How to Stop Robocalls and Spam Texts for Good
If it feels like your phone rings ten times a day with numbers you don't recognize — you're not imagining it. Americans receive billions of robocalls every month, and spam texts aren't far behind. The good news is that your phone already has built-in tools to fight back, and a few free steps can cut the noise dramatically. Here's exactly what to do.
First: Register with the Do Not Call list
The Federal Trade Commission runs the National Do Not Call Registry — a free service that tells telemarketers to leave you alone. It won't stop every call (scammers ignore it), but it does reduce legitimate sales calls.
- Go to donotcall.gov on your phone or computer.
- Enter your phone number and email address, then click "Register."
- You'll get a confirmation email — click the link inside to finish.
- It can take up to 31 days to kick in fully.
If you'd rather do it by phone, call 1-888-382-1222 from the number you want to register. It's free and takes about two minutes.
Silence unknown callers on your iPhone
iPhones have a setting that sends calls from numbers not in your contacts straight to voicemail — without even making your phone ring. It's called "Silence Unknown Callers."
- Open the Settings app (the grey gear icon).
- Scroll down and tap Phone.
- Scroll down and tap Silence Unknown Callers.
- Flip the switch to green (on).
Unknown callers still go to voicemail, so you won't miss a legitimate message. Calls from numbers already in your contacts or from recent calls you've made will still ring normally.
Filter spam calls on Android
Android phones handle this slightly differently depending on the brand (Samsung, Google Pixel, Motorola, etc.), but the built-in Phone app on most Android devices can screen calls for you.
- Open the Phone app.
- Tap the three dots (⋮) in the top-right corner, then tap Settings.
- Look for Spam and Call Screen, Caller ID & Spam, or Block numbers — the name varies by phone.
- Turn on Filter spam calls or Verified Calls.
If you don't see these options, your carrier may offer a free spam-filtering app — AT&T has "Call Protect," Verizon has "Call Filter," and T-Mobile has "Scam Shield." Search your carrier's name plus "spam blocking" in the App Store or Google Play to find yours.
What to do about spam texts
Spam texts are trickier because they often come from different numbers each time. The most effective steps are:
- Never reply — even replying "STOP" can confirm your number is active and invite more messages.
- Never tap any link — this is how scammers steal information. Delete the message and move on.
- Report it: Forward the spam text to 7726 (that spells SPAM). All four major carriers accept this and use it to improve their filters — it takes seconds.
- Block the number: On iPhone, tap the number at the top of the message thread, then tap Block this Caller. On Android, press and hold the message, then choose Block.
Free apps that do the blocking for you
If you'd like an extra layer of protection, two free apps are highly rated and widely trusted:
- RoboKiller — answers robocalls with funny recordings to waste scammers' time and blocks them automatically. (Free trial, then a small annual fee.)
- Nomorobo — straightforward blocking with a clean interface. Free for landlines, low-cost for mobile.
Your carrier's own app (mentioned above) is often the easiest place to start — and it's free.
A few numbers worth saving in your contacts
Save these as contacts named something like "SCAM — Do Not Answer" so your phone shows the label when they call back:
- Any number you've received a suspicious call from
- Numbers that only ring once and hang up
- Numbers that called claiming to be "Social Security" or "Medicare" — neither agency makes unsolicited phone calls
Taking these steps — especially "Silence Unknown Callers" or the Android spam filter — makes an immediate difference. You deserve a phone that's a tool for keeping in touch, not a source of daily stress.