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How to block a number or contact on your Android using the Phone or Messages app

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You don't need to put up with the annoyance of regularly receiving unwanted phone calls.

If you frequently get a call from the same telemarketer or another unwanted caller, you can block that call.

Once you do, any blocked number that calls you on your Android phone will be sent directly to voicemail. Furthermore, the person who's number you've blocked won't get notified that you've done so, and there's no way for them to find out for sure.

How to block a number on Android

While the steps to block a call can vary depending on the device brand and version of Android, in most cases, you can block calls through the Phone app or Messages app. 

How to block a number on Android using the Phone app

To block a number or contact on your Android phone, navigate to the Phone app's settings and tap the Blocked numbers option.

Here's a full step-by-step breakdown:

1. Open the Phone app.

2. While on the Dial or Call Logs tab, tap the More Options menu, represented by the three vertical dots on the top-right of the app.

Android Block 1
Click the three vertical dots to access the More Options menu.  Abbey White/Insider

3. Choose Call Settings from the drop-down menu.

4. Tap Call blocking & Decline with message in the call settings.

Android Block 3
Choose "Blocked numbers" from the Settings list.  Abbey White/Insider

5.  Tap Blocked numbers.

6. Tap the plus sign on the top right to add the number you wish to block.

7. On the pop-up that shows, tap New Number. You can also choose to block a number from your contacts list or call logs on the same pop-up.

8. Manually enter the phone number you want to block calls and texts from then press "Block."

How to block a number on Android using the Messages app

You can also block a number using the Messages app by following the below steps:

1. Open the Messages app.

2. Tap the three vertical dots on the top right corner.

3. Select Settings from the list of options on the drop down.

4. Tap Message blocking in the settings.

5. Tap Blocked numbers.

6. Tap the plus sign on the top right to add the number you wish to block.

7. On the pop-up that shows, tap New Number.

8. Manually enter the phone number you want to block calls and texts from then press Block.

How to block unknown numbers on Android

To use the steps above, you'll have to be able to enter the number in the Phone or Messages app. 

However, this will not work if the number is unknown. So if you're tired of getting spam calls from unknown numbers, Android provides different ways of blocking them all at once.

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Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.