How to block a call on a Samsung Galaxy phone
While phone calls can be a lifeline in cases of emergency or routine check-ins with friends and family, they can also be a source of annoyance and intrusion. Receiving calls from unknown numbers or unwanted contacts can disrupt your daily routine and even make you feel uneasy in the case of scam calls. This is where call blocking comes in handy.
Samsung makes it easy to block calls and messages from unwanted contacts on their devices, including theSamsung Galaxy S23and othertop-rated Samsung phones. By blocking unwanted calls, you can prevent telemarketers, scammers, or spammers from repeatedly calling you to sell products or gain access to your personal information. Additionally, if you receive frequent calls from acquaintances that cause a nuisance, blocking their number is a subtle way to prevent them from calling you again.
If you’re not sure how to block a call on your Samsung Galaxy phone, keep reading. This guide shows you the possible ways and walks you through the step-by-step process.
Find out if you’ve been blocked or you simply aren’t able to get ahold of the other party
Block a number on your recent calls lists
If you recently received unwanted calls, you can prevent the number from ringing you further. To do this:
You don’t need to tap the More options button if the number is not one of your saved contacts. Instead, you’ll see the Block button when you tap theiicon, making the mileage one click shorter.
Block a saved number from the Contacts app
The Contacts app allows you to block numbers you don’t want to hear from, provided they’re saved to your Android phone, Google account, or SIM card. Here’s how:
Blocking a saved contact only prevents them from calling you. It doesn’t remove them from your Contacts list. To remove the number entirely, you’ll have to delete it. Deleting a blocked contact doesn’t unblock it, either.
Block any number from the Phone app settings
The above methods allow you to block contacts that have recently called you or are currently stored on your device. If you want more options, such as blocking contacts that have never interacted with your line, the Phone app’s settings is the way to go.
Alternatively, go to your call log and block a line. You can also navigate to your contact list and block a number. The phone app blocks unknown or private numbers when you toggle a switch.
Block contacts from the Messages app
Aside from unwanted calls, you might also receive unsolicited text messages. In such cases, you canblock the contact from the Google Messages appon your Galaxy device. Here’s how:
The mileage is slightly different if you use an older Samsung Galaxy phone with Samsung Messages as the default texting app. Follow these steps instead:
Alternatively, go to theSamsung Messages settingsand tapBlock numbers and spam>Block numbersto achieve the same results.
You can also navigate from the Conversations tab to the Contacts tab at the bottom of the Samsung Messages app. If you added the number as a contact, you can block it from here as you would from the Contacts app.
View blocked numbers and messages
What if you want to keep an eye on things? If you can’t remember the numbers you’ve sent to the bottom of the abyss through the block button, you cango back to see them at a glance. Here’s how:
You can also add names to the list via the options on the page. On the other hand, you could remove some contacts to allow them to reach you again.
You can also check your blocked contacts via the Samsung Messages app.
Like the Phone app, you can add or remove people or texts from the Block list.
Unblock numbers or contacts
Like you can unblock contacts from the view list, you can alsounblock saved numbersvia the Contacts app. To do so:
Block spam calls
We all get spam calls from scammers, fraudsters, telemarketers, and the like. Samsung offersa way to block or report themvia the Smart Call feature. The service automatically identifies and categorizes unknown callers into suspected spammers or outright scammers. It then lets you take specific actions during or after the call to tackle the situation appropriately. However, the service is not universally available. It can only be accessed on select carriers, models, and software versions. If you’re eligible, here’s how to activate it:
When your phone rings, you’ll see aBlock/Report numberoption at the bottom of the screen. You can select one of them during or after the call. If you report a number, you’re asked to categorize it using options such as General Spam, Scam or Fraud, or Telemarketer. You can also add a comment in the process.
Not everyone can use Samsung’s Smart Call feature as it’s only available on select carriers, models, and software versions.
Control who can and can’t reach you
Gone are the days of putting up with unwanted calls and text messages. If you’re bothered by pesky telemarketers, scammers, or annoying acquaintances, follow the steps above to block them on your Samsung Galaxy phone.
While there are situations that call for blocking calls, there are others that warrant recording them. For example, you may need to record an important conversation with a colleague or family member for future reference. If you’re unsure how to do this, check out our guide onrecording phone calls on a Samsung Galaxy phone.
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