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Android protection guide

How to protect an Android phone from spam calls and scam texts

Android protection varies by manufacturer, but phones using Google’s Phone and Messages apps can identify suspected spam, filter nuisance calls and screen suspicious texts. Menu names may differ on Samsung and other manufacturer-specific apps.

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Quick answer

Verify caller ID and spam protection, automatic spam-call filtering and Google Messages spam protection. Treat the “Unknown” blocking option carefully: in Google’s Phone app it means private or unidentified caller ID, not every number missing from Contacts.

Recommended protections

What to turn on

Android

Turn on caller ID and spam warnings

1 min

Shows warnings for suspected spam callers and identifies some callers or businesses that are not in your contacts.

Keep in mind: This identifies suspicious calls but does not automatically block them by itself.

Setup

  1. Open the Phone app.
  2. Tap More options, then Settings.
  3. Tap Caller ID and spam.
  4. Turn on See caller ID & spam.
Official Google guidance · Verified 2026-09-22
Android

Automatically filter spam calls

1 min

Automatically prevents many suspected spam calls from ringing your phone.

Keep in mind: With Filter spam calls, you may not receive missed-call or voicemail notifications for filtered calls, although calls remain in call history and voicemail can still be checked.

Setup

  1. Open the Phone app.
  2. Tap More options, then Settings.
  3. Open Caller ID and spam and turn on Filter spam calls if that option appears.
  4. If you use a Pixel and Filter spam calls is not shown, open Spam and Call Screen or Call Screen and enable automatic call screening.
Official Google guidance · Verified 2026-09-22
Android

Block private or unidentified callers

1 min

Automatically declines calls from numbers that do not provide caller ID.

Keep in mind: This can block legitimate callers who intentionally hide their number. It does not block ordinary unsaved numbers that still show caller ID.

Setup

  1. Open the Phone app.
  2. Tap More options, then Settings.
  3. Tap Blocked numbers.
  4. Turn on Unknown.
Official Google guidance · Verified 2026-09-22
Android

Turn on Google Messages spam protection

1 min

Detects suspected spam or scam messages and can hide them in the Spam & blocked folder.

Keep in mind: Legitimate messages can occasionally be classified as spam, so review the Spam & blocked folder if you are missing an expected message.

Setup

  1. Open Google Messages.
  2. Tap your profile picture or initials.
  3. Tap Messages settings, then Protection & Safety.
  4. Tap Spam protection.
  5. Turn on Enable spam protection.
Official Google guidance · Verified 2026-09-22
AT&T

Turn on AT&T ActiveArmor spam-call blocking

2 min

Uses AT&T's network and ActiveArmor controls to block, label, or route suspected spam calls.

Keep in mind: AT&T says the service may inadvertently block wanted calls. Sending calls to voicemail requires an active voice mailbox.

Setup

  1. Download or open the AT&T ActiveArmor app and complete the activation prompts.
  2. Open the Calls tab.
  3. Under call routing, set Spam calls to Block or Send to voicemail.
  4. Leave Fraud calls set to Block.
  5. Turn on Always allow contacts so saved contacts are not blocked or routed to voicemail.
Official AT&T guidance · Verified 2026-09-22
T-Mobile

Turn on T-Mobile Scam Block

1 min

Blocks calls T-Mobile identifies as Scam Likely at the network level before they reach your phone.

Keep in mind: T-Mobile warns that Scam Block may block calls you want. You can disable it at any time.

Setup

  1. From your T-Mobile phone, dial #662# and press Call.
  2. Follow the confirmation message to verify Scam Block is enabled.
  3. Alternatively, open T-Life, go to Scam Shield, and turn on Scam Block.
Official T-Mobile guidance · Verified 2026-09-22
Verizon

Turn on Verizon Call Filter free spam protection

3 min

Detects suspected spam and automatically forwards high-risk spam calls to voicemail.

Keep in mind: Verizon says spam detection can mislabel or block legitimate callers. Add important numbers to Contacts or Allowed Numbers.

