When you’re constantly bothered by unwanted calls, whether from an ex-partner who won’t leave you alone or persistent telemarketers, you can take steps to block phone numbers on your Android device. If your phone doesn’t have a built-in blocking feature, there are also several third-party apps available, often for free, that can help you manage unwanted calls. This guide will walk you through the process of blocking numbers using your phone’s native settings or popular third-party applications.
Before you start: Ensure your Android phone is updated to the latest OS version for the best compatibility with built-in blocking features.
How to block a specific number on Android
Follow these steps to effectively block unwanted calls on your Android device:
Method 1: Samsung phones
- Open your Android’s Phone app. This app typically resembles a phone icon and is found on your Home Screen.
- Tap the ⋮ icon, located in the top-right corner of the Phone screen. This will open a drop-down menu.
- Tap Settings from the drop-down menu.
- Tap Block numbers, which is usually found under the “CALL SETTINGS” heading.
- Enter the number you wish to block by tapping the text field below the “Add phone number” heading and typing the number.
- Tap Done on the keypad. The number will now be added to your Samsung’s block list, preventing calls from that number. To unblock, return to this screen and tap the trashcan icon next to the number.
- Check for Smart Call:
- If your Samsung model supports Smart Call: Go to ⋮ > Settings and enable the switch next to “Caller ID and spam protection.” This feature allows you to block unknown incoming calls by tapping the Block button on your screen.
Method 2: Pixel or Nexus phones
- Open your Android’s Phone app, typically the Google Phone app, found on your Home Screen.
- Tap the ⋮ icon in the top-right corner of the Phone screen to reveal a drop-down menu.
- Tap Settings in the drop-down menu.
- Tap Blocked Numbers, located near the top of the page.
- Tap ADD A NUMBER at the top of the page.
- Enter the number you want to block by tapping the text field and typing the number.
- Tap BLOCK below the text field. Calls from this number will no longer ring your phone. You can also check the “Report call as spam” box to report the number.
Method 3: LG phones
- Open your Android’s Phone app, a phone-shaped icon on the Home Screen.
- Tap the Call logs tab, found at either the top or bottom of the screen.
- Tap the ⋮ icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
- Tap Call settings from the drop-down menu.
- Tap Call blocking, located under the “GENERAL” heading.
- Tap Blocked numbers near the top of the page.
- Tap + to open a window with blocking options.
- Tap New number to bring up a text field. Alternatively, you can tap Contacts or Call logs to select an existing number.
- Enter the number you want to block in the text field.
- Tap Done below the text field. The number will be blocked, and your phone will not ring when it calls.
Method 4: HTC phones
- Open your Android’s People app, which typically resembles a person’s silhouette on your Home Screen.
- Tap the ⋮ icon in the top-right corner of the screen to open a drop-down menu.
- Tap Manage contacts in the drop-down menu.
- Tap Blocked contacts near the top of the page.
- Tap Add near the top of the page.
- Enter the number you wish to block.
- Tap Save. The number will be added to your HTC phone’s block list, preventing calls from that number.
Method 5: Using the Should I Answer app
- Download and open the Should I Answer app from the Google Play Store. The app icon resembles an octopus arm holding a phone receiver.
- Follow the on-screen setup instructions. This usually involves tapping Next (if prompted), then selecting boxes and tapping Get Started.
- Choose your desired level of protection. For call blocking capabilities, tap Active Protection.
- Select your alert type and tap Set. For Android 6 and above, use Custom Call Screen.
- Set the app as your default phone app to enable incoming call blocking.
- Tap Start The App at the bottom of your screen to go to the app’s main interface, which displays your Recents list.
- Tap a number you want to block from your Recents list or Contacts.
- Tap Block, located near the top of the page, below the displayed number. The number will now be blocked. If the call was spam, you can use the extra action buttons to mark it as “Spam” for the community.
Method 6: Using the Mr. Number app
- Download and open the Mr. Number app from the Google Play Store. The app icon features an “M” and “N”. Note that this app requires a subscription.
- Tap Get Started, the blue button in the center of the page, ensuring the checkbox for “I’ve read and agree to Mr. Number’s Terms of Service and Data policy” is checked.
- Subscribe to Mr. Number. You can choose a monthly or yearly plan, often with a free trial for the monthly option. You may need to authenticate the purchase.
- Tap Allow All to grant the app necessary permissions for call management and call log access, then tap Continue.
- Set additional Mr. Number settings by tapping Allow on each recommended permission tile, then tap Continue at the top of the screen.
- Tap the Block List tab, the second tab at the bottom of the screen, which has an icon resembling a circle with a line through it.
- Tap the plus sign (+) icon to add a new blocked number.
- Tap a method to block a number. Options include Choose from contacts, Enter a number, All numbers beginning with…, or Recent calls.
- Enter or select the number you want to block.
- Tap Block. This will block the selected number, and you will not be notified of future calls from it.
Pro tip: Regularly review your blocked numbers list to ensure it’s up to date. You can unblock numbers at any time if your circumstances change.
What to do next?
After successfully blocking unwanted numbers, you might want to explore additional call management features available on your Android device or through third-party apps. Many phones offer options like silencing unknown callers, setting up voicemail for specific contacts, or utilizing “Do Not Disturb” mode to manage when you receive notifications.
Beyond blocking, consider reporting spam numbers to your carrier or relevant authorities. This can help in the broader effort to reduce unwanted calls for everyone. Staying informed about new spam call tactics and keeping your phone’s software updated will also contribute to a more peaceful mobile experience.
