You can block text messages that you don’t want in iOS. Prior to iOS 9, you could block a text message directly in the details of the message within the Messages app. Now, you have to add the number you want to block to your contacts and then block that contact in the Settings app. Here’s how to do that.

Step 1:

To add a phone number in the Messages app to your contacts, open the conversation for that phone number and tap the phone number or the person icon at the top of the screen.

Step 2:

Then, tap Create New Contact.

Step 3:

The phone number is automatically added to the Phone field. Enter a name and/or company for the contact and then tap Done to finish creating the contact.

Step 4:

The new contact is created. Next, you’ll block text messages from this contact.

Step 5:

To block text messages from the contact you just added, tap the Settings icon on the Home screen.

Step 6:

Tap Messages on the Settings screen.

Step 7:

On the Messages screen, scroll down and tap Blocked.

Step 8:

Then, tap Add New on the Blocked screen.

Step 9:

Type the name of the new contact you created in the search box and then tap on the contact in the results.

Step 10:

The new contact is added to the list of Blocked contacts for the Messages app.

You will no longer receive text messages from this phone number. That does not guarantee you will not receive any more text messages from that contact. They may use different numbers to text you, so you might have to repeat this procedure for every phone number they use. However, you can add the additional phone numbers to the existing contact you created. To do this, tap Add to Existing Contact instead of Create New Contact after tapping on the phone number or person icon at the top of the conversation screen.

If you want to block text messages and phone calls from a specific number, you do not need to add the phone number as a contact. You can block the phone number in the Phone app directly. If the phone number is only messaging you and not calling, the procedure detailed here becomes necessary.

What do you think of this new method of blocking text messages? Let us know in the comments.