don't stop criminal spam callers (who ignore the law) but do reduce legitimate marketing calls.

Consider a Third-Party App

Apps like Hiya, Robokiller, or Truecaller maintain community-sourced databases of spam numbers and can block them automatically. They are more aggressive than built-in filters. Be aware that these apps request access to your contacts and call history — read their privacy policies before installing.

If you're receiving targeted harassment rather than generic spam, ask us — there are additional steps for that situation.

Frequently asked questions

Sophisticated spam callers spoof different numbers each time, which makes number-by-number blocking ineffective. The most useful tools here are Silence Unknown Callers (iPhone) or Call Screen (Pixel) — these don't rely on knowing the number in advance. Third-party apps like Hiya or Robokiller use pattern detection and shared databases that can identify likely spam even from new numbers. In the UK, reporting persistent callers to the ICO (ico.org.uk) is worth doing for organised campaigns.

Enable Filter Unknown Senders on iPhone or Spam Protection in Android Messages. Never click links in texts from unknown senders, and never reply (even to say 'stop') to texts you didn't expect — replying confirms your number is active. Report suspicious texts by forwarding them to 7726 (SPAM) in the US, Canada, and the UK — this number is free and goes directly to your carrier for investigation.

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