--- title: How to Block Unwanted Messages from a Specific Number description: Block unwanted text messages easily! Follow these steps to stop messages from specific numbers and learn about business number limitations. --- [Skip to content](https://help.matador.ai/how-to-block-unwanted-text-messages-from-specific-numbers#main-content) [Submit a Ticket](https://help.matador.ai/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) [![Frame 2147235144](https://help.matador.ai/hs-fs/hubfs/Frame%202147235144.png?width=200&height=46&name=Frame%202147235144.png)](https://app.matador.ai?hsLang=en) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Submit a Ticket](https://help.matador.ai/kb-tickets/new) - [Go to Matador.ai](https://matador.ai/) [Go to Matador.ai](https://matador.ai/?hsLang=en) Hey! How can we help? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Help Center](https://help.matador.ai/?hsLang=en) 2. [Using Matador](https://help.matador.ai/using-matador?hsLang=en) # How to Block Unwanted Messages from a Specific Number ## Blocking stops a conversation coming back to your inbox and stops anything going out to it. Here is how it works, and how it differs from an opt-out. Matador has a built-in block. If a number keeps messaging your store and you want it out of your inbox for good, you do not need to involve your phone carrier or ask support to do it for you. ##### ❗BLOCKING IS NOT THE SAME AS AN OPT-OUT 😢 When a **customer** replies STOP they are opted out. You can no longer send them anything, which is a legal requirement, but their next incoming message still reopens the conversation in your inbox. Your team gets notified about a conversation they are not allowed to answer. 😊 Blocking closes that loop. A blocked conversation is archived and stays archived, even when the person messages or calls again. Use an **opt-out** when a customer asks to stop hearing **from you**. Use a **block** when you want the conversation itself to **stop coming back**. ##### HOW TO BLOCK SOMEONE WHO IS *ALREADY* MESSAGING YOU 1\. Open the conversation. 2\. Choose Block. ![](https://help.matador.ai/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Oct-09-2026-10-12-30-3486-AM.png?width=346&height=292&name=image-png-Oct-09-2026-10-12-30-3486-AM.png) The Block button is available on conversations in your inbox and on conversations already in Archived. ##### BLOCK A NUMBER THAT HAS *NOT* CONTACTED YOU *YET* You can block a number before it ever reaches your inbox. Use the Block customer action and enter the number. Matador creates the conversation already archived and blocked, so nothing is ever sent to it and it never lands in your inbox. ##### WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BLOCK SOMEONE \- The conversation moves to Archived. \- It stays archived. A new message, a new lead or an incoming call will not pull it back into your inbox. \- Incoming messages still appear inside the conversation, so you keep the record. \- You cannot send to them. The message box is disabled and shows: "This customer is archived and blocked. To resume messaging, please unarchive or unblock the customer." \- They are excluded from broadcasts. \- A note is added to the conversation showing who blocked them and when. ##### FINDING AND UNBLOCKING Go to the Archived folder and use the Blocked filter to see everyone you have blocked. To let messages through again, open the conversation and choose Unblock. Two things worth knowing about the reverse direction: \- Unarchiving a blocked customer also unblocks them. \- Unblocking on its own does not unarchive. The conversation stays in Archived until you move it back. ##### THE FULL LIST, FOR ADMINS Admins have a Customers Blacklist view with everyone your organization has blocked: customer name, phone, email, date of blocking, and who blocked them. There is a Download Customers Blacklist button that exports the list as a CSV, which is useful if you are auditing or cleaning up. ##### WHO CAN BLOCK Admins and Managers can block and unblock. Whether your Support Agents can is controlled by a setting your Admin manages, "Allow Support Agents to control conversation archiving and blocking". If a Support Agent cannot see the Block option, that setting is off. ##### WHAT BLOCKING DOES NOT DO Blocking works inside Matador. It stops the conversation reaching your inbox and stops your team messaging them, but it does not prevent the sender's phone or system from sending. If the messages are genuine spam rather than an unwanted customer, blocking still keeps your inbox clean, but reporting it to your carrier is a separate step on your side.`` - [The Basics](https://help.matador.ai/the-basics?hsLang=en) - [Using Matador](https://help.matador.ai/using-matador?hsLang=en) - [Compliance](https://help.matador.ai/compliance?hsLang=en) - [Broadcast](https://help.matador.ai/broadcast?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Holiday Broadcasts](https://help.matador.ai/broadcast?hsLang=en#holiday-broadcasts) - [Customer Nurture](https://help.matador.ai/customer-nurture?hsLang=en) - [Integrations](https://help.matador.ai/integrations?hsLang=en) - [FAQ](https://help.matador.ai/faq?hsLang=en) - [Matador Updates](https://help.matador.ai/matador-updates?hsLang=en) [![Frame 2147235144-1](https://help.matador.ai/hs-fs/hubfs/Frame%202147235144-1.png?width=200&height=46&name=Frame%202147235144-1.png "Frame 2147235144-1")](https://matador.ai?hsLang=en) support@matador.ai Copyright © 2025, Matador.ai