How To Block Unwanted Spam Messages on Your Android Phone (Prevent Election Texts)

Dealing with spam messages on Android is kind of annoying, especially when election season hits and the inbox gets flooded. Luckily, most Android phones have some built-in options, plus a few tricks that can help reduce the clutter. Here’s how to get started blocking those unwanted texts unless you want to grow a firewall on your phone.

Step 1: Open the Messages App

First, launch your default messaging app — Google Messages or Samsung Messages, really depends on your brand. Sometimes these apps hide their spam settings somewhere weird, so just get familiar with the menu options.

Step 2: Enable Spam Protection

This is why it helps — turning on spam filtering can automatically snatch suspected spam messages and toss them into a separate folder. To do this:

Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top right corner of the Messages app.
Select Settings from the dropdown.
Look for Spam Protection. Honestly, on some phones it’s buried under Notifications & Spam or similar.
Switch the toggle to Enable Spam Protection. After that, spam messages should go into a Spam & Blocked folder, so you’re not constantly clicking away annoying texts.

Because of course, Android has to make it harder than necessary — sometimes you toggle it, sometimes it fails silently until you restart the app. Just keep an eye on that folder.

Step 3: Block Specific Numbers

If a particular spammer keeps bothering you, best to just block their number directly:

Open up a spam message from that num – can be any random one that’s bugging you.
Tap on the contact number or profile picture at the top of that message. Sometimes you gotta tap long enough or tap the three dots to find the block option.
Choose Block or Block & Report Spam. If you go for report spam, your provider or device might learn from it.
Alternatively, in your conversation list, long-press on the spam chat, then hit Block. Some phones also have a quick menu in the three-dot options.

Note: On some setups, blocking a number might just mute it or go straight into the blocked list, no fuss.

Step 4: Manage Blocked Numbers

Sometimes, you’ll want to see who you accidentally blocked, or unblock someone. Here’s how:

Head over to Settings.
Look for Spam & Blocked or sometimes Block Numbers & Messages.
Here you’ll find the list of blocked numbers. Tap on any to unblock if necessary.

This area can be a little inconsistent across phones, so if you can’t find it, poke around in your messaging or call app settings too.

Step 5: Use Keywords to Block Messages

This one’s kind of a mystery; not all Android versions support it, but in some cases, you can set rules based on message content:

Head into your Settings.
Look for Block Settings or something similar—sometimes under Advanced Settings.
Find Keyword Rules, Keyword Block List, or similar.
Tap Add and enter keywords like “Election,” “Vote,” or political names, depending on your spam pattern.
Messages containing these will get automatically dumped into spam, which can save a lot of clutter.

Not every device has this, and setting it up can be finicky, so don’t be surprised if it only works on specific models or Android versions. On some phones, it just won’t show up or behaves glitchy.

Step 6: Tweak Notification Settings

If blocked contacts still manage to send you notifications — annoying while working or sleeping — check these:

Go into Settings.
Navigate to Notifications.
Find options for Blocked contacts and set notifications to Never or silence them.

This is kinda a safeguard; if you keep getting whispers from blocked numbers, double-check these settings.

Step 7: Calling Block Tips

Blocking texts is great, but spam calls can be worse. Here’s some quick fixes:

In Block Settings, turn on options to block Unknown Numbers or Withheld Calls.
Or set your phone to only allow calls from contacts in your Trusted List.
If you want to be extra cautious, some Android phones let you block all incoming calls except those on a safe list.

Extra note: blocking calls or texts from a certain area code isn’t straightforward unless you resort to third-party spam block apps. Of course, Android’s default tools are somewhat limited here.

Extra Tips & Common Issues

Here’s the deal — you gotta keep an eye on your spam folder. Sometimes legit messages land there because of overly aggressive filters. Also, third-party spam blockers can help if built-in ones are crapping out, but always check reviews before installing.

And yes, adding keywords can accidentally block legit messages, so be cautious. Sometimes a spammer updates their tactics, so staying vigilant is key.

Summary

Turn on spam filtering in your messages app.
Block individual numbers from spam chats.
Review the blocked list occasionally.
Use keywords if your device supports it.
Customize notifications to stay sane.
Consider call blocking options for unknown numbers.

Sometimes, it feels like an ongoing battle, but these steps should help cut down on the worst of it. Because, obviously, Android has to complicate simple stuff sometimes.

Fingers crossed this helps — other than that, just keep clearing your spam folder and blocking as needed. Good luck!