How to Stop Spam Texts on iPhone and Android

Spam texts are more than an annoyance. Many are scams designed to steal money or passwords, and others are marketing messages you never agreed to. This guide covers how to stop them on iPhone and Android, how to report them, and how to tell ordinary spam from a deliberate flood. Menu names change between phone models and software versions, so if a setting is not exactly where described, search for its name in your Settings app.

Quick Answer: How to Stop Spam Texts

  1. Do not reply, tap links or call numbers in the message.
  2. Turn on your phone’s built-in spam filtering.
  3. Block and report the sender.
  4. Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM) so your carrier can act.
  5. Ask your carrier about free spam-blocking tools.
  6. Be careful where you enter your phone number.

First: Do Not Engage

Replying, even with “STOP”, can confirm that your number is active when the message comes from a scammer. Do not tap links or open attachments, and do not call back. Replying STOP is appropriate only for messages from a business you recognise and have dealt with before.

How to Stop Spam Texts on iPhone

  1. Filter unknown senders. Go to Settings, then Messages, then Unknown & Spam, and switch on Filter Unknown Senders. Messages from numbers not in your contacts move to a separate list.
  2. Report junk. For iMessage spam from an unknown sender, tap Report Junk below the message. For ordinary SMS or MMS, forward it to 7726 instead.
  3. Block the sender. Open the conversation, tap the sender name at the top, then tap Info and choose Block this Caller.
  4. Check carrier filtering. Ask your carrier whether it offers a free spam-text filter or app for your plan.

How to Stop Spam Texts on Android

  1. Turn on spam protection. In the Google Messages app, tap your profile picture, open Messages settings, then Spam protection, and switch on Enable spam protection.
  2. Block and report. Touch and hold the conversation, then choose Block and report spam.
  3. Use your carrier tools. Many carriers provide a free spam-blocking app or service. Check your carrier’s website.

If you use a different messaging app, such as the one made by your phone’s manufacturer, look for the same options under its settings.

How to Report Spam Texts

  • Forward to 7726. In many countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, you can forward a spam or scam text to 7726, which spells SPAM. Your carrier may reply asking for the sender’s number.
  • Report scams to your national authority. In the United States, you can report scam texts to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. In the United Kingdom, regulators such as the ICO deal with unwanted marketing messages. Check the current official site, because names and processes change.
  • Tell the company being impersonated. If a text pretends to be from your bank or a delivery firm, contact that company using a number from its official website, not from the text.

How to Spot a Scam Text

  • A message about a package, toll, fine or account problem you were not expecting
  • Pressure to act quickly or a threat that something will be closed or lost
  • A link with a strange or shortened address
  • A request for a password, a one-time code or payment details
  • A sender that claims to know you but does not use your name

Why You Keep Getting Spam Texts

Your number can end up on lists after a data breach, a competition entry, an online form or a company sharing marketing data. Our guide on why you keep getting random text messages explains the common sources in more detail.

Spam Texts vs SMS Bombing

Ordinary spam is sent to very large lists and arrives slowly. SMS bombing is a sudden flood aimed at one number, often made up of verification codes. If you are being flooded, follow our guide on how to stop SMS bombing and read the difference between SMS bombing and spam texts. If the messages are verification codes from services you never used, see how to stop OTP SMS bombing.

How to Keep Spam Texts From Coming Back

  • Do not share your main number on forms, contests or public profiles you do not trust.
  • Use a separate number for sign-ups where you can.
  • Use an authenticator app instead of text messages for two-factor authentication where available.
  • Check whether your email or phone number has appeared in a data breach using a reputable breach-checking service, and change passwords if it has.

If texts are threatening or harassing, keep screenshots and read how to report SMS and call harassment. This guide is general information, not professional security or legal advice.