How to Stop Spam Calls on Your Phone

The fastest way to stop spam calls is to turn on the spam filter that is already built into your phone. Then add your carrier's free blocking tool and put your number on the Do Not Call Registry. Those three steps will not end every call. They will stop most of them from ringing, and that is the part that drives people crazy.

Here is how to set each one up, plus what to do about the calls that still get through.

The Short Answer

On iPhone. Open Settings, tap Apps, then Phone. Turn on the spam filter under Call Filtering. Pick what happens with unknown callers.
On Android. Open the Phone app, tap the three dots, then Settings, then Caller ID and spam. Turn on Filter spam calls.
With your carrier. Most big carriers have a free spam blocking app or setting. Ask yours.
With the government. Add your number at donotcall.gov. It is free and never expires.
When one gets through. Do not answer, do not press a key, and report it.

Why Spam Calls Are So Hard to Stop

Most spam calls come from robocall systems that dial huge lists of numbers. Many of them fake the number on your screen. This is called spoofing. The call may look like it comes from your own area code, or even from a real company.

That is why blocking one number at a time feels useless. The next call comes from a new number. Filters work better because they look at patterns across millions of calls, not just one number.

It also helps to know that legal sales calls and scam calls are two different problems. The Do Not Call list fixes the first one. Filters and blockers deal with the second one.

First, Turn On Your Phone's Spam Filter

This is the biggest single step, and it costs nothing.

iPhone

Open Settings, then tap Apps, then Phone.
Scroll down to Call Filtering.
Turn on the spam filter. Calls that look like spam will be silenced.
Look for Screen Unknown Callers. You can pick Ask Reason for Calling, which asks the caller to say who they are before your phone rings. You can also pick Silence, which sends unknown numbers straight to voicemail.

Apple notes that call screening turns off for 24 hours after you call emergency services, so a call back from them gets through.

Android With the Google Phone App

Open the Phone app.
Tap the three dots in the corner, then Settings.
Tap Caller ID and spam.
Turn on See caller ID and spam, then turn on Filter spam calls.

Filtered calls do not ring, but they still show up in your call history. That way you can check if a real call got caught.

Phones from Samsung and others may use their own phone app. Look for a setting with a name like Caller ID and spam protection in the phone app's settings.

Next, Use Your Carrier's Free Tools

Your wireless carrier sees calls before they reach your phone. That makes it a good place to block them. The FTC suggests asking your carrier what it offers, since some tools are free and some cost extra.

Most big carriers have a free app or a free setting that labels or blocks likely spam. Open your carrier's app or call support and ask one plain question. "What do you have to block spam calls, and is it free?" Turn on the free tier first. Only pay for more if the free version is not enough.

Then Join the Do Not Call Registry

Go to donotcall.gov and add your number. You can also call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you want to add.

Here is what the FTC says about it.

It is free for home and cell numbers.
Your sign up never expires.
Your number shows on the list the next day, but sales calls can take up to 31 days to stop.
Some calls are still allowed, like political calls, charities, debt collectors, surveys and calls that only share information.
Companies you recently did business with may still call you.

Most important, the list does not stop scammers. Scammers break the law already, so they ignore it. The value is that once honest sales calls stop, almost every call that is left is junk. That makes them easy to ignore.

What to Do When a Spam Call Gets Through

Some calls will slip past every filter. When that happens, keep it simple.

Let it go to voicemail. A real caller will leave a message.
Do not press any key. A recording that says "press 1 to be removed" is often just checking that your line is live.
Do not say yes. Hang up if a caller asks "Can you hear me?" or any yes or no question.
Block and report the number. On both iPhone and Android you can tap the call in your history and block it or report it as spam. This helps the filters learn.
Report it to the FTC. If you lost no money, report at donotcall.gov. If you lost money or shared details, report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

When the Call Is a Scam

Some spam calls are trying to steal from you, not sell to you. Watch for these signs.

The caller says you owe money and must pay right now.
They ask you to pay with gift cards, a wire transfer, crypto or a payment app.
They ask you to read back a code that was just sent to your phone.
They claim to be from the IRS, Social Security, your bank or tech support.
A voice that sounds like a family member says they are in trouble.

Hang up and call the person or company back using a number you already trust. Never read a sign in code to anyone. Our guide to two-factor authentication explains why that code is the key to your account. If the voice sounds like your child or parent, our guide on how to spot an AI voice scam call walks through a simple family code word plan.

How to Stop Spam Texts

Spam texts follow the same rules, with one extra trick.

Forward the text to 7726. Those numbers spell SPAM. Your carrier uses these reports to block the sender. The FTC lists this as the way to report phishing texts.
Use the report button. iPhone has a Report Junk option for messages from unknown senders. Google Messages has a Report spam option.
Filter unknown senders. Both iPhone and Android can put texts from people not in your contacts in a separate list.
Do not reply. Even replying STOP to a scam text can confirm your number is real.
Do not tap links. A fake delivery notice or toll bill is one of the most common tricks.

Our guide on how to spot a phishing email covers the same tricks as they show up in your inbox. Newer phones also warn you about scam texts as you read them. We covered how a Pixel update brings scam detection into chats.

Why You Get So Many in the First Place

Your number gets on spam lists in a few common ways.

A company you used had a data breach, and your phone number was in it.
You entered your number on a contest, quiz or free offer form.
The number was used by someone else before you, and it is still on old lists.
You answered or pressed a key on a robocall, which marked your number as live.

You cannot pull your number back off those lists. You can stop giving it out where you do not have to. When a form asks for a phone number it does not need, leave it blank or skip the form.

Common Mistakes

Blocking numbers one by one and stopping there. It feels good but barely helps. Turn on the filter.
Paying for an app before trying the free tools. The built-in filter and your carrier's free tier handle most calls.
Answering to "tell them off." It only confirms the number works.
Expecting the Do Not Call list to stop scams. It is not built for that.

The Bottom Line

You will probably never get spam calls to zero. You can get them to a trickle. Turn on your phone's filter, add your carrier's free blocker, join the Do Not Call list, and let unknown numbers go to voicemail. When one gets through, hang up, block it and report it.

Keep Reading

Scammers change tactics all the time, and we track the big ones in our security news. Browse more plain tech advice, or read why a strong password still matters even when your phone is locked down.

Questions Readers Ask

Why am I suddenly getting so many spam calls?

Your number may have shown up in a data breach, a sign up form or a list that got sold. Answering or pressing a key on a robocall also tells the caller your line is live, which can bring more calls.

Does the Do Not Call Registry stop scam calls?

No. The FTC says the list tells real telemarketers who not to call, but scammers ignore it. It still cuts down on legal sales calls, which makes the rest easier to spot.

How long does the Do Not Call list take to work?

Your number shows on the list the next day, but the FTC says it can take up to 31 days for sales calls to stop. Your sign up never expires.

Is there a code I can dial to block all spam calls?

No. Some landline services have star codes that block one number at a time, but no code blocks every spam call. The filter in your phone and your carrier's tools do far more.

Should I answer a spam call to make it stop?

No. Let unknown numbers go to voicemail. A real caller will leave a message. Talking or pressing keys can confirm your number is active.

Will silencing unknown callers make me miss important calls?

It can, so think about who calls you. Doctors, delivery drivers and job leads often call from new numbers. If that worries you, use call screening, which asks the caller to say who they are first.

How do I stop spam texts?

Forward the text to 7726, which spells SPAM, then delete it. Use the Report Junk or Report spam option in your messages app. Never tap a link or reply STOP to a text you did not expect.