Do away with those troublesome texts you’d rather not see
Between corporate spam and unwelcome messages from who-knows-where, having a conversational off switch in your digital tool kit is a good idea. Malicious texts can contain threats to digital safety and security. As a result, many are beginning to search for ways to deal with excessive spam.
The good news is that many of the best Android phones have built-in spam-blocking capabilities. It's also simple to block spam calls and texts using Android's default apps. You can always try a different messaging app if the defaults get on your nerves. If you get texts you don't want to see, the simplest answer is to block the number.
Before you reply to messages from people you don't know, use these tips to find out if it's real or spam:
Google Messages, titled Messages on your phone, is the default texting app that's preinstalled on most Android devices. This effective tool offers neat features such as birthday reminders and Google Assistant integration. Still, it isn't immune to unsolicited contact. Follow these steps if you need to block a phone number in Messages.
You won't receive any more texts or calls from that phone number. Blocked conversations can be viewed or unblocked in the Spam & blocked folder, which you can find by pressing the triple dots in the upper-right corner.
Since WhatsApp is the king of messaging apps, more than a few of us probably have it on our phones. Here's how to block the spam that inevitably finds its way to your phone.
Even though Messenger isn't the king of the U.S. market anymore, it's still on enough phones to warrant a mention.
You can block a phone number through the Phone app if you prefer doing it that way. Phone comes preinstalled on all Android phones and functions as the primary calling tool. There are two main methods for blocking a number using Phone, and we briefly cover both.
Either method results in a successfully blocked number. If you have a text conversation in Messages, it's moved to the Spam & blocked folder. You can unblock numbers in Phone by navigating to Settings > Blocked numbers.
Some other texting apps are worth checking out. However, third-party options sometimes incur greater costs and security risks. These suggestions are meant for Android devices, so you'll need to read our guide if you have questions about blocked texts in iMessage.
Most Android devices sold by Samsung come with Samsung Messages preinstalled in addition to Google Messages. The two apps are comparable in many ways (including spam detection), but some users prefer Samsung's texting tool. Though Google Messages is highly recommended because of its integration across apps and platforms, there's no harm in taking a closer look at Samsung Messages and its nifty features.
Another option that might pique your interest is Signal. This is a lesser-known app that touts end-to-end encryption. It's great for security and to control who can contact you, but both ends of the conversation need to have Signal to use its security features. This one might work better as a group chat tool rather than a complete texting replacement.
Setting boundaries for digital contact is essential in an age where nefarious cyber activity is common. Google is working with carriers to implement improved messaging standards, but it may be time to pull the plug on RCS Chat altogether.
Daniel writes guides, explainers, and technology news. He especially likes deep diving into niche topics that require more than scratching the surface. He’s been writing in newspapers, magazines, and blogs for over 20 years writing hard news, entertainment, and science stories. When not writing he enjoys reading science fiction, playing music, and raising a rambunctious toddler. The devices you’ll find him using every day are his Pixel 4a, Acer 311 Chromebook, and Amazon Fire HD 10. As soon as he saves up some money he’s getting a 3D printer.

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