How to block and unblock a number on your Android phone

It's not a stretch to say that the modern smartphone is one of humanity's greatest inventions; there's so much packed into that pocket-friendly supercomputer. But even the greatest of inventions has its cons. For smartphones, one of those bitter cons is unwanted calls.

With all the benefits, convenience and interconnectedness smartphones allow you to enjoy, unfortunately, they also allow scammers, spammers and all sorts of annoying people to conveniently connect with you either through texts or, worse, constant calls. Thankfully, you can easily block unwanted callers on your Android phone. Android is a vast ecosystem, so the exact process for blocking numbers may differ based on your Android device. But for the majority of Android phones, the Phone or Contacts app is the first step in blocking those annoying scam texts. And if you ever change your mind about a number you banished to the block list, you can also unblock it right from the Phone or Contacts app.

If you're using a Samsung phone, there are two ways you can block calls from unwanted people: with the Contacts app and with the Phone app for numbers that aren't saved.

Using the Contacts app:

1. Open the Contacts app

2. Select the contact you want to block

3. Tap More

4. Tap Block contact

5. Confirm the block

Using the Phone app:

1. Open the Phone app

2. Find and copy the number you want to block

3. Tap More (three dots) at the top corner

4. Select Settings

5. Tap Block numbers

6. Tap Add phone number and paste or type the number you want to block

7. Tap the plus sign

If the number called you recently, then you can easily block it from the Recents section in the Phone app. Navigate to the number you want to block and tap Details > More Options > Block number.

Blocking a number on a Pixel phone or a device running stock Android is just as straightforward:

1. Open your Phone app

2. Select More (three dots)

3. Tap Call history

4. Tap a call from the number you want to block

5. Tap Block/report spam

Once you do this, anytime the number tries to call you, your Android phone will automatically decline it before it even rings or pops up on your screen, and texts will usually be filtered into a blocked or spam folder. Do note that blocking a number is handled by your device, not your carrier. So, if you move your SIM to a different device, you'll likely have to block the number again. 

Unblocking a number follows a similar process. To unblock a contact on the Samsung Contacts app, simply:

1. Open the Contacts app

2. Select the contact you want to unblock

3. Tap More options (three dots)

4. Select Unblock contact

If you're using the Phone app:

1. Open the Phone app

2. Select More (three dots)

3. Tap Settings

4. Select Block numbers

5. Then tap the (-) beside the number you want to unblock

For the Google Pixel and stock Android users:

1. Open the Phone app

2. Tap More (three dots)

3. Select Settings

4. Then Blocked numbers

5. Tap Clear (x) next to the number to unblock it

As soon as you unblock the number, it'll be able to call and text you like normal. Do note that any calls sent from the number during the block period won't get added to your call logs, so that stays forever lost.