How to Stop Spam Calls on Android: 9 Free Fixes (2026)

Last updated: November 10, 2026. By Veer. Checked against Google, Samsung and Motorola support pages, US and UK regulators and carrier sites. This is a researched how-to guide built from official documentation; we haven’t run our own call-blocking experiment.

Android doesn’t have one spam setting; it has two. Pixels, Motorolas and many other Android phones use Google’s Phone app, while Samsung Galaxy phones use Samsung’s own dialer with different menu names. Here’s how to stop spam calls on Android on either kind of phone, plus the carrier and opt-out steps that work on all of them.

How do I stop spam calls on my Android phone?

Turn on your Phone app’s spam filter, set up call screening if your phone has it, block repeat numbers and let your carrier filter calls on the network. The FCC says phone companies block “billions of unwanted calls” each year, and many offer extra blocking through an app or service (FCC).

First, find out which Phone app you have. In its Settings, if you see Caller ID and spam (or Spam and Call Screen), it’s Phone by Google. If you see Caller ID and spam protection and Block numbers, it’s Samsung’s.

How do I filter spam calls with Phone by Google?

Open the Phone app, tap More options > Settings > Caller ID and spam, keep See caller ID & spam on and turn on Filter spam calls. Google says caller ID and spam protection is on by default. With Filter spam calls on, suspected spam doesn’t ring and you get no missed-call or voicemail notification, but the calls still appear in your call history (Google Phone app Help).

Two details matter:

• Phones with automatic Call Screen don’t show this toggle. On a Pixel 6 or newer, spam blocking lives inside Call Screen, and Google says the old filter is equivalent to its Basic protection level.
• It sends some numbers to Google. When someone outside your contacts calls, that number goes to Google to look up a business name or check for spam.

If a real caller gets flagged, open the call and tap Not spam.

How do I set up Call Screen on a Google Pixel?

Open the Phone app, tap More options > Settings > Spam and Call Screen > Call Screen, and pick a protection level. Google’s Call Assist then answers suspected spam or unknown callers, asks who’s calling and why, and hangs up on calls it judges to be spam. Real callers make your phone ring, and you see a transcript of what they said (Google Phone app Help).

Google offers automatic Call Screen on Pixel phones in the US, UK, Canada, Ireland and Australia, with Maximum, Medium and Basic protection levels. On a Pixel 7 or newer, you can choose to screen spam, possibly faked numbers and first-time callers automatically. Manual Call Screen, where you tap Screen call as the phone rings, also works on selected non-Pixel Android phones in the US and Canada.

Keep these limits in mind: Google says contacts are never screened, so save the numbers you care about. Call Screen won’t screen automatically while you’re roaming, doesn’t catch every robocall, and shouldn’t be used with call forwarding because screened calls aren’t forwarded. Transcripts stay on the phone and aren’t saved to your Google Account.

How do I stop spam calls on a Samsung Galaxy?

Open the Phone app, tap More options > Settings > Caller ID and spam protection, turn it on, agree to the terms, then turn on Block spam and scam calls. You can pick Block all spam and scam calls or Only block high-risk scam calls. The second option lets lower-risk sales spam ring (Samsung Support).

Samsung calls this feature Smart Call and says it “may not be available on all carriers or models.” If the menu is missing, update your phone in Settings > Software update.

Newer Galaxy phones add two layers:

• Call screening. On Galaxy phones running Android 16 with One UI 8.5 or later, go to Settings > Call screening and turn on Auto screen calls. Galaxy AI answers, asks the caller who they are and why, and shows a live transcript (Samsung Support). Samsung UK says auto screening can cover suspected spam, phishing or unknown calls (Samsung UK). Samsung notes standard call rates may apply.
• Scam detection. Also on One UI 8.5 or later, this AI feature watches calls for scam patterns and alerts you with a tone or vibration.

Can I block all unknown numbers on Android?

Yes, but it’s a blunt tool. On a Samsung Galaxy, go to Settings > Block numbers and turn on Block calls from unknown numbers, which blocks callers that aren’t saved in your contacts or identified by Smart Call (Samsung Support). Phone apps from Google and Motorola offer a narrower version under Settings > Blocked numbers that blocks private or unidentified callers (Motorola Support).

The catch is that you’ll miss the pharmacy and the delivery driver. Call screening is gentler because real callers can still get through.

How do I block a number that keeps calling?

