How to block spam texts from a whole area code on iPhone

You block a spam number, and an hour later the same text arrives from a number that's almost identical: same area code, same next three digits, different last four. Political campaigns and spammers send from big blocks of numbers, so blocking them one at a time never ends.

iPhone can't block a whole area code or number range by itself. Here's what it can do, and how to cover the rest.

1. What iPhone can do on its own

Block one number. In Messages, open the conversation, tap the sender at the top, then Block Caller. It stops that exact number only.
Report it. Under a text from someone who isn't in your Contacts, tap Report Junk. It deletes the text and sends it to Apple (and in some places, your carrier).
Screen unknown senders. In Settings → Apps → Messages → Unknown Senders, turn on Screen Unknown Senders. Texts from numbers you don't know go to a separate list instead of your main inbox, and don't alert you.

Screening helps, but it treats every unknown number the same: your dentist's reminder and a campaign blast end up in the same place. And blocking one number does nothing about the next number in the block.

2. Filter the whole range

iPhone lets a text-filter app sort texts from unknown senders. That's how you can send a whole block of numbers, like (555) 123-0000 to (555) 123-9999, or a whole area code, straight to Spam.

We make one called SMS Range Filter. You type one number from the spam and tap Filter all of (555) 123-XXXX, which covers all 10,000 numbers in that block. You can also filter an entire area code, a whole country (or every country but yours), or keywords like "chip in" or "donate". Matching texts go to the Spam list in Messages, with no sound or notification.

Install SMS Range Filter from the App Store and add a range or area code.
Open Settings → Apps → Messages → Unknown Senders.
Tap Text Message Filter and choose SMS Range Filter.

It's free for 3 ranges or countries and 3 keywords; unlimited is $2.99 once, with no subscription. Everything runs on your iPhone, and nothing is sent to us.

Good to know

Texts from people in your Contacts are never filtered, so add anyone you need to hear from in that area code.
Filter apps only see SMS and MMS texts (green bubbles) from unknown senders. iPhone doesn't let them see iMessages.
Filtered texts aren't deleted: iPhone doesn't allow that. You can still look through the Spam list if you're expecting something.