Have you ever felt bombarded by spammy calls and texts on your phone? I definitely have. Unwanted messages can disrupt your day and even open you up to scams. The good news is that Android provides tools for taking control of the situation. In this guide, I’ll walk you through different options for blocking numbers at the device and carrier level. Ready to say goodbye to nuisance callers and texters? Let’s get started!
Why Should You Block Calls and Texts?
I don’t know about you, but I seem to get more robocalls every year. According to Federal Trade Commission data, over 217,000 spam call complaints pour in from consumers every month. That’s over 7,000 per day!
Text message spam has exploded too. Verizon reports an overall 172% increase in spam texts since just 2020. When your phone constantly lights up with unsolicited messages, it can negatively impact productivity and even mental health.
So don’t tolerate unwanted communication any longer! Fight back against spammers by using your Android device’s built-in blocking features.
Overview of Android Blocking Options
Android offers blocking at two levels:
- Device-level blocks through native Phone app, Messaging app, or third-party apps like Truecaller
- Carrier-level network blocks and filters activated by your wireless provider
The chart below compares what’s available:
| Feature | Device-Level Block | Carrier-Level Block |
|---|---|---|
| Manually block specific numbers | ✅ | ✅ |
| Block unknown callers | ✅ | ✅ |
| Screen calls with spam warning | ✅ | ✅ |
| Block against spoofed numbers | ❌ | ✅ |
| Stop texts from unknown senders | ✅ | ✅ |
| Ongoing block list monitoring | ❌ | ✅ |
| Typically free | ✅ | ❌ ($3-$8 monthly) |
Carrier call blocking tends to be more robust since network analysis can detect spoofing patterns. However, you’ll generally pay an extra $3 to $8 monthly.
For most basic blocking needs, Android’s free tools should fit the bill!
Step-by-Step: Blocking Numbers on Your Device
Ready to finally stop those annoying calls and texts from interrupting your day?
Block Incoming Calls
Start by opening your Phone app and tapping the menu icon:
From there, select Settings > Block Numbers
Next, input the specific number you want to block. Be sure to include the full 10-digit phone number with area code:
Finally, confirm to add this number to your blocked contacts. Calls from this number will now go straight to voicemail!
Silence Texts
You can block text senders directly from Android’s default messaging app:
Under Settings, choose Blocked Numbers > Add Number
Enter the 10-digit phone number and tap Block to stop texts from that sender. Peace at last!
If you ever want to remove a number from the blocked list, just return to the block settings and select “Unblock”. Easy as that.
Pro Tip: Beware Spoofers!
Keep in mind spammers often use spoofing to falsify their caller ID information. So even if you block a number, the same spammer can call back pretending to be someone else.
Carrier call blocking utilizes more advanced network scanning to detect spoofing patterns. You can also report any suspicious numbers to authorities by forwarding the messages to SPAM (7726).
Stay vigilant, but rest easier knowing these handy Android tools equip you to battle back! Don’t hesitate to block calls and texts that interrupt your day. Just focus on the connections that matter most.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
