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, its calls and texts won't disturb you. 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 and tap the unwanted number in your list. Tap Menu (the three horizontal lines with three dots) below the number, then tap Block. Tap Block again to confirm your choice, and that number is now blocked. With Smart Call enabled, you can also use Block/Report number during or after a call to report spam.
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. Touch and hold the conversation, then tap More. Tap Block, then tap Block again to confirm. 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 More, select Block contact, and tap Block to confirm. 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-dot 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 and tap Add (the plus sign) to block it preemptively.
Turn On Samsung's Built-In Spam Protection
Your Galaxy S25 can use spam filtering powered by Hiya, though availability varies by carrier and model. To activate it, go to Phone app > More options > Settings > Caller ID and spam protection. Toggle the main switch on, review the terms of service and privacy policy, and tap Agree. I'd recommend also enabling the Block spam and scam calls option underneath it. Choose Block all spam and scam calls for all identified spam and scam calls, or Only block high-risk scam calls to allow less severe spam calls through.
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, you can block calls from numbers that aren't saved in your contacts or identified by Smart Call. Go back to Phone app > More options > Settings > Block numbers. Look for the toggle labeled Block calls from unknown numbers and turn it on. To prevent specific callers from leaving voicemail, contact your carrier directly.
What Actually Happens When You Block Someone
Blocking a number keeps its calls and text messages from disturbing you. You can review your blocked list in Samsung Messages under More options > Settings > Block numbers and spam. To allow a number again, open Phone app > More options > Settings > Block numbers and tap its red minus icon. If you also want to block voicemails from that caller, contact your carrier directly.
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.