Spam calls are a universal headache, but your Google Pixel 10 has some of the best built-in tools to fight back. With Android 15 and Google's smart features, you can block numbers individually, filter out suspected spam automatically, and even have your Assistant screen calls for you. It's all about taking back control of your phone.
Block a Number from Your Recent Calls List
Open the Phone app and tap on the Recents tab. Find the spam number in your list and tap on it to see more details. On the call details screen, you'll see an option to Block & report spam. Tap it, confirm your choice, and that number is now blocked from calling or texting you.
This is usually the fastest way to deal with a number that just called you. The process is straightforward and takes just a few seconds. Once blocked, future calls from that number will be silently sent to voicemail.
Block Someone Directly from a Text Conversation
If the spam is coming through SMS, open the Google Messages app. Find the conversation with the unwanted number and tap on it to open. Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner and select Details.
On the conversation details page, you'll find the Block & report spam option. Tapping this will block the number and report the conversation to Google's spam detection system, which helps improve filters for everyone. The conversation will be moved to your Spam & blocked folder.
Block a Contact from Your Address Book
To block someone you have saved as a contact, open your Contacts app. Find and select the person you want to block. On their contact card, tap the three-dot menu button in the top corner.
Select Block numbers from the menu. You'll be given a list of all the phone numbers associated with that contact. You can choose to block all of them or select specific ones. This is a clean way to handle unwanted calls from people you know without having to delete their contact info entirely.
Manage Your Entire Blocked List
To see who you've blocked or to manually add a number to the list, go to your Phone app's settings. Tap the three-dot menu, then go to Settings > Blocked numbers.
Here you'll see every number you've blocked. You can tap the Add a number field at the top to block a new number manually. To unblock someone, just tap the X next to their number. It's a good idea to review this list every so often to clean it up.
Turn On Automatic Spam Call Filtering
Your Pixel 10 can automatically identify and block spam calls before they even ring. Go to Phone > Settings > Caller ID & spam. Make sure the toggle for See caller and spam ID is on.
Right below that, turn on Filter spam calls. With this enabled, calls that Google's system identifies as spam will be automatically declined. You won't see them ring, but you can find them later in your call history if you want to check.
Use Call Screen for Suspicious Calls
This is a standout Pixel feature. When a call comes in from a number not in your contacts, you'll see a Screen call button. Tap it, and Google Assistant answers the call for you.
You get a live transcript of what the caller is saying. You can then choose to answer the call if it's important, mark it as spam to help improve the system, or simply hang up. It's a brilliant way to avoid robocalls and telemarketers without missing a potentially important call.
Silence Calls from Unknown Numbers
If you want to go a step further, you can silence all calls from numbers not in your contacts. This is different from the spam filter. Go back to Phone > Settings > Blocked numbers.
Look for the option labeled Unknown or Block calls from unknown callers and toggle it on. When enabled, these calls won't ring your phone, but they can still leave a voicemail. I'd recommend this if you're getting a high volume of spam and don't expect legitimate calls from new numbers.
What Actually Happens When You Block a Number
When you block a number on your Pixel, the caller is typically redirected to voicemail after one ring, or they might hear a busy signal depending on your carrier. They aren't notified that they've been blocked.
For text messages, it's even more seamless. Any SMS or MMS from a blocked number is simply discarded. It won't appear in your Messages app at all, not even in the spam folder. The system handles it quietly in the background.
Deal with Spam Emails in Gmail
Since your Pixel is tied to your Google account, managing email spam is easy too. In the Gmail app, open a spam email. Tap the three-dot menu at the top and select Block [sender's name].
This moves all future emails from that sender directly to your Spam folder. For more malicious emails, use Report phishing instead, which alerts Google's security team. You can manage your list of blocked email addresses in Gmail's settings under the Blocked addresses section.
Consider a Third-Party Call Blocker App
For the ultimate defense, you can install an app from the Play Store that specializes in call blocking. Apps like Truecaller have massive, crowdsourced databases of spam numbers that update constantly.
After installing, the app will ask for permission to manage your calls. Once granted, it can identify and block spam in real-time using its global database. These apps often provide caller ID for businesses and individuals that aren't in your contacts, giving you more context before you answer.
