Spam calls and unwanted messages are a daily nuisance, but your Samsung Galaxy S25 has several built-in tools to shut them down. Once you block a number, calls and texts from it are silently rejected. The process is straightforward, and I'll walk you through all the methods available on your device.
Block a Number Directly from Your Call Log
Open your Phone app and tap the Recents tab. Find the unwanted number in your list. You can either tap and hold on the entry or tap the small "i" icon next to it to see more details. From the menu that appears, select Block number. You'll usually see an option to also report it as spam, which helps improve the community filter. Confirm your choice, and that number is now blocked.
Block a Contact or Number from Your Messages
If you're getting spam texts, open the Samsung Messages app. Find the conversation from the number you want to block. Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of the screen. From there, select Block number or choose Details and then Block. This will prevent any future messages from that sender from appearing in your inbox.
You can also block someone directly from your Contacts list. Open the Contacts app, find the person, and open their contact card. Tap the three-dot menu again and select Block contact. This is useful if you want to block every phone number associated with that specific contact entry.
Manage Your Entire Blocked List
To see who you've blocked or to manually add a number, go to your Phone app's settings. Tap the three-line menu icon, then go to Settings > Block numbers. You'll see your complete list here. To unblock someone, just tap the red minus icon next to their number. This is also where you can type in a number to block it preemptively.
Turn On Samsung's Built-In Spam Protection
Your Galaxy S25 comes with powerful spam filtering powered by Hiya. To activate it, go to Phone app > Menu > Settings > Caller ID and spam protection. Toggle the main switch on. I'd recommend also enabling the Block spam and scam calls option underneath it. This will automatically reject calls identified as spam before your phone even rings.
The phone also has a feature called Smart Call. When it's enabled, your phone will show you the likely business name for incoming calls, even if they're not in your contacts. It works hand-in-hand with the spam protection to give you more context about who's calling.
Silence All Unknown Callers
If you want peace and quiet from any number not in your address book, you can block unknown callers entirely. Go back to Phone app > Settings > Block numbers. Look for the toggle labeled Block unknown/private numbers and turn it on. Calls from hidden or unsaved numbers will be sent directly to voicemail, so you won't be disturbed.
What Actually Happens When You Block Someone
When you block a number, the caller typically hears a busy signal or is routed straight to your voicemail, depending on your carrier. They won't receive any notification that they've been specifically blocked. Text messages from that number are deleted without you ever seeing them. On the Galaxy S25, blocked calls usually won't even show up as missed calls in your recent history.
Report Spam Texts to Your Carrier
You can help fight spam at the network level by reporting it. When you get a spam text, forward the message to 7726 (which spells "SPAM"). You'll get a confirmation message back from your carrier. This service works with most major US providers like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. It's a good habit that helps protect other people, too.
Consider a Dedicated Call-Blocking App
For the most aggressive filtering, you can install a third-party app. Truecaller and Hiya (which already powers part of Samsung's system) have massive, crowdsourced databases of spam numbers. You can download them from the Google Play Store or Galaxy Store. During setup, grant them the necessary permissions to screen your calls and identify unknown numbers automatically.
