Getting spam calls or unwanted messages on your Galaxy Tab S9 can be a real nuisance, especially when you're trying to work or relax. The good news is that Samsung's One UI gives you several straightforward ways to block these interruptions directly from your tablet's phone and messaging apps.
Block a Number from Your Call Log
Open the Phone app on your Tab S9 and tap the Recents tab at the bottom. Find the problematic number in your list. Tap and hold on the entry until a menu pops up, then select Block number. You'll be asked to confirm, and after that, calls from that number will be silently rejected.
Block Someone from a Text Conversation
If the spam is coming via text, open the Messages app. Find and open the conversation with the number you want to block. Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner, then choose Block number from the list. This will immediately stop any future messages from that sender from appearing in your inbox.
Block a Contact from Your Address Book
For blocking someone you've saved, open the Contacts app. Find and tap on the contact's name to open their details page. Tap the three-dot menu button again, usually at the top, and select Block contact. This method blocks every phone number you have saved for that person, which is useful if they try calling from different lines.
Review or Remove Numbers You've Blocked
To see everyone you've blocked or to unblock someone, go to your Phone app and tap the three-line menu button. Go to Settings > Block numbers. You'll see your complete blocked list here. To unblock a number, just tap the minus (-) icon next to it. You can also add numbers to the block list manually from this screen.
Turn On Built-In Spam Protection
Samsung partners with Hiya to provide caller ID and spam filtering. To enable it, go to Phone app > Menu > Settings > Caller ID and spam protection. Toggle the switch on. With this enabled, your Tab S9 will warn you about suspected spam calls as they come in. You can often enable an option to automatically block these calls outright.
Silence All Unknown Callers
If you only want to receive calls from people in your contacts, you can block everyone else. Head back to Phone app > Settings > Block numbers. Look for and toggle on the option for Block unknown/private numbers. Calls from numbers not in your address book will be sent to voicemail, and you won't get a notification.
What Actually Happens When You Block
When you block a number on your Galaxy Tab S9, what the caller experiences depends on your carrier. Typically, they'll hear a few rings and then be sent to your voicemail, or they might get a busy signal. They won't receive any notification that they've been specifically blocked. On your end, their texts disappear and their calls won't show up 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 entire message to 7726 (which spells "SPAM"). You'll usually get a reply from your carrier asking for the sender's number. This service works with major carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
Consider a Dedicated Call Blocker App
For even more powerful filtering, you can install an app from the Google Play Store. Truecaller is a popular choice that maintains a massive, community-updated database of spam numbers. After installing, it can identify unknown callers and block spam automatically, giving you an extra layer of control over who gets through.
