How to block calls, SMS, MMS and private numbers on Android
It is not that difficult to ignore incoming calls or messages on your phone. While that is the case, there may be situations where you may receive a lot of calls or SMS from a single person or group of people.
It is still possible to ignore those for the most part but it may require more work on your part. Since you do not know in advance if the message or call is important, you have to check your phone every time you receive one to make sure it is not.
BlackList is an application for Google Android that helps you take care of these things automatically. Its main purpose is to block calls or messages automatically based on a list of phone numbers that you want to block. That's however not all there is to it, as it provides you with additional features that you may find useful.
Block private numbers, calls, SMS and MMS
It is for instance possible to to block private numbers automatically, or all numbers that are not in the contact list. This can be really useful if you receive calls that suppress the number, for instance if someone is stalking you or trying to get on your nerves.
BlackList provides you with a set of options on how to handle private numbers and numbers that are not in the address book:
- Turn off ringer and block SMS.
- End call and block SMS.
- Turn off ringer only.
- End call only.
- Block SMS only.
- Do not block.
The application logs calls and SMS automatically which may be useful if you want to report harassment to the police.
Blocking private numbers and calls from contacts who are not in the address book is just one of the features of the application.
It is furthermore possible to add any number of caller ID to the blacklist, and even use regular expressions to match specific patterns.
The application makes available call and text message log, as well as the phone's list of contacts so that you can select a desired action for any number listed here comfortably.
BlackList's global control may be useful as well. You can use it to turn the apps' protection on or off, block all calls without exception, or to block all numbers but those that you have explicitly permitted.
That is still not all there is to it. The text filter provides you with options to block text messages based on words or phrases they contain.
The general settings list another feature: the ability to pick up calls and then hang up immediately afterwards. This has been integrated to prevent calls from going to voicemail. It needs to be enabled though as it is disabled by default.
There is also a scheduler that you can configure to turn the app on and off.
Video
Verdict
BlackList is worth a shot if you want to limit who can call you or send you text or multimedia messages. It is rather difficult to navigate, and a more streamlined approach would do wonders here. What some users may also not like are the ads displayed, but that can be resolved by purchasing the pro version of the application.
Make sure you go through the list of access requirements during installation. The author of the app has not explained why the app requires access to some, like the ability to modify or delete contents of your USB storage or to directly call phone numbers.
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Uhh, this has already been possible – I am not sure how but remember my brother telling me about it. I’m not a whatsapp user so not sure of the specifics, but something about sending the image as a file and somehow bypassing the default compression settings that are applied to inbound photos.
He has also used this to share movies to whatsapp groups, and files 1Gb+.
Like I said, I never used whatsapp, but I know 100% this isn’t a “brand new feature”, my brother literally showed me him doing it, like… 5 months ago?
Martin, what happened to those: 12 Comments (https://www.ghacks.net/chatgpt-gets-schooled-by-princeton-university/#comments). Is there a specific justifiable reason why they were deleted?
Hmm, it looks like the gHacks website database is faulty, and not populating threads with their relevant cosponsoring posts.
The page on ghacks this is on represents the best of why it has become so worthless, fill of click-bait junk that it’s about to be deleted from my ‘daily reads’.
It’s really like “Press Release as re-written by some d*ck for clicks…poorly.” And the subjects are laughable. Can’t wait for “How to search for files on Windows”.
> The page on ghacks this is on represents the best of why it has become so worthless, fill of click-bait junk…
Sadly, I have to agree.
Only Martin and Ashwin are worth subscribing to.
Especially Emre Çitak and Shaun are the worst ones.
If ghacks.net intended “Clickbait”, it would mark the end of Ghacks Technology News.
Ghacks doesn’t need crappy clickbaits. Clearly separate articles from newer authors (perhaps AIs and external sales person or external advertising man) as just “Advertisements”!
We, the subscribers of Ghacks, urge Martin to make a decision.
because nevermore wants to “monetize” on every aspect of human life…
“Threads” is like the Walmart of Social Media.
How hard can it be to clone a twitter version of that as well? They’re slow.
Yes, why not mention how large the HD files can be?
Why, not mention what version of WhatsApp is needed?
These omissions make the article feel so bare. If not complete.
Sorry posted on the wrong page.
such a long article for such a simple matter. Worthless article ! waste of time
I already do this by attaching them via the ‘Document’ option.
I don’t know what’s going on here at Ghacks but it’s obvious that something is broken, comments are being mixed whatever the article, I am unable to find some of my later posts neither. :S
Quoting the article,
“As users gain popularity, the value of their tokens may increase, allowing investors to reap rewards.”
Besides, beyond the thrill and privacy risks or not, the point is to know how you gain popularity, be it on social sites as everywhere in life. Is it by being authentic, by remaining faithful to ourselves or is it to have this particular skill which is to understand what a majority likes, just like politicians, those who’d deny to the maximum extent compatible with their ideological partnership, in order to grab as many of the voters they can?
I see the very concept of this Friend.tech as unhealthy, propagating what is already an increasing flaw : the quest for fame. I won’t be the only one to count himself out, definitely.
@John G. is right : my comment was posted on [https://www.ghacks.net/2023/08/23/what-is-friend-tech/] and it appears there but as well here at [https://www.ghacks.net/2023/07/08/how-to-follow-everyone-on-threads/]
This has been lasting for several days. Fix it or at least provide some explanations if you don’t mind.
> Google Chrome is following in Safari’s footsteps by introducing a new feature that allows users to move the Chrome address bar to the bottom of the screen, enhancing user accessibility and interaction.
Firefox did this long before Safari.
Basically they’ll do anything except fair royalties.