How To Block Messages in iMessage

If you own an Apple device, you’ve no doubt received unsolicited messages. This may’ve been from people you know who you don’t want to be sending you messages, or people you don’t know and businesses you’ve never heard of before.

If you’re getting unwanted messages on iMessage and want them to stop, you have the option to block them. This article will help you learn how to block messages and unwanted spam on iMessage.

How to Block Messages on iMessage

Everyone who uses a mobile device receives annoying messages from someone they don’t know or from someone they don’t want to receive messages from. Fortunately, you can block them. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Open the Messages app.
   
2. Open the text message that you want to block.
   
3. Click on the number or contact that you want to block.
   
4. Select the “Info” icon.
   
5. Click the right arrow next to the contact and then select “Block This Caller.”
   
6. Hit “Block Contact” again to confirm the person you want to block.
   

How to Mute Spam Messages

You may receive messages from relatives and friends that you simply don’t want to get. But since you can mute them, you don’t need to block them completely in order to stop receiving their messages. This is what you need to do:

1. Find the message or group that you want muted.
   
2. Swipe right and select “Silence.”
   
3. Long press the message thread and select “Hide Alerts.”
   
4. You can unmute a thread by swiping on the bell icon and clicking on the “Unmute” button.
   

How to Filter Spam Messages

Did you know you can filter messages you receive from people you don’t know? Simple follow these steps:

1. Go to the “Settings” app.
   
2. Open “Messages.”
   
3. Click on “Message Filtering” and then “Unknown & Spam.”
4. Turn the toggle on for “Filter Unknown Senders.”
   

How to Block Spam Messages

You can block texts from certain telephone numbers, as Apple isn’t able to detect all spam messages. Here’s how it’s done:

1. Open the messages app.
   
2. Open the spam message thread you want blocked.
   
3. Click on the profile icon and then select “info.”
   
4. Select “Block This Caller” and then “Block Contact.”
   

How to Use a Third-Party App to Stop Spam Messages

Although there are third-party apps you can use to block texts, Apple uses its own SMS filter. TrueCaller is one of those apps. The software is used to identify and prevent any unwanted calls or texts. It can also expose a caller’s ID that isn’t stored in your phone.

How to Install TrueCaller

You can download TrueCaller for free from the app store on your device. It’s compatible with IOS and Android, and available for purchase as a premium subscription. Visit the Apple Store to download the app for Apple devices. Go to Google Play to download the app for Android devices.

How to Block Messages on TrueCaller

To block a contact that is already in your phone, follow these steps:

1. Open TrueCaller app.
   
2. Go to “Contacts.”
   
3. Find the contact you want to block and click on their profile.
   
4. Select “Block.”
   
5. Answer the questions in the pop-up box.
6. Select “Block.”
   

To block a contact that isn’t in your phone already, follow these steps.

1. Open TrueCaller app.
   
2. Go to “Blocking.”
   
3. Find the “Block Someone Manually” section and chose “Phone Number.”
   
4. Enter the name and phone number of the person you want to block.
   
5. Click “Block.”
   

You can block someone by name if you don’t know their phone number, but doing so will also block anyone else who might share their name. Additionally, you can block calls from a certain nation or range of numbers.

How to Unblock a Number on TrueCaller

If you want to unblock someone on the app, these are the steps to follow:

1. Open the app and go to “Blocking” section.
   
2. Find the “Block Someone Manually” section and click on “Manage Block List.”
   
3. Hit the minus sign next to the person you want to unblock.
   

How to Tell if You Have Been Blocked

You can determine if someone has blocked you on iMessage, if any of the following pertain to you:

• You won’t see “Read” or “Delivered” underneath the message that you sent them.
• Your message bubble will be green, meaning the message was sent through SMS and not iMessage. This means that they’ve blocked you from sending them messages, not necessarily that you have been blocked. If you’ve been blocked, then you won’t get any texts at all from that person.
• You get a “Not Delivered” message underneath the text that you sent to a person that has blocked you.

How to Unblock a Message

If you want to unblock a message, use these steps:

1. Go to the “Settings” app.
   
2. Click on “Messages.”
   
3. Select “Blocked Contacts.”
   
4. Swipe left on the list and then select “Unblock.”
   

How to Protect Yourself and Limit Spam

The following actions can be taken in addition to blocking phone numbers to ensure that you stay secure and reduce the amount of spam that you receive.

• Limit personal information that you share online
• Update your iPhone software as soon as it’s available
• Use random passwords to reduce the risk of your account getting hacked
• Use multi-factor authentication for important accounts
• Use a trusted VPN while on the web
• Don’t send personal information to someone you don’t know

FAQs

What happens when you block a message on iMessage?

When you block someone, you won’t see any delivery status and their message bubble will be green.

What happens to incoming blocked messages?

You just won’t receive them and the person who is blocked won’t receive a notification informing them that they’ve been blocked.

Can you still see a blocked message?

No. You can’t see any messages once you’ve blocked someone or been blocked yourself. However, you can unblock that person and continue to get messages from them.

What are spam messages?

These are unwanted messages that you receive, whether they come from spammers impersonating people or businesses or just messages that you don’t want to get.

Protect Your Privacy

Nobody likes receiving random messages from individuals or companies they have never interacted with before. You might feel guilty, but there are some people’s texts we’d rather not receive. By blocking numbers, you might potentially protect yourself from toxic people and risky situations.

Have you ever used iMessage’s block feature? What was your experience like? Let us know in the comments section below.