Tired of spam calls? Here's how to block them on your Android and iOS phones.

MADRID (Portaltic/EP) - Android and iOS smartphone users can protect themselves from annoying calls and messages from unknown numbers, which, in addition to containing spam, can, in the most serious cases, be a scam.

The fight against telephone spam led the Government to recently ban commercial calls made from mobile numbers, as outlined in Order TDF/149/2025.

This Order also applies to calls and SMS messages from numbers that have not been assigned, allocated, or assigned to a service, operator, or customer, for example, numbers beginning with 3 or 4; and to calls and SMS messages from international sources that appear to have originated from a Spanish number. In both cases, it is the operators who must prohibit these communications.

Laws aside, Apple added "Call Screening" to iOS 26, a new feature that helps keep spam calls at bay. This new feature wasn't as important to Android users, who have had the same feature available for several years.

This is a topic that Google itself has allowed itself to parody, with a sketch in which an iPhone comments on the "crazy coincidence" that it ended up releasing features that the Pixel already had.

Regardless of which operating system had it first, the important thing is that both Android and iOS users can add a layer of protection against calls and messages from strangers.

AVOID SPAM CALLS

The Android Phone app on Pixel lists two features under the heading 'Call Assistance': 'Call Screening' and 'Caller ID & Spam'.

The 'Call Screen' works in the background, without the need for Wi-Fi or mobile data, to identify the person or company calling, so the user can know who it is and why before picking up.

This filter activates a digital voice—the user can choose between two—that introduces itself and asks the reason for the call when it detects a spam call, a possible fake number, or a first-time call.

On Pixel 6 and earlier models, the user can choose the type of calls they want to filter, while on Pixel 7 and later models, filtering is automatic.

Under 'Caller ID and Spam', there's the 'View Caller ID and Spam' option, which provides information about the phone number calling or the phone you want to call if you don't have it in your address book.

Also, "Filter spam calls," which blocks calls it detects as spam and silently logs them in the call history. These calls won't ring through or leave a voicemail, so the user won't know they've received them until they check their call history.

Additionally, in the 'Blocked Numbers' section, you can enable the option to block calls from unknown numbers.

While these settings are found on the Pixel, other Android phones require the Google Phone app installed, as manufacturers sometimes include their own app, although they often have similar functions.

On iOS, also in the Phone app, you can block unwanted calls from numbers not saved in your address book with the 'Silence Unknown Numbers' setting.

Just like on the Pixel, this feature prevents calls from ringing and simply adds them to the list, leaving the user unaware.

More recent is the 'Call Screening' feature, introduced with iOS 26. The system automatically answers calls from unknown numbers in the background to gather information about them and display it to the user before picking up.

AVOID SPAM MESSAGES

In the Messages app, you can also block unwanted messages. On Android, the "Protection and Security" settings allow you to activate "Spam Protection," which identifies content such as scams and phishing attempts.

This detection is done in real time, using machine learning models, and suspicious or dangerous messages are sent to a spam folder to prevent the user from viewing them. You can always check this folder later, which can be found in the Messages menu under "Spam & Blocked."

The iMessage app also has a similar feature, allowing you to filter messages from unknown numbers. These are moved to a separate "Unknown Senders" folder without the user being notified.