Apple’s Messages app not only lets you send text messages, it’s also great for communicating with other Apple users via iMessage, Apple’s free chat service. The unknown sender filter feature in the Messages app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac automatically sorts conversations.
The feature is mainly intended for calls from numbers that are not in your contact list or to which you have never responded. These conversations will automatically be moved to a separate section called ‘Unknown Senders’. This keeps your main inbox clutter-free, free of spam and unwanted messages, without you receiving notifications for this category.
Automatically filter unknown numbers
Available from iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and macOS Tahoe
The Messages app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac can screen messages from an unknown sender to determine who ends up in your conversation list. The function can be compared to blocking unknown and anonymous telephone calls. All messages from an unknown sender are kept silent by default as long as you do not open them, but verification codes are reported by default.
If you receive a message from an unknown sender, it will be placed in a separate folder. If you appear to know the person, you can mark the number as known. You can also ask the sender for more information or delete the number.
Enable unknown senders screen
- Open Settings
- Go to ‘Apps’
- Tap ‘Messages’
- Enable the ‘Screen unknown senders’ option
On a Mac, you can enable this option by opening the Messages app â–¸ menu bar â–¸ Messages â–¸ Settings.
Tap Allow Notifications to allow notifications of verification codes, for example. In addition, it is also recommended to enable the optional ‘Filter Spam’ function, which, for example, recognizes advertising and fake messages.
Spam and unknown senders can be found in the Messages app at the top of the conversation list behind the three horizontal lines.
Unknown numbers in group apps
Are you part of a group conversation and does it contain contacts that are not yet in your contact list? Then you can easily add them to your contacts directly from the group apps. Open the conversation and tap or click the group name at the top. View the list of members; For unknown numbers, an ‘Add contact’ button will appear so you can immediately add them to your contact list.