Spam calls and unwanted texts are a modern nuisance, but your Sony Xperia 1 VI running Android 14 has the tools to shut them down. Blocking a number is a straightforward process that prevents all calls and messages from that contact from ever reaching you. I'd start with the method that's most convenient based on where you're seeing the unwanted contact.
Block a Number from Your Call Log
Open the Phone app on your Xperia 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" or "Block/report spam." Confirm your choice, and that number will be added to your blocked list immediately.
Block a Contact from Within a Text Conversation
If the spam is coming via SMS, open the Messages app and find the thread. Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner of the screen. From the menu, select "Details" to view the contact information. On the details screen, you should see an option labeled "Block & report spam" or simply "Block number." Tapping this will silence that sender for good.
Block Someone Directly from Your Contacts List
For people already in your address book, open the Contacts app. Find and tap on the contact's name to open their full card. Look for a three-dot menu button, often in the top-right corner, and tap it. You should see an option like "Block" or "Block numbers." Selecting this will block every phone number associated with that contact.
Manage Your Entire Blocked List
To see who you've blocked or to unblock someone, go to your Phone app's settings. Tap the three-dot menu in the Phone app, then go to Settings > Blocked numbers. You'll see a complete list. To remove a number, just tap the "X" or "Unblock" button next to it. You can also manually add numbers to this list by tapping "Add a number."
Turn On Google's Spam Protection
Your Xperia uses Google's Phone app by default, which includes excellent spam filtering. To enable it, go to Phone > Settings > Caller ID & spam. Here, toggle on both "See caller and spam ID" and "Filter spam calls." With this on, calls from numbers Google identifies as spam will be automatically rejected or will show a clear "Suspected spam caller" warning on your screen.
Silence Calls from Unknown Numbers
If you're getting a lot of calls from numbers not in your contacts, you can block them all at once. Go to Phone > Settings > Blocked numbers and look for a toggle labeled "Unknown" or "Block calls from unknown callers." Be aware this is a broad filter. Doctors, delivery people, or anyone not saved in your phone will be sent to voicemail, but they can still leave a message if needed.
What Actually Happens When You Block a Number
When you block someone, their calls are typically redirected to voicemail after a single ring, so it's not obvious they've been blocked. Any text messages they send are silently discarded and never appear in your Messages app. They won't receive any notification that they've been blocked, which is usually the preferred outcome.
Block Unwanted Email Senders in Gmail
For spam coming to your Gmail account, open the email in the Gmail app on your Xperia. Tap the three-dot menu at the top of the email and select "Block [sender's name]." All future emails from that address will go straight to your Spam folder. You can manage your blocked email list later in Gmail's settings under "Blocked addresses."
Consider a Dedicated Call-Blocking App
For the most aggressive defense, apps like Truecaller can be installed from the Google Play Store. These apps use massive, crowdsourced databases to identify and block spam calls before your phone even rings. They often provide caller ID for numbers not in your contacts, which can be helpful. Just follow the app's setup to grant the necessary permissions for system-wide filtering.