How to block a number on samsung s20

A phone call is one of the quickest ways to get in touch with someone. Calls may be from friends and family in cases of emergency or routine check-ins. But calls can also come from telemarketers, scammers, or spammers who may repeatedly buzz to sell you a product or get you to divulge personal information. Sometimes, repeated calls from acquaintances can be a nuisance.

While you can end such calls or leave them unanswered, that might send the wrong signal to the person on the other end. Instead, use a more subtle means by blocking those contacts. For spammers, it ensures they can never reach you on the same line again. The process is easy if you have one of Samsung's top-of-the-line Samsung Galaxy S22 series phones or another top-rated Samsung phone. Keep reading to learn how.

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Block a number on your recent calls lists

If you recently received unwanted calls, you can prevent the number from calling you anymore. To do this:

1. Open the Phone app to see recent calls.
2. Select the number in question.
3. Tap the info (i) icon from the drop-down menu.

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4. Tap More (the three-dot icon in the lower-right corner of the screen).
5. Select Block contact.

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If the number is not one of your saved contacts, you don't need to tap the More options button. Instead, you'll see the Block button as soon as you tap the i icon, making the mileage one click shorter.

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Block a saved number from the Contacts app

The Contacts app allows you to block contacts you do not want to hear from, provided they're saved to your phone, Google account, or SIM card. Here's how:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Navigate to the contact you wish to block.
3. Tap More (the three-dot button).

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4. Select Block contact.
5. Tap Block to confirm.

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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.

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 the ability to block contacts that have never interacted with your line before, the Phone app's settings is the way to go.

1. Launch the Phone app.
2. Tap More (the three-dot button in the upper-right corner).
3. Select Settings.

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4. Choose the Block numbers option at the top of the list.
5. Type the number in question and tap Add (the plus sign) beside it to initiate the block.

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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 allows you to block all calls from unknown or private numbers by toggling a switch.

Block contacts from the Messages app

Aside from unwanted calls, you might also receive unsolicited text messages. In such cases, you can block the contact from the Google Messages app on your S22. Here's how:

1. Open Messages.
2. Navigate to and long-press the text alongside the contact you wish to block.
3. Tap More options in the upper-right corner.
4. Select Block.

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5. Choose whether to report the message as spam, so tick or untick it as necessary.
6. Select OK.

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:

1. Open the Samsung Messages app.
2. Select the conversation with the number you want to block.
3. Tap the number (or name) at the top of the screen.
4. Select Block number from the drop-down menu.

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5. You're given the option to delete the conversation. Select it if that applies.
6. Tap Block to confirm.

Alternatively, go to the Samsung Messages settings and tap Block numbers and spam > Block numbers to 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 can go back to see them at a glance. Here's how:

1. Launch the Phone app.
2. Tap More options in the upper-right corner.
3. Select Settings.

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4. Choose Block numbers.

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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.

1. Open the app and select More options.
2. Tap Settings.

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3. Tap Block numbers and spam.
4. Tap Block numbers. If you wish to see the texts you blocked, tap Blocked messages instead.

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Like the Phone app, you can add or remove people or texts from the Block list.

Unblock numbers or contacts

While you can unblock contacts from the view list, you can also unblock saved numbers via the Contacts app.

1. Open Contacts.
2. Navigate to and select the number.
3. Tap More.
4. Tap Unblock contact.

Block spam calls

We all get spam calls from scammers, fraudsters, telemarketers, and the like. Samsung offers a way to block or report them via the Smart Call feature. The service automatically detects and profiles unknown callers based on whether they are suspected spammers or outright scammers. It then lets you take specific actions either during or after the call. However, the service is only available on select carriers, models, and software versions. If you're eligible, here's how to activate it:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap More options.
3. Select Settings.

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4. Flip the switch next to Caller ID and spam protection.

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When your phone rings, you'll see a Block/Report number option 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 select a category, such as General Spam, Scam or Fraud, or Telemarketer. You can also add a comment in the process.

Control who can and can't reach you

Long gone are the days of putting up with unwanted calls and text messages. If you're bothered by pesky unknown numbers or saved contacts, follow the steps above to block them on your Samsung Galaxy S22.

While there are situations that call for blocking calls, there are others that warrant recording them. If you're not sure how to do this, check out our guide on recording phone calls on a Samsung Galaxy phone.

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