Are you sick of getting calls or messages from you ex or some person you’d rather not waste your time with? Windows Phone 8 and 8.1 allows you to block incoming calls and SMS messages from people you don’t want to hear from. Here’s how to set it up to start blocking.
Block Phone Numbers on Windows Phone 8.1
To block a number go to System > Settings and scroll down and tap Call+SMS filter. Then agree to the service terms and privacy policy.
Once you have it turned on, instead of annoyingly typing in numbers, just go to your recent call history. Long tap the number you want to block and then select “Block Number from the pop up menu.
It also allows you to create a Live Tile and notify you when a person you blocked tires to call or message you.
Once you have this set up – no more calls and drunk texts from your ex or annoying calls from someone trying to get money from you.
Are you an Windows Phone user? What is your take on the new mobile 8.1 update? Leave a comment below and let us know!
16 Comments
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Greg Duncan
I wonder if that’s a Lumia or Provider feature only? I’ve got a Verizon HTC 8X with WP8.1 on it and my System page looks very different that yours… (i.e. doesn’t have a Call + SMS Filter, nor many of the other items your showing, for example “Display” for me is called “Brightness”, etc…)
Somnath Dey
If I want to restrict all calls instead of only the number which I know it would be very useful, because there are certain numbers like many companies call to sell their certain products etc. disturbs me very much but since I don’t know their numbers from before I couldn’t block those numbers from before. Like other os platforms they had a call blacklist & whitelist option but Nokia is missing this particular feature from the very first. That’s the thing that I want from the Microsoft’s 8.1 update. That’s it.
wheelsey_4
Are you sick of getting unwanted calls or messages from your ex…LOL. Is the Pope Catholic? Damn, Brian, where were you 23 years ago. Thanks
Brian Burgess
Well, if you get a number of someone you don’t need bugging you anymore, you just go to the call history list and delete it. Of course I have never needed it from all of my wonderful ex’s … but it could be done :)
Jim
Even if you block someone they can still leave you a voice message because Windows phones suck. It may not ring with this little stupid process listed above and yet they can still leave a voice message so this blocking feature is a joke. Real phones have the ability to block a call and text message and that also means they can’t leave a message.
Pigman
Thank you Jim,
You are absolutely correct on the fact that the caller can still leave voice-mail.
So if you ask me, the call is NOT BLOCKED…
Is there an app out there that can do what Microsoft cannot do?
Steve
I don’t have that feature on this BLU “Bold Like Us” Win Phone Os 8.10.14203.306 (latest operating system) Didn’t see any apps that can block calls? Does Bill Gates have a Windows Phone? My previous Android Os had apps to lookup and block numbers.
Kevin
Same here. I have a Blu Win HD 5 and it doesn’t have this filter either. It has to be a Nokia Lumia only function. Bummer. I had an Android prior to purchasing this Windows phone. Wished I had done so. But my goal was with Windows 10 around the corner, I could truly sync all my devices seamlessly. Yeah right, we shall see.
Mihai
Hey all,
I have an issue and I need your advice. I enabled call + SMS filter but I ended up in the following situation. My bank offers me a service that let me know any money moves from my account. The ugly thing is that the phone started to block these SMS messages, despite the act the number is stored in my phone and it is not in the blocked list.
I tries to click on “trust” button in the “blocked SMS” hoping that the SMS will not be locked anymore, but the behavior is still the same.
Does anyone can help me?
Thanks,
Mihai
Bob
I have the same problem. Did you find a solution?
Ch
Rakesh
I have not even any option about “call+sms” to block any specific contact on my windows mobile 8.1. I need an advice with appreciate apps if there is any. Please…..
Bill Jordan
Have an HTC 8XT with latest OS version update (8.10.14203.306). I have to agree with commenter Greg Duncan (July 9, 2014) that they settings screens you show do not remotely even look like the ones on my phone. So where is this “call + SMS filter” actually reside? Would be nice to know.
SREE
HOW CAN I BLOCK ONE NUMBER IN MY WINDOWS PHONE, ITS NOT SHOWING THE OPTION ‘BLOCK THE NUMBER’?
thabani
My Lumia doesn’t want to block number it says I cant block this number try again
Kathy
No call + sms filter on my 8.1
Steve
call+SMS filter missing, can we hack the bluwin and add it? Not seeing any app in the windows-store (WAF).
Another Amazing Microsoft Product!, didn’t anyone suggest the call blocking feature during the “NO”-Brain-storming Session. When this product (OS) was conceived?
I understand this device is actually running JAVA!. At one time kiddies, Microsoft NT installer agreement had a disclaimer: Not responsible for JAVA killing you… in it’s terms. This is when MS was competing with JAVA by Sun, for total word domination.