Getting a spam call or an unwanted text on your Samsung Galaxy A36 is frustrating, but you have several built-in tools to stop it. Blocking a number is a quick process that prevents that caller from reaching you again. I'll walk you through all the different ways to do it directly from your phone.
Block a Number from Your Call Log
This is usually the fastest method. Open your Phone app and tap the Recents tab at the bottom. Find the number you want to block in your call history. Tap and hold on the entry until a menu pops up, then select Block number. Confirm your choice, and that number will be added to your blocked list.
Block a Number from a Text Message
If the spam is coming via SMS, open the Messages app. Find the conversation with the unwanted number and open it. Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner, then select Block number from the list. You can also tap Details first and then choose Block & report spam.
This option both blocks the sender and reports the number to help improve spam detection for everyone. You won't receive any future messages from them.
Block a Contact from Your Address Book
To block someone you already have saved, open the Contacts app. Find and tap on the person's name to open their contact card. Tap the three-dot menu in the top corner and select Block contact. This will block all phone numbers associated with that contact entry.
Manage Your Blocked List
You can view and edit all the numbers you've blocked. Go to your Phone app, tap the three-line menu, and go to Settings. From there, tap Block numbers. You'll see your complete list.
To unblock someone, simply tap the minus icon next to their number. You can also manually add a number to the blocked list from this screen by tapping Add phone number at the top.
Turn On Samsung's Spam Protection
Your Galaxy A36 has powerful built-in spam filtering. Go to Phone app > Menu > Settings > Caller ID and spam protection. Make sure the main toggle is switched on.
This enables Samsung's Smart Call feature, which identifies unknown businesses and flags suspected spam calls. You can also toggle on Block spam and scam calls to have the phone automatically reject calls it's certain are spam.
Silence Calls from Unknown Numbers
If you only want to hear from people in your contacts, you can block all unidentified callers. Go to Phone app > Settings > Block numbers. On this screen, toggle on Block unknown/private numbers.
Calls from numbers not saved in your contacts will be silenced and sent to voicemail. They can still leave a message, so you won't miss anything important from a new doctor's office or delivery person.
What Actually Happens When You Block Someone
For the person you block, their experience depends on your carrier. Typically, their calls will go straight to your voicemail without your phone ever ringing. They won't receive a notification that they've been blocked.
Text messages from a blocked number are silently deleted. You won't see them, and they won't create a notification. On the Galaxy A36, calls from blocked numbers usually won't even appear in your recent call log, keeping it clean.
Report Spam Texts to Your Carrier
You can help fight spam at the network level. When you get a spam text, you can forward it to 7726 (which spells "SPAM"). Just tap and hold the message, select Forward, and send it to that number.
You'll get an automated reply asking for the sender's phone number. Reply with that number to complete the report. This service works with major carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile.
Consider a Dedicated Call-Blocking App
For even more control, apps like Truecaller or Hiya (which powers Samsung's own service) are available on the Play Store. These apps maintain massive, community-updated databases of spam numbers.
They can identify callers who aren't in your contacts and provide more granular blocking options. During setup, the app will ask for permission to manage your calls, which you'll need to grant for it to work.
