Block Spam Texts from Email on iPhone

If your iPhone keeps getting spam texts that come from email addresses (like newsletter@spam.com) instead of phone numbers, you can stop them with a built-in filter. This guide shows you how to block those email-to-text messages, either by filtering them into a separate folder or by blocking specific senders entirely. You only need your iPhone running iOS 13 or later—no extra apps required.

What You’ll Need

• An iPhone with iOS 13 or newer (check in Settings > General > About)
• Your Apple ID password (to change iMessage settings if needed)
• About 2 minutes of time

Step-by-Step

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone. It’s the gray gear icon on your home screen.
2. Tap Messages (usually the third or fourth item in the settings list).
3. Scroll down to the “Message Filtering” section and tap Unknown & Spam.
4. Turn on the switch next to “Filter Unknown Senders”. This moves messages from people not in your Contacts (including email addresses) into a separate “Unknown Senders” list in the Messages app. It doesn’t delete them—it just keeps them out of your main inbox.
5. Go back to the Messages settings and tap Blocked (under the “Message Filtering” section).
6. Tap “Add New…” at the top of the Blocked list.
7. Type the exact email address that’s sending you spam (for example, spam@example.com). You can also pick a phone number from your contacts if the spam is coming from a number.
8. Tap the contact or email address when it appears in the list. The sender is now blocked—they can’t send you iMessages or text messages anymore.
9. Repeat steps 6–8 for each spam email address you want to block. You can also block a domain (like @spam.com) by entering just the domain part, but note that this only works if you type it exactly as it appears in the sender field.

Common Mistakes

• Blocking the wrong thing: If you block a phone number instead of the email address, the spam won’t stop. Always check the sender line in the message—if it shows an email address, block that email, not the number.
• Forgetting to turn on the filter: The “Filter Unknown Senders” option is what actually separates email spam from your main thread list. If you only block a few senders, new spam from other addresses will still appear normally.
• Typing the email wrong: The block list is case-sensitive and must match exactly. If you type Spam@Example.com but the sender uses spam@example.com, it won’t block them.
• Expecting the filter to delete messages: Filtering doesn’t delete anything. You’ll still see them in the “Unknown Senders” folder—you just won’t get a notification.

Tips

• Use the filter first, then block: Turn on “Filter Unknown Senders” before you start blocking individual addresses. This way, most spam disappears from your main list immediately, and you can block the worst offenders one by one.
• Block the domain: If you’re getting spam from many different addresses on the same domain (like @spam.com), you can block just the domain by typing @spam.com in the “Add New” field. This blocks all senders from that domain.
• Report spam to Apple: When you open a message from an unknown sender, tap the “Report Junk” link at the bottom of the message. This helps Apple improve their filters and can reduce future spam.
• Check your blocked list regularly: Sometimes legitimate emails (like a confirmation from a service you signed up for) get caught in the filter. Check the “Unknown Senders” folder periodically to make sure you’re not missing important messages.
• Use a third-party spam filter app (optional): If you’re still getting flooded, apps like Hiya or RoboKiller can add an extra layer of filtering, but they require a subscription and access to your messages.

Troubleshooting

I turned on the filter, but spam still appears in my main inbox.
This can happen if the sender is in your Contacts, or if the message is sent as a group message. The filter only applies to individual messages from unknown senders. To fix it, check if the sender is saved in your contacts—if so, delete that contact or block the email directly. For group messages, you’ll need to block each sender individually.

Blocking an email address doesn’t seem to work.
First, double-check the exact spelling. Then, try restarting your iPhone (hold the side button and volume up/down until the slider appears, then slide to power off). If it still doesn’t work, the sender might be using a different email address each time—use the domain block method instead.

I can’t find the “Unknown & Spam” option.
This setting is only available if you have iMessage enabled. Go to Settings > Messages and make sure the iMessage toggle is on (green). If it’s off, turn it on and wait a few seconds—the option should appear.

I blocked a sender, but I still get notifications from them.
Blocking prevents the message from being delivered to your phone, but if the sender uses a different email or number, you’ll still see it. Also, check that you’re blocking the exact sender—if the message comes from a phone number, you need to block that number, not an email.

After updating iOS, my blocked list is gone.
This is rare but can happen after a major update. Go to Settings > Messages > Blocked and re-add the senders. To avoid this in the future, back up your iPhone before updating.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will blocking an email address also block that person from calling me?
A: No. Blocking in Messages only affects text and iMessage. If you want to block calls too, you need to add the email to your Contacts, then block the contact in Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts.

Q: Can I block all emails from sending me texts at once?
A: There’s no global setting to block all email-to-text messages. The best you can do is turn on “Filter Unknown Senders” to keep them out of your main inbox, and block specific domains as needed.

Q: Will the sender know they’re blocked?
A: Usually not. They’ll see their message as “Delivered” (for iMessage) or “Sent” (for SMS), but you won’t receive it. Some third-party apps may show a different status, but Apple doesn’t notify the sender.

Q: Does this also block spam from phone numbers?
A: Yes, the “Filter Unknown Senders” feature works for both email and phone numbers not in your contacts. Blocking a specific phone number also works the same way as blocking an email.

Q: I blocked a domain, but I’m still getting messages from it. Why?
A: The domain block only works if the sender’s email address exactly matches what you typed. If they’re using a subdomain (like mail.spam.com) or a different spelling, it won’t match. Try blocking the full email address instead.

Q: Can I recover a message that was filtered as spam?
A: Yes. Open the Messages app, tap “Filters” in the top-left corner, then tap “Unknown Senders.” You’ll see all filtered messages. Tap the one you want and it will open normally. If you want to move it to your main inbox, tap the sender’s name at the top and select “Add to Contacts.”

Related

• Change Microsoft Account Email: Step-by-Step
• Recover Unsaved Word Documents on iPad: Full Guide
• Hidden Folders in macOS: Show, Create, Use