Updated October 2026 · Written by the Who's Calling + SPAM Guard team.

How to stop spam calls on Android

You can't stop every spam call; scammers change numbers all the time. But a few settings, most of them already on your phone and free, will stop most of them reaching you. Work down this list from the quickest fix to the strongest.

1. Block a number that keeps calling

Google Phone app (Pixel and many other Android phones): open Recents, tap the number, then tap Block / report spam.

Samsung Galaxy: open Phone, tap Recents, tap the number, tap the information icon, then Block.

Reporting the number as spam as well helps warn other people.

2. Turn on your phone's spam filter

Google Phone app: open Phone, tap More options (three dots), then Settings, then Caller ID and spam. Turn on See caller ID & spam and Filter spam calls.

Samsung Galaxy: open Phone, tap More options (three dots), then Settings, then Caller ID and spam protection, and turn it on. Then turn on Block spam and scam calls and pick Block all spam and scam calls or Only block high-risk scam calls. Samsung says this may not be available on every carrier or model.

3. Block private and unknown numbers

Samsung Galaxy: open Phone, tap More options, then Settings, then Block numbers, and turn on Block unknown/private numbers.

Be careful: this also blocks the doctor's surgery, the school or a delivery driver if their number is hidden. If you can't afford to miss those calls, use screening (step 5) instead.

4. Ask your carrier

Most mobile carriers offer their own call blocking or spam labelling. Some is free and some costs extra, so check your carrier's website or app.

5. Screen unknown callers before you answer

Filters only stop numbers that are already known as spam. A new scam number, or a real caller with an unfamiliar number, still gets through. Screening fixes that: something answers the unknown number first and asks who it is.

Pixel phones: Google's free Call Screen is built into the Phone app. Google says automatic screening works in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the UK and the US.
Newest Samsung Galaxy flagships: Samsung added its own Call Screening with One UI 8.5, on the Galaxy S26 and coming to the S25 range, Z Fold7, Z Flip7 and TriFold. See every Samsung option.
Any Android phone: Who's Calling + SPAM Guard asks unknown callers who they are and why they're calling. You read their words live while your phone is still ringing, then answer, take a message, or block them.

✅ Works on Samsung, Motorola, Oppo, Pixel and other Android brands
✅ Contacts ring straight through as normal
✅ Callers who speak another language are translated into yours
✅ Caller audio is never recorded or stored
✅ No subscription. Try it for 10 minutes for 49¢ (US)

Get it on Google Play

6. If a scammer does get through

Hang up. Don't press any numbers, even to "opt out": that tells them your number works.
Never give codes, passwords or bank details to someone who called you. Call the company back on a number you find yourself.
Block and report the number (step 1).
In the US you can report unwanted calls to the FTC. Other countries have their own regulators.

FAQ

Why do I suddenly get so many spam calls?

Spammers dial numbers automatically and share lists of numbers that answer. Answering, or pressing a key during a robocall, can lead to more calls.

Does blocking unknown numbers stop real calls too?

Yes. "Block unknown/private numbers" blocks every hidden number, including real ones. Screening lets genuine callers tell you who they are instead.

Can I get call screening on a Samsung phone?

Samsung's own Call Screening came with One UI 8.5 on its newest flagships (Galaxy S26, and the S25 range, Z Fold7, Z Flip7 and TriFold). On other Galaxy phones, including most of the A series, you can use a screening app such as Who's Calling + SPAM Guard, which works on Android phones from any brand.

Is there a free way to stop spam calls on Android?

Yes. Blocking numbers, your phone's spam filter and blocking unknown numbers are all free and built in. Screening apps cost money, but some, like Who's Calling + SPAM Guard, have no subscription.

More guides

Sources: Android, "How to stop and block unwanted spam calls"; Google Phone app Help, "Use caller ID & spam protection" and "Screen your calls before you answer them"; Samsung Support, "Block spam calls with Smart Call on your Galaxy phone" and "How to block certain incoming calls on your Galaxy phone"; FTC, "How to block unwanted calls". SamMobile, "Galaxy S26 Call Screening explained". Facts checked October 2026.