How to Block a Number on Android

Six Methods:LG PhonesSamsung PhonesHTC PhonesUsing Blocking AppsUsing Android Nougat 7.0 (Official release Q3 2016) - Calls to Voicemail (In Developer Preview)Using Android Nougat 7.0 (Official release Q3 2016) - Call Screening (In Developer Preview)

Android phones can be wonderful tools for interaction and staying connected. But, they allow anyone who has your number to contact you whether you desire the contact or not, including from telemarketers and other people you really just don’t want to talk to. Many Android-phone manufacturers include tools to easily block incoming calls from specific numbers.

Method 1
LG Phones

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    Tap the Phone icon on your Home screen.
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    Navigate to the "Call Reject" setting. Tap the three dot symbol in the upper right corner of the screen. Select “Call Settings” from the popup menu that appears. Then tap “Call Reject” and finally, “Reject calls from”.
    • Toward the upper right of the list that appears when you tap “Reject calls from”, there is a checkbox next to the text, “Private Numbers”. This will block all calls from callers that do not allow you to see their caller information. [1]
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    Tap the plus (+) icon that appears and add numbers. Add the number or numbers that you want to be blocked. Calls from the numbers you add will not cause your phone to ring, go to voicemail, or show as a missed call.
    • To allow calls from a number to reach you again, go into Settings, then tap “Call”, “Call Reject”, and finally “Reject calls from”. On the menu that appears, tap the trash can symbol, and select the numbers you want to unblock. [2][3]

Method 2
Samsung Phones

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    Tap the Phone icon on the Home screen.
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    Select the number you want to block. Then, tap “More” in top right corner.
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    Tap “Add to Auto-Reject List.” This option should be available in the menu that appears. This completely blocks calls from the number; your phone won’t right, you won’t show a missed call, they can’t leave a voice mail.
    • To remove a number from the Auto-Reject List, go to Settings, tap “Call Settings”, then “All Calls”, and then “Auto Reject”. From there, tap “Auto reject list” to view and manage the existing auto-reject numbers.
    • You can also use the “Auto reject list” to block any private/unknown numbers that try to call you. From the list, tap the left-pointing arrow at the upper left of the screen, then tap the check box next to “Unknown”. [4][5][6]

Method 3
HTC Phones

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    Tap the Phone icon on the Home Screen. Swipe in from the right to display your call history.
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    Press and hold the number you want to block.
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    Tap “Block Contact” in the menu that appears. Then, tap “OK”. Any numbers you select in this way will be unable to complete calls to you.
    • To re-enable calls from a number you’ve set your phone to reject, from your Home Screen tap “Apps”, then “People”. Tap the menu icon (three vertical dots) to the upper right, then tap “Remove block contacts”. Select the numbers you want to enable, tap “Remove”, then tap “Okay”. [7][8]

Method 4
Using Blocking Apps

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    Download a number-blocking app from the Google Play store. Options include Mr Number or Truecaller. Mr. Number, for instance, allows you to either forward blocked numbers to voicemail, or pick up and hang up immediately. Truecaller either gives a blocked caller a busy signal or directs them to voicemail, although this is based on your provider, not which options you select.
    • In Android 4.4 and later versions, apps are unable to block SMS text messages.
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    Select the Block option from Mr Number. This should be available on a Home screen and should block a number. Select either “HANG UP ON SOMEONE” or “SEND SOMEONE TO VOICEMAIL”, then select the blocking option. You can select from suspected spam, all private/unknown numbers, recent calls, contacts, and other options.
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    Enter your block list on Truecaller. Go to the “Block” section of the Truecaller app, tap “My Block List”, then tap the add button to add a number.
    • Alternatively, many antivirus apps that you may already have on your mobile device, such as Avast, offer call blocking functions.[9][10]

Method 5
Using Android Nougat 7.0 (Official release Q3 2016) - Calls to Voicemail (In Developer Preview)

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    Add your numbers to a 'blocked' contact entry.
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    Edit the contact entry. Click on the settings button, then tab the checkbox "All calls to voicemail"

Method 6
Using Android Nougat 7.0 (Official release Q3 2016) - Call Screening (In Developer Preview)

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    Long press on a call in your history.
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    Select "Block number."

Tips

  • Directions may differ slightly depending on what kind of Android phone you have, but most phones follow the same general instructions.
  • Your phone will not ring when a blocked number tries to call you.
  • For native call blocking in Android - the default caller app will store a list of blocked numbers. You can backup and restore them for when you need to wipe your phone.

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.androidcentral.com/how-block-calls-lg-g4
  2. ↑ http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/google-android/how-block-number-on-android-phones-3621588/
  3. ↑ https://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-21797
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