When Apple was released iOS 26 in September 2025, the update included a call test a feature that blocks your spam calls The iPhone. The update also includes a feature that can scan texts from unknown senders to keep your inbox spam free.
If this feature is enabled, those messages will be sorted into their own folder in Messages without changing them. Once these messages are in their folders, you can look through them at your own pace to make sure you don’t miss anything important, or you can delete them without a second thought.
Here’s how to enable the new text scanning features on your iPhone in a few easy steps.
How to block spam and messages from unknown senders
This feature is enabled by default when I upgrade to iOS 26, but here’s how to ensure that spam texts and messages from unknown senders are filtered on your device.
1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Applications.
3. Tap Messages.
Under Unknown Senders, you’ll see toggles to enable Screen Unknown Senders again Filter Spam.
You don’t need Text Message Filter to be turned on to filter out spam and messages from unknown senders.
It gives strength Screen Unknown Senders it can filter any messages from unknown number. So, it might filter out a message from a family member who just got a new phone number, or a message asking for feedback about services. For example, my wife and I requested a city service, and after the service was completed, the city sent me a message asking for a response. But since the message was from an unknown sender, it was filtered out of my inbox.
According to Apple, if you enable it Filter SpamYour device’s optical filters will also hide spam in your inbox. My iPhone has marked a few messages that look like scams as spam and sent them to its folder. Messages in the spam folder are automatically deleted after 90 days.
That message from the Department of Taxation seems serious. I hope I’m not in trouble.
My device also said that messages from unknown senders may also be marked as spam and sent to your spam folder. It’s a good idea to check folders periodically in case a non-spam message comes in, but I’ve never had that issue.
Where to find spam and unknown sender folders
If your iPhone is filtering messages from unknown senders and spam, you can find them in Messages. To see these messages, go to Messages and tap the inverted pyramid icon in the upper right corner of the screen. This will open a new menu showing you different folders for each filter, including Unknown Senders, Transactions and Spam. Tap on any of these to see filtered messages.
The new filters in Messages are a great way to keep your inbox clean and free of spam.
If the message is filtered to Spam but not, you can long press on the message to see the option Remove from Spam. And if you want to move a message from Unknown Senders to your main mailbox, press the message and click Mark as Known near the bottom of the conversation. Then your iPhone will ask you to add the sender to your Contacts.
These filters are great, though. I haven’t had to move messages from Spam or Unknown Senders once, so you may not need to delete them.
For more iOS news, here’s what you need to know iOS 26.3.1 again iOS 26.3. You can also check our iOS 26 cheat sheet for more tips and tricks.
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