Does Auto Reject Block Text Messages on Android?

Co-authored by Hannah Madden

Last Updated: August 19, 2021 References

If you have an Android phone, you may have come across the auto reject feature in your settings. Auto reject automatically sends your unwanted calls to voicemail, which is a very handy feature when you’re busy or can’t pick up the phone. We’ve answered your questions about auto reject and how it relates to text messages so you can get rid of unwanted distractions and keep your phone free of clutter.

Question 1

Question 1 of 6:
Is auto rejecting the same as blocking?

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No, auto reject sends the call straight to voicemail. On the other hand, blocking someone means they can’t call you at all, and they also can’t leave you a voicemail. You can still call someone on your auto reject list, but you can’t call numbers that you’ve blocked. You might use auto reject if you want to get voicemails from someone, but you don’t want to answer their phone call.^{[1]
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- You’d use the block function if you were trying to stop a number from contacting you in any way.

Question 2

Question 2 of 6:
Can auto reject numbers text you?

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Yes, auto reject numbers can send you texts. Since auto reject is just a calling feature, any texts that the number sends you will still get sent to your phone. If you’d like to stop a number from texting you, you have to block the number on your phone.^{[2]
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Question 3

Question 3 of 6:
How can I block text messages I don’t want?

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Click the message you want to block, then tap the 3 dots in the corner. In your Messages app, open up the text from the number that you want to block. Navigate to the top right of the screen, and click on the 3 dots to open up the pop-up menu.^{[3]
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Select “Details,” then “Block and Report Spam". Reporting as spam is optional, but it can help your phone carrier identify which numbers are spam and which aren’t. If you don’t want to report the number as spam, uncheck the dialogue box in the pop-up. When you’re done, hit “OK” to block the number from texting you.^{[4]
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- To see all the numbers you’ve blocked, hit the 3 dots in the right hand corner of your Messaging app’s home screen. Then, tap, “Spam and Blocked.”

Question 4

Question 4 of 6:
What does reject calls with SMS mean?

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It means your phone will send a text to all rejected calls. You might use this feature if you want to tell someone you’re too busy to talk on the phone, but that you’ll call them back later. To set up this feature, open “Phone” from your home screen, then tap “Options” and “Settings.” Tap on “Quick Decline Messages,” then create your personalized message for declined calls.^{[5]
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- Not only will this send a text to auto rejected calls, it will also send a text to any calls you manually decline.

Question 5

Question 5 of 6:
How do I take someone off auto reject?

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Head to Settings > Call > Call Rejection > Auto reject list. When you see the number you’d like to take off the auto reject list, select and hold it. Then, tap the trashcan icon in the upper right to remove it from your auto reject list.^{[6]
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- If you want to take the number off the auto reject list without deleting it, simply uncheck the box next to it. That way, you can just check the box again to put the number back on the auto reject list.

Question 6

Question 6 of 6:
Is there an app to block texts?

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Yes; apps like Nomorobo and Robokiller block spam texts. These are the 2 most popular apps to block spam texts that you can download. If you tend to get a lot of text messages about spam promotions or phishing links, you can set up an app on your phone to block them. Download one of these apps, then allow them to enable filtering in your phone Settings.^{[7]
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- Your mobile carrier may also have their own app to filter out spam messages. If you aren’t sure, check out their website or call your provider.