How to see messages from blocked numbers

When you use iMessage, you can report spam messages to Apple. Depending on your carrier and country or region, you can also report spam you receive with SMS and MMS.

In the list of messages, press and hold the spam message, then tap Report Junk. Or, if you’ve opened the message and the person isn’t saved in your contacts, scroll to the bottom of the message, tap Report Junk, then tap Delete and Report Junk.

The sender’s information and the message are sent to Apple, and the message is permanently deleted from your device.

Note: Reporting junk or spam doesn’t prevent the sender from sending messages, but you can block the number to stop receiving them.

If you don’t see the option to report spam or junk messages you receive with SMS or MMS, contact your carrier. See the Apple Support article Wireless carrier support and features for iPhone.

You can block phone numbers, contacts, and emails on your device. You can also filter iMessages from unknown senders and report iMessages that look like spam or junk.

Block a phone number, contact, or email

There are a few ways that you can block phone numbers, contacts, and emails.

Phone

From the Phone app, tap Recents, then tap the Info button 

FaceTime

From the FaceTime app, tap the Info button 

Messages

From the Messages app, open the conversation, tap the contact at the top of the conversation. Tap the info 

Mail

From the Mail app, open the email that has the contact that you want to block, then tap the contact at the top. Tap Block this Contact.

When you block a phone number or contact, they can still leave a voicemail, but you won't get a notification. Messages that are sent or received won't be delivered. Also, the contact won't get a notification that the call or message was blocked. When you block an email address from Mail, it goes to the trash folder. Email blocking works across all your Apple devices.

You can also enable settings to block spam phone calls.

Manage your blocked phone numbers, contacts, and emails

To see the phone numbers, contacts, and email addresses that you've blocked from Phone, FaceTime, Messages, or Mail:

Phone

Go to Settings > Phone and tap Blocked Contacts to see the list.

FaceTime

Go to Settings > FaceTime. Under Calls, tap Blocked Contacts.

Messages

Go to Settings > Messages. Under SMS/MMS, tap Blocked Contacts.

Mail

Go to Settings > Mail. Under Threading, tap Blocked.

Filter messages from unknown senders

You can filter messages from people who aren't saved in your Contacts.

To filter messages, go to Settings > Messages, scroll down and turn on Filter Unknown Senders.

In Messages, tap 

Report spam or junk in the Messages app

You can report iMessages that look like spam or junk from the Messages app. If you get an iMessage from someone who's not saved in your Contacts, you'll see a Report Junk link under the message.

Tap Report Junk, then tap Delete and Report Junk. Messages will forward the sender's information and the message to Apple, as well as delete the message from your device. You can't undo deleting a message.

Reporting junk doesn't block the sender from being able to send another message. If you don't want to receive these messages, you need to block the contact.

To report SMS and MMS messages, contact your carrier.

Published Date: September 20, 2021

Can I look at messages from blocked numbers?