How to Stop Unwanted Texts on an iPhone

This article provides methods to stop unwanted texts on an iPhone. These instructions apply to the iPhone’s built-in Messages app, not third-party tools.

How to Stop Unwanted Political Text Messages on an iPhone

Once political groups or campaigns have your phone number, it is very difficult to stop unwanted political text messages. Indeed, organizations share the numbers of their supporters (or even sell them). The best you can do is unsubscribe from these text messages when you receive them to remove yourself from a campaign group or list. However, this option won’t stop other people having your number.

Most of these text messages tell you at the end of the message how to stop receiving them. The most common responses to stopping unwanted political texts are Stop, Opt out, unsubscribe, CancelOr To leave.

Reply to the message with the suggested option (if there isn’t one, Stop is the best thing to try) and you should be unsubscribed.

How to Block Text Messages on iPhone

No matter how many unwanted text messages you receive, we have good news: it’s easy to block text messages on iPhone. Here’s how to use the simple and free built-in feature:

1. In Messages, tap a text message from the sender you want to block.

2. Tap the sender icon at the top.

3. Select Info.

4. Faucet Block caller.

5. In the confirmation pop-up, tap Block contacts.

How to Stop Junk Text Messages on iPhone by Filtering Unknown Senders

For various reasons, you may not want to delete all text messages from an unknown number or person. For example, you may miss order confirmation and appointment SMS messages if you do this. In this case, your iPhone can automatically categorize texts from unknown senders into a separate folder so you can check them when you have time without them cluttering up your main inbox.

Here’s what to do:

1. Faucet Settings.

2. Faucet messages.

3. Move it Filter unknown senders cursor to on/green.

4. To view your filtered text messages, tap the arrow in the upper left corner until you reach the main Messages screen.

5. Faucet Unknown senders to view all text messages from numbers not in your contacts.

How to Stop Unwanted Group Texts on an iPhone

If you’re in a group that texts too chatty, you can turn off message notifications or leave the group altogether by following these steps

1. In the group text, tap the group text name or people icons at the top of the screen.

2. To stay in the group text without receiving notifications when new messages arrive, move the Hide alerts cursor to on/green.

3. To completely exit the group text, there are two paths.

   If there’s a mix of iPhones and Android phones in this chat (you’ll know because the message bubbles will be green), tap Delete and block this conversation, then tap the confirmation pop-up.

   If everyone has an iPhone (blue message bubbles) and there are more than three other people in the chat, tap Leave this conversation then tap the confirmation pop-up.

Block SMS with Do Not Call Registry

Another place to stop annoying communications on your phone is the National Do Not Call Registry. This government program attempts to enforce your preference not to receive unwanted calls from marketers and other potential annoyances in the United States.

It doesn’t block calls and only works for businesses that follow the law (plus, the registry is technically for phone calls, not texts), but it’s free, quick, easy, and could help reduce texting unwanted.