Block calls on Android

How to block spam calls on Android

The short answer

For automatic blocking, turn on your phone’s spam protection: on Pixel and other Google Phone app phones, More > Settings > Spam and Call Screen (or Filter spam calls); on Samsung, Phone > ⋮ > Settings > Caller ID and spam protection > Block spam and scam calls. To block one number, tap it in your call history and choose Block.

Checked on Google Phone app (Android 17) and Samsung One UI 8.5/9, October 2026 · Updated October 18, 2026

Google Phone app > Settings (simplified; labels vary a little by app version)

Time: 2 minutes
Cost: Free
Works on: Google Phone, Samsung
Blocks: Known spam, hidden numbers

Block spam automatically (Google Phone app)

Pixel and phones using the Google Phone app

Suspected spam is declined or silenced before your phone rings.

Open Phone > More (⋮) > Settings.
1. Phone
2. More (⋮)
3. Settings
On Pixel, tap Spam and Call Screen and choose a protection level: even Basic declines known spam.
1. Settings
2. Spam and Call Screen
3. Protection level
On other phones, tap Caller ID and spam and turn on Filter spam calls.
1. Settings
2. Caller ID and spam
3. Filter spam calls

Block spam automatically (Samsung Galaxy)

Samsung Phone app, One UI 8.5 and later

Samsung’s spam protection can block all spam and scam calls, or only the high-risk ones.

Open Phone > More options (⋮) > Settings > Caller ID and spam protection, and turn it on.
1. Phone
2. ⋮
3. Settings
4. Caller ID and spam protection
Tap Block spam and scam calls and choose Block all spam and scam calls or Only block high-risk scam calls.
1. Caller ID and spam protection
2. Block spam and scam calls

Block one number

For a number that keeps calling.

Google Phone app: open your call history, tap the call, then Block or Report spam. Your block list is in Settings > Blocked numbers.
1. Phone
2. Call history
3. Block
Samsung: in Recents, tap the number, then the menu and Block. Or add numbers in Settings > Block numbers.
1. Phone
2. ⋮
3. Settings
4. Block numbers

Block hidden and private numbers

Calls that hide their caller ID are rarely ones you want.

Google Phone app: Settings > Blocked numbers > turn on Unknown.
1. Phone
2. Settings
3. Blocked numbers
4. Unknown
Samsung: Settings > Block numbers > turn on Block calls from unknown numbers.
1. Phone
2. Settings
3. Block numbers
4. Block calls from unknown numbers

Beyond this setting

What else helps

Screen instead of block

Blocking stops one number. Screening asks every unknown caller who they are, which handles new numbers too.

Turn on Call Screen →

Carrier blocking

Your carrier can block fraud calls on its network for free, before they reach your phone.

Carrier steps →

Got a specific number?

Check who’s been reporting it

See how often people reported a number to the FTC, what the calls were about, and what to do, at isthisnumberascam.com.

Questions

What people ask

How do I block all spam calls on Android?

Turn on your phone’s spam protection (Call Screen or Filter spam calls in the Google Phone app, or Block spam and scam calls on Samsung) and your carrier’s free filter. That blocks known spam; nothing blocks every spam call.

Can blocked callers leave voicemail on Android?

In the Google Phone app, blocked callers can’t leave voicemail if visual voicemail is on. On Samsung, ask your carrier to block voicemails from a number.

How do I block private numbers on Android?

Google Phone app: Settings > Blocked numbers > Unknown. Samsung: Settings > Block numbers > Block calls from unknown numbers.

Sources

Checked against

Every step is checked against the official instructions. Menus change with updates; tell us if one has moved.