Rest assured, there are ways to block those unwanted calls on Android devices. But finding the path to block calls can take some digging. Some manufacturers bury blacklist features deep in your phone settings. Even worse, some older devices may not provide native blocking features at all. Thankfully, there are several ways to block calls on your Android device. Here’s our guide to blocking phone calls (and text messages) on your Android phone. We’ll take a look at how to do it with your phone’s native features, and then we’ll suggest a couple of call blocking Android apps that are worth considering. Finally, we’ll provide information on how to block callers by contacting your phone carrier. Updated on 1-14-2016 by Kyle Wiggers and Simon Hill : Reformatted, updated-instructions, removed old methods that no longer work, and added new screenshots. Choose your method: Block calls on your Android smartphone with native features Using Android apps to block calls Block calls through your carrier Block calls on your Android smartphone with native features The methods for doing this will vary slightly according to your specific device and the version of Android that you are using. Many tutorials exist for your specific device. Try searching on YouTube or the XDA developers forum. There is no universal path for blocking contacts on Android smartphones, and it’s a feature the-vanilla versions of Android Lollipop and Marshmallow oddly omit.-But some devices allow users to enable a per-number blocking mode through the phone’s-settings. On a stock Android phone From the call log From the call log, you can disable incoming calls from specific numbers. Select the number you want to block, then hit the 3-dot menu icon in the upper right corner and choose- Add to reject list. This will disable incoming calls from specific numbers. From your contacts list If there’s a particularly persistent relative, friend, or ex whose number you’ve saved, blocking them’s a cinch. Just-pull up your contacts, select the person you’d like to block, and hit the-little button in the right-hand corner that looks like a pencil. Then, tap the 3-dot menu icon in the upper right corner and checkmark the box next to- All Calls to Voicemail . That-contact’s calls will now-be directed to your carrier’s voice inbox. From the settings menu One of the most common routes is to pull up your contact list by selecting the phone icon from your home screen. Then tap the three dot menu and choose Settings > Call > Call Rejection > Auto Reject List > Create. At this point, Android phones will have a search box that’ll appear. Insert the phone number or name of the person you want to block, and presto, that name will be added to the Auto Reject List. On-a Samsung phone Select the Phone icon on the home screen, tap More at the top right, and then tap- Settings. You’ll find Call blocking or Call rejection listed here and you can manage the numbers on your Block list or Auto reject list . You can also set up automatic Call-reject messages if you want to. You can also block numbers from your call log. Open up Phone > Log and tap on a number or contact, then tap More > Block settings and you’ll get the option to turn on Call block and Message block . Related: -How to record calls on your iPhone On an HTC-phone HTC, much like Samsung, has integrated call blocking. To use it, open the Phone app on your home screen and navigate to Call history . Long press on the number you’d like to block and tap the option to- Block Contact -or Block caller . You can review blocked contacts in the Phone app by tapping the menu icon at the top right (three vertical dots). On an LG-phone LG’s made it relatively simple to build an auto-reject list on its handsets. To start, open the Phone app. Tap the 3-dot menu in the top right corner, and from the dropdown menu that appears select- Call Settings > Call reject > Reject calls from . Select the Plus icon, and then add the number you’d like to block from the call log or your contacts. You can also find it by going to- Settings > Wireless and networks > Call >-Call reject > Reject calls from . Next page: Block calls on Android using an app Using Android apps to block calls If none of the other options suits you, or you just want a more user friendly way of blocking calls on your Android smartphone, then a dedicated app might be your best bet. Here are six-solid options. Should I Answer? (Free) Should I Answer is not your average call blocker. It’s able to block specific numbers or all phone numbers except those in-your contact list, sure, but the real hook is its extensive database of known telemarketer, scammer, and-premium rate numbers. When you get a phone call, Should I Answer-shows a brief-description and user reviews of-the incoming number, plus the option to leave a rating of your own or-to add the number to a private block list.-Should I Answer also features some of the most robust call blocking features of any app in its category.-It can automatically filter-calls from hidden numbers, premium numbers, foreign countries, and numbers below a certain review-threshold. Perhaps best of all, all of the aforementioned features-work offline — the app saves a small copy of the ratings database locally. Safest Call Blocker (Free) Safest Call Blocker features the usual array of call blocking toggles — you can block all numbers from a custom blacklist, for example, and block all numbers that aren’t in your contacts — but you can also block a range of numbers using wildcards. Can’t stand the incessant 800 number offers-for “free” Hawaiian vacations?-Add 1-800-###-#### to the-block list and you won’t-hear one ever again. Safest Call Blocker also notifies you when it blocks a calls, and automatically keeps blocked numbers out of your call log. Call-Blocker (Free) Looking for an app that not only blocks unwanted calls, but unwanted texts, too? You could do worse than VBlocker. The app lets you-block specific numbers from calling or texting entirely, or customize the level of blocking for each number — you can enable SMS blocking for a certain number, but disable call blocking, for instance, or vice versa. And, like Safest Call Blocker, VBlocker-removes blocked calls from your call log and default SMS app. Another feature worth mentioning: you can save and export spammy text messages for safekeeping, if the need ever arises. Mr. Number (Free) This app bills itself as a free alternative text and calling app, with free messaging between members and real-time updates about when your messages have been read. It also happens to be a powerful call and text blocking app for Android. You can block specific numbers or you can block area codes. Thanks to user submitted info on telemarketers and other spam you can create a block list that will protect you from cold calls. Call Control (Free) Here’s another Android call blocker with a big list of user submitted spam numbers that you can automatically block. This one also ties in with the FCC Do Not Call registry. You can decide which calls get blocked and exactly how they are handled with this versatile app. You get a free 14-day trial of the full app and then it reverts to a limited “Lite” version, unless you cough up a $8 dollars. Extreme Call Blocker ($5) Pay a one-off $5 fee and you’ll get a comprehensive call and text message blocking app that’s password protected and packed with features. You can send calls direct to voicemail, pick up and hang up automatically, or just mute the ringer. You can also use this app to block outgoing calls and it has a stealth mode, so the app can be hidden on a phone. This is a solid option that offers good call blocking control and the ability to set up profiles with various parameters. Next page: Block calls through your carrier Contact your carrier Most major carriers can block calls to your device. Verizon offers this service for free, so does Sprint. There are some limitations, for instance Verizon only allows you to block up to 5 lines. You’ll also have to re-block lines every 90 days. AT&T allows you to block up to 30 numbers for $5 a line/per month. T-Mobile doesn’t offer official services for blocking calls or texts, but-you may have some success calling the T-Mobile service center. Other call blocking options There are a lot of other Android call blocking apps, but make sure to check the reviews carefully and do your homework before you choose. These don’t tend to play nicely together and can also conflict with anti-virus apps. Speaking of which, if you have avast! Mobile Security already installed there’s a call and SMS filtering option in there for blocking contacts. If you have any other tips for people looking to block calls on Android, then please post a comment. This article was originally published on Jan. 15, 2013 and has been updated to reflect software and hardware changes. Simon Hill, Joe Donovan, Thor Benson, and Kyle Wiggers contributed to this guide. [Header image courtesy of Shutterstock]



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