Open Recents, tap the call and choose Block (or Block / report spam). On Phone by Google, you can also report the number as spam at the same time, which Google says helps stop more calls from that number (Google Phone app Help). On a Galaxy, tap the number in Recents, open the menu below it and tap Block (Samsung Support).

Be realistic, though: most spam uses spoofed, changing numbers, so one block rarely stops a campaign. Samsung also says blocking voicemails from specific callers has to go through your carrier.

Does my carrier block spam calls for free?

Yes, all three big US carriers include free spam call protection on Android, with paid upgrades. The free tiers label and block the worst calls on the network before they reach your phone.

Sources: Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T. Prices checked November 10, 2026.

In the UK, Ofcom says most smartphones let you block numbers and that your provider “may offer additional call blocking services, though they may charge you a fee” (Ofcom). Ask your network what it includes.

Does the Do Not Call Registry stop spam calls?

It cuts legitimate telemarketing, but it won’t stop scammers. In the US, register your mobile free at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222 from that phone (FCC). USA.gov says legitimate sales calls should stop within 31 days, and charities and companies you’ve done business with can still call (USA.gov).

In the UK, register free with the Telephone Preference Service at tpsonline.org.uk, by calling 0345 070 0707, or by texting “TPS” and your email address to 85095 (Citizens Advice). TPS can take up to 28 days to work, won’t stop scam calls, and is never paid: anyone charging for it is a scammer.

How do I report spam calls?

In the US, report unwanted calls to the FTC; in the UK, text “Call” and the number to 7726. USA.gov points people to the FTC for robocall and telemarketing complaints (USA.gov). Reporting inside the Phone app helps label numbers for other people too.

Report Fraud’s UK method is free: copy the number, text Call followed by the number to 7726, and your network can investigate and block it (Report Fraud). Report nuisance marketing calls to the ICO. Don’t call unknown numbers back, especially UK numbers starting 070, 076, 084, 087, 090, 091 or 118, which Ofcom warns can be premium-rate (Ofcom).

Gave a caller details? Call your bank on its official number (159 in the UK) (Mobile UK), read whether SMS two-factor is safe if they got a code, and check how to tell if your phone is hacked.

Why am I getting so many spam calls?

Usually because your number has been sold, leaked or guessed by data brokers and breaches. Our guide to removing your personal information from the internet covers the free opt-outs. Spam texts usually come with the calls, so see how to stop spam texts on Android too.

Keep your phone updated too; our Android November 2026 security update guide explains what’s rolling out now.

Verdict

To stop spam calls on Android, the switch that matters most depends on your phone. On a Pixel, set up automatic Call Screen. On a Samsung Galaxy, turn on Block spam and scam calls, plus Call screening if you have One UI 8.5. On other Android phones using Phone by Google, turn on Filter spam calls. Add your carrier’s free filter, register with Do Not Call or TPS, and report what still gets through. Most people don’t need a paid blocker app. Got an iPhone in the house? Our iPhone spam calls guide covers Apple’s settings.

FAQ

How do I stop spam calls on Android for free?

Open the Phone app, tap the three dots and Settings. On Phone by Google, turn on Filter spam calls under Caller ID and spam, or set up Call Screen on a Pixel. On a Samsung Galaxy, turn on Block spam and scam calls under Caller ID and spam protection. Then turn on your carrier’s free filter and register with Do Not Call (US) or TPS (UK).

Why don’t I see Filter spam calls on my Pixel?

Pixels with automatic Call Screen don’t show the Filter spam calls toggle. Google says spam blocking is part of Call Screen instead, and on a Pixel 6 or newer the old filter equals the Basic protection level.

How do I stop spam calls on Android without blocking numbers?

Use call screening. Call Screen on a Pixel or Call screening on a Galaxy with One UI 8.5 asks unknown callers who they are and why, so real callers can still reach you while robocalls usually hang up.

Does Samsung have a spam call filter?

Yes. Samsung’s Smart Call feature is under Phone > Settings > Caller ID and spam protection. Turn on Block spam and scam calls and choose to block all spam and scam calls or only high-risk scam calls.

How do I report a scam call in the UK?

Text the word Call followed by the scam number to 7726. It’s free, and your mobile network can investigate and block the number. If you lost money, report it to Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

Sources checked November 10, 2026: Google Phone app Help, Samsung Support (US and UK), Motorola Support, FCC, USA.gov, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, Ofcom, the ICO, Citizens Advice, Report Fraud and Mobile UK. We haven’t tested call-blocking apps for this guide.