How to screen and filter text messages on iPhone

You can reduce the number of unwanted text messages you receive when you screen and filter messages from unknown senders and turn off business alerts.

Messages from unknown senders are filtered into another folder, so they can’t text you directly, and you don’t get notified. You can also set up additional spam filtering for unknown SMS, MMS, and RCS messages, and review the messages that were filtered. Filters cover promotions and transactions, too.

Screen and filter messages from unknown senders

You can stop unknown senders from texting you directly. Instead, their messages land in another folder, and you won’t get notified about them unless you want to be.

1. Open the Messages app on your iPhone.
2. In the conversation list, tap the Filter button and tap Manage Filtering.
3. Turn on Screen Unknown Senders.
4. To get notifications from some unknown senders—for example, for time-sensitive texts, like verification codes—tap Allow Notifications. Then turn on the categories you want to allow. (Options vary by country and region.)
5. To detect and filter SMS, MMS, and RCS messages from unknown senders into folders for Transactions and Promotions, tap the Back button, tap Text Message Filter. Then turn on Text Message Filter and any third-party message filtering extensions you may have installed.

Note: Filters cover promotions and transactions, plus anything your third-party message filtering extension offers. Text message filtering stops applying once you’ve replied to a sender three times or more. Try blocking or reporting those senders instead.

Review messages from unknown senders and mark them as known

At any time, you can review messages filtered to the Unknown Senders folder. If a sender turns out to be legitimate, mark them as known or add them to Contacts. Their messages then move into your conversation list, and you can open links and view any blurred images they’ve sent.

1. Open the Messages app on your iPhone.
2. In the conversation list, tap the Filter button and tap Unknown Senders.
3. Do any of the following:
   • Tap the message from the sender whose messages you want to see in your conversation list, then tap Mark as Known.
   • Tap the sender’s email address or phone number at the top of the conversation, then tap Create New Contact.

Any future messages from a sender are filtered to Unknown Senders until you mark them as known or add them as a contact.

Turn off business alerts

Some businesses send alerts and updates about your orders and other transactions, but you can turn them off.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap Apps, then tap Messages.
3. Turn off any of the following:
   • RCS Business Messages: Tap RCS Messaging, then turn RCS Business Messages off. (Availability varies by carrier and country.)
   • Apple Messages for Business: Tap Messages for Business and turn Business Updates off.

You can also report spam messages when you receive them.

Quick tip: To prevent unwanted messages, you can also allow messages only from your contacts with Screen Time.