/ How to

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus – How to Block Calls

The Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus are excellent smartphones, but like any phone, you may get unwanted calls. Thankfully, these devices have great built-in tools to block calls. In this guide, I’ll show you several methods to block calls on your Galaxy S9 or S9 Plus.

Using the Phone App

The easiest way to block calls is directly in the Phone app. Here’s how:

  1. Open the Phone app
  2. Tap More Options (three vertical dots) > Settings
  3. Tap “Block numbers”
  4. Tap the plus icon to add a number to block
  5. Enter the phone number
  6. Tap “Block” to confirm

You can view all blocked numbers under the Block numbers setting. Tap the minus icon next to a number to unblock it.

The Phone app also has an option to block all unknown or private callers. Enable this if you want to automatically block calls without caller ID.

Using Smart Call

The Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus have a Smart Call feature powered by Hiya. When enabled, it will automatically block calls detected as spam without ringing your phone.

To enable it:

  1. Open the Phone app
  2. Tap More options > Settings
  3. Tap “Caller ID and spam protection”
  4. Toggle on Smart Call

With Smart Call enabled, you’ll see options to block or report numbers when you receive calls. This trains the blocking algorithm over time.

Using Carrier Services

Most carriers offer call blocking services. For example, AT&T offers Call Protect and Verizon offers Call Filter. Check with your carrier to see if they have an app to download.

These services maintain constantly updated block lists based on spam reports. They can automatically block or label suspicious calls.

Using Third-Party Apps

If your carrier doesn’t offer call blocking or you want more advanced tools, try a third-party app. Some top options:

  • Hiya: Powerful spam detection and reverse phone lookups
  • RoboKiller: Answers and wastes robot callers’ time
  • Truecaller: Crowdsourced spam numbers database
  • Mr. Number: Blocks spammers and identifies unknown calls

These apps provide extra layers of protection beyond your phone’s tools. Many offer free and paid tiers with different feature sets.

Tips for Managing Blocked Calls

  • Check your block lists occasionally to ensure you haven’t blocked any important contacts
  • Disable Smart Call or other auto-blocking features if you find important calls getting blocked
  • When manually blocking numbers, add the full 10-digit number for best results
  • Try not to block full area codes or exchanges unless necessary as you may block legitimate local businesses

Stop Unwanted Calls on the Galaxy S9

Between built-in options, carrier services, and third-party apps, you have all the tools needed to stop unwanted calls. Try different solutions to find what works for your needs. With a good blocking strategy, you can eliminate almost all spam and robocalls.

I have over 5 years of experience as a mobile technology writer. I hope this guide gives you a great starting point for blocking calls on your Samsung Galaxy S9 or S9 Plus. Let me know if you have any other questions!

Related Posts