Spam and scam texts can pile up quickly, especially when the sender changes numbers. The iPhone has two built-in defenses that work best together: filtering unknown senders so they stay out of your main inbox, and reporting junk so Apple and sometimes your carrier can use the message details to identify abuse patterns.
These steps apply to Messages on iOS 17 and iOS 18. On iOS 18, Messages settings live under Settings > Apps > Messages; on iOS 17, open Settings > Messages.
Does This Affect You?
Use this if unwanted texts from unknown numbers keep appearing, if you want less noise on the Lock Screen, or if you want to report scam messages before deleting them.
Turn On Filter Unknown Senders
- Open Settings. On iOS 18, tap Apps, then Messages. On iOS 17, tap Messages directly.
- Scroll to Message Filtering.
- Turn on Filter Unknown Senders.
- Open Messages, tap Filters, and use Unknown Senders when you need to review filtered messages.
Messages from numbers you have not saved or replied to move into a separate view and do not notify you in the same way. Check this folder when waiting for delivery notices or one-time codes.
Links from unknown senders are restricted until you make the sender known by adding them to Contacts or replying. That friction is intentional and helps reduce scam-link taps.
Report a Spam or Junk Text
- Open Messages.
- If you have not opened the message, swipe left on it, tap the trash icon, then choose Delete and Report Junk.
- If the message is already open, use the Report Junk link at the bottom when it appears, then choose Delete and Report Junk.
- The message is deleted from your iPhone and reported with sender details. For SMS, MMS, or RCS, carrier reporting depends on your mobile provider.
Report before replying. Once you respond to a sender, the normal junk-report option may no longer be available for that conversation.
More Spam Text Defenses
Block Repeat Numbers
For a specific sender, open the conversation, tap the name or number, tap Info, and choose Block this Caller. Blocking affects Phone, Messages, and FaceTime for that number.
Review Business Messaging
Some legitimate companies send updates through Apple Messages for Business or RCS Business Messages. If they are noisy, check the business-message options in Messages settings and disable the ones you do not want.
Manage Blocked Contacts
Go to Settings > Apps > Messages > Blocked Contacts, or the equivalent Messages settings path on iOS 17, to unblock numbers or add new blocked contacts.
Avoid Scam Links
Filtering reduces clutter but cannot stop every rotating spam number. For bank, delivery, toll, tax, or government-looking texts, do not tap links. Report and delete instead.
Sources
- Apple Support: Block, filter, and report messages on iPhone
- Apple Support: Report spam and block senders in Messages
- Apple Support: Wireless carrier support and iPhone features