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Apple's Junk Message Reporting Now Covers SMS for Select U.S Carriers in iOS 16

With the second iOS 16 beta, Apple is expanding the built-in "Report Junk" feature in the Messages app to cover SMS/MMS messages, allowing spam messages to be reported to select carriers in the United States.

report junk message ios 16
If you long press on an SMS/MMS message in the Unknown Senders section of the Messages app in iOS 16, you can select the "Report Junk" option. Using this option lets you report a message as junk, sending it to Apple and Verizon and deleting the message.

"Report Junk" was previously available for iMessage, with junk iMessages able to be reported to Apple, but the new option also covers SMS/MMS messages and makes it easier to report spam directly to carriers.

Related Forum: iOS 16

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Top Rated Comments

52 months ago
Sounds a lot easier than having to forward the text to 7726 (SPAM) like I've been doing: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-report-spam-text-messages#report
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
52 months ago
Just took advantage of it! Carrier is Verizon, iOS 16 beta 2 - reported an SMS as junk immediately.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
senohpoxas88 Avatar
52 months ago
Do we know which carriers have this? It would be great to at least mention which of the big carriers have this
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sniffies Avatar
52 months ago
That's good news
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
52 months ago
Finally! Others and I have been part of awful group spam messages and hoping this will end it.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
52 months ago

All I really wanted to see out of this year's WWDC was some attention paid to the Phone app. It's embarrassing now how far they are lagging behind Google in terms of junk call protection.
You might see if your carrier has a junk call protection app on the App Store. I’m an AT&T user, and I find their Call Protect app to be at least mildly helpful.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)