Blacklist number

Thanks to Android smartphones, it’s faster and easier than ever to get in touch with family and friends. Not all calls are welcomed, though. Spammers, strangers, telemarketers, and other unwanted callers can get annoying. There’s a straightforward solution to stop specific callers — go ahead and block them! In this guide, we’ll teach you how to block a phone number from your Android device.

Some carriers make it simple!

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

Want to get rid of those annoying callers? Doing it from your phone works, but what if you switch handsets often? Maybe you want this done more systemically. Some U.S. carriers, including the four major ones [Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile], allow you to block specific numbers on a service level. Terms and conditions apply — check out exactly what the big four carriers offer via the links below.

Related: Find the right plan for your specific needs

How to block a phone number with different devices

Most Android phones nowadays have easy, native ways to block specific numbers. This wasn’t always the case, though, so many OEMs had to build the feature themselves. That means you’ll have to work a little harder to thwart those telemarketers, depending on your device.

Needless to say, we can’t go into detail about the necessary steps for blocking calls on every single phone out there. We can, however, show you how to block callers on most of the top Android devices.

How to block a phone number on stock Android

Robert Triggs / Android Authority

If you’re itching to block a phone number on a stock Android handset like the Pixel 5, you’ve come to the right place. Chances are most phones have a similar process, too, which is why we decided to cover these devices first. There are two ways to do this. Let’s go into them.

Method 1:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Go into Recents.
3. Long-press on the number you want to block.
4. Hit Block/report spam.
5. Check or uncheck the box that reads Report call as spam.
6. Select Block.

Method 2:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap on the 3-dot menu button on the top-right corner.
3. Pick Settings.
4. Select Blocked numbers.
5. Tap on Add a number.
6. Type in the number and hit Block.
7. Another good option is to use the Unknown setting right above, which blocks all unidentified callers.

Note: These instructions were generated using a Pixel 4a running Android 11. Steps might be slightly different depending on your device and software version.

Also read: These are the best Google products you can buy

How to block numbers on Samsung phones

Robert Triggs / Android Authority

Samsung continues to be the biggest smartphone maker in the industry, holding over 18% of the smartphone market share. There’s a good chance this is the right section for you. You can block a number either through the Contacts app or your Phone app. Here are the simple steps you’ll need:

Block in Contacts:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Locate the contact you intend to block.
3. Tap the More menu, located at the bottom right corner.
4. Hit the Block contact button.
5. Tap Block again to confirm.

Block in the Phone app:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap the 3-dot menu button.
3. Select Settings.
4. Now locate and tap the Block numbers section.
5. Choose Add phone number.
6. Once you type the phone number, press the + button to add it to your contacts.
7. You can also toggle on Block unknown/private numbers to get rid of all unknown callers.

Note: These instructions were generated using a Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus running Android 11. Steps might be slightly different depending on your device and software version.

Also read: The best Samsung smartphones around

How to block calls on LG phones

Now we’ll show you how to block a phone number if you own an LG phone. While there won’t be any new ones on the market, it’s important to know how to use the phone you’ve got. The process is similar to the other phone brands on this list, but there are slight differences.

Block from call history:

1. Open your Phone app and navigate to the Call history tab.
2. Tap on the i icon next to the number you want to block.
3. Press the 3-dot More button in the top right corner and select Block number.

Block from your dialer:

1. Open your phone app to the dialer screen.
2. Tap the 3-dot Menu button.
3. Go into Call settings.
4. Select the Call blocking & Decline with the message option.
5. Go into Blocked numbers.
6. Tap the + button.
7. Pick whether you want to block a number from Contacts, Recent calls, or New number.
8. Select or enter the number and follow instructions.

Note: These instructions were generated using an LG V60 ThinQ running Android 11. Steps might be slightly different depending on your device and software version.

How to block phone numbers on OnePlus phones

Robert Triggs / Android Authority

OnePlus is yet another popular choice for many people. It relies on the lightweight OxygenOS, which is very similar to stock Android.

Block from the Phone app:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Go into the Settings.
3. Tap Blocked numbers.
4. Hit Add a number.
5. Input the number and hit Block.

Note: These instructions were generated using a OnePlus 9 Pro running Android 11. Steps might be slightly different depending on your device and software version.

More: These are the best budget phones available

How to block calls on Huawei phones

Robert Triggs / Android Authority

Huawei may not be a big name in the U.S. due to a ban on the company, but it’s still a significant player. It’s doing great in various Asian markets, as well as in Europe. Blocking calls on Huawei and Honor phones is fast and easy, as it only requires a few taps.

The easiest method:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap the i button next to a contact/number.
3. Select the 3-dot More button.
4. Press Block contact.

Filter and block spam calls:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap the More button [shown by three dots].
3. Enter the Blocked tab.
4. Choose the Settings icon.
5. Touch the Call block rules button and toggle different switches to block and filter different calls.

Block calls from specific numbers:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap the More button.
3. Enter the Blocked tab.
4. Choose the Settings icon.
5. Now enter the Blocklist menu.
6. Hit the Plus icon to add phone numbers you wish to block.
7. You can also enter your contacts menu and block individual contacts with the More menu.

Note: These instructions were generated using a Huawei Mate 40 Pro running Android 10. Steps might be slightly different depending on your device and software version.

Third-party apps for blocking phone calls

If your Android phone doesn’t have an in-built call-blocking feature, or if it does but you find it lacking, you might be wondering how to block a phone number using another method. Thankfully, you can choose one from the many third-party call-blocking apps on the Google Play Store. Of particular note are Mr. Number, Call Blocker, and Calls Blacklist.

Next: Check out these security apps too!

Mr. Number

Mr. Number is a free and ad-free Android app that allows you to block unwanted calls and texts on your mobile phone. This app protects your phone from spam, allowing you to block calls from people and businesses.

You can block calls from individual numbers, an area code, and even an entire country. You can also block private and unknown numbers by sending them straight to voicemail and report spam calls to warn other people using the app. Download it via the link below if you want to give it a try.

Call Blocker

Call Blocker pretty much works the same as Mr. Number and other call blocking apps. It will block unwanted and spam calls and even comes with a Call Reminder feature that helps you identify unknown numbers.

There’s also a Whitelist available for storing numbers that can always reach you. Hit the button below to download it to your device.

Calls Blacklist

Last but not least on our list is the free but ad-supported Calls Blacklist, a straightforward app for keeping a list of contacts you don’t want to allow to contact your phone. An ad-free premium version is also available for about $2.

To block calls with Calls Blacklist, launch the app and add a contact number to the Blacklist tab. You can add a number via your Contacts, call logs, messages log, or add numbers manually. That’s it — contacts saved under Blacklist won’t be able to reach your Android phone anymore.