Setup

  1. Open Verizon Protect or the Call Filter app, depending on which app Verizon shows for your device.
  2. Open Call Filter and choose the free spam-protection option if setup is required.
  3. Confirm activation and keep the Spam Filter enabled. Verizon's default blocks high-risk spam by sending it to voicemail.
  4. On iPhone, follow the setup prompt to enable Call Filter under Call Blocking & Identification in Phone settings.
  5. Review Allowed Numbers and add important callers if needed.
Official Verizon guidance · Verified 2026-09-22
T-Mobile

Send Potential Spam calls to voicemail

1 min

Routes T-Mobile calls labeled Potential Spam directly to voicemail instead of letting them ring.

Keep in mind: A legitimate solicitation or unfamiliar caller could be labeled Potential Spam and go to voicemail.

Setup

  1. Open the T-Life app.
  2. Open Scam Shield.
  3. Go to the Call section.
  4. Turn on Send potential spam to voicemail.
Official T-Mobile guidance · Verified 2026-09-22
Android

Allow calls and messages only from selected people

2 min

Uses Android Do Not Disturb or Modes to limit calls and messages to people you allow.

Keep in mind: This can silence legitimate callers and messages that are not on your allow list. Repeat-caller exceptions may also let some calls through.

Setup

  1. Open Settings on your Android phone.
  2. Open Modes, then choose Do Not Disturb. On some phones, this may appear under Notifications or Sound & vibration.
  3. Under Notification filters or allowed interruptions, open People.
  4. Choose which calls and messages are allowed.
  5. Limit allowed interruptions to your selected contacts or favorites.
  6. Turn on Do Not Disturb when you want contacts-only interruption control.
Official Google guidance · Verified 2026-09-22
Reporting and reference

Useful actions that do not affect your protection score

These steps are useful, but PhoneValla keeps them separate from scored protections so reporting knowledge does not inflate your score.

Android

Block and report a spam text in Google Messages

1 min

Blocks the sender, moves the conversation to Spam & blocked, and reports it to Google if you choose to report it.

Keep in mind: Google may receive information from the reported conversation to improve spam detection.

Setup

  1. Open Google Messages.
  2. Touch and hold the conversation you want to report.
  3. Tap Block.
  4. Tap Report spam, then tap OK.
Official Google guidance · Verified 2026-09-22
AT&T

Report spam texts to AT&T at 7726

1 min

AT&T asks customers to forward suspicious messages to 7726 (SPAM) so the carrier can investigate.

Keep in mind: Do not click links or reply to a suspicious message before reporting it.

Setup

  1. Keep the suspicious text on your phone.
  2. Forward the message to 7726, which spells SPAM on a phone keypad.
  3. Use your phone's built-in report-junk or report-spam option as well when available.
Official AT&T guidance · Verified 2026-09-22
Verizon

Report spam texts to Verizon at 7726

1 min

Forwarding spam to 7726 gives Verizon the message and sender information it needs to investigate.

Keep in mind: Do not click links or reply to a suspicious message.

Setup

  1. Do not open any links in the suspicious text.
  2. Forward the spam text to 7726.
  3. When Verizon replies, send the spammer's From address or phone number.
  4. Wait for Verizon's confirmation, then delete the suspicious message.
Official Verizon guidance · Verified 2026-09-22
T-Mobile

Report unwanted calls and spam texts to T-Mobile

1 min

Use Scam Shield in T-Life to report unwanted calls, and forward spam texts to 7726.

Keep in mind: Do not edit the spam message or add comments before forwarding it.

Setup

  1. For an unwanted call, open T-Life and use Scam Shield to report the call.
  2. For a suspicious text, forward the message to 7726 (SPAM).
  3. If your messaging app has no Forward option, copy the message text and paste it into a new message to 7726.
  4. T-Mobile will send a confirmation after a text report is received.
Official T-Mobile guidance · Verified 2026-09-22
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Related guides

Keep going

How to block and reduce spam calls on AndroidStep-by-step guide to Android caller ID, spam warnings, spam-call filtering and carrier tools for reducing unwanted calls.How to reduce spam and scam texts on AndroidLearn how Google Messages spam protection identifies suspicious messages, filters them and lets you block and report senders.