Phone, Messages, and FaceTime
Filter Unknown Senders
Most people call this separating messages from people you do not know.
Messages from numbers not in your contacts are moved to a separate list and do not generate a notification.
This setting is present on your iPhone.
- We have this path on file but have not yet confirmed it against an official source.
Where to find it - iOS 18 and later
- Settings
- Apps
- Messages
- Unknown & Spam
What it does
The Messages list gains filter tabs. Unknown senders, and on newer releases transactions and promotions, are separated out. Nothing is deleted, and you can read the other lists whenever you like.
What changes
When it is on
Messages are sorted into lists and unknown senders are silent.
When it is off
Everything arrives in one list with notifications.
Should you turn it on?
Good reasons to turn it on
- Real conversations stop being buried.
- Scam messages arrive silently.
Good reasons to turn it off
- A verification code you are waiting for arrives without a notification.
- Remembering to check the other tab takes habit.
Battery
No real change
Privacy
Helps
Performance
No real change
Cellular data
No real change
Storage
No real change
Out of the box: Off.
Worth reading first
Where this setting used to live
Apple moves settings between releases. This is every location we have on file.
-
iOS 18 and later
Settings > Apps > Messages > Unknown & Spam
-
iOS 13 to iOS 17
Settings > Messages > Filter Unknown Senders
Questions people actually ask
- Where did my verification code go?
- Filter Unknown Senders is probably on. Check the Unknown Senders tab in Messages.
If it is not working
- If a code has not arrived, check the unknown senders tab.
- Adding someone to Contacts moves their conversation back to the main list.