How to Block Ads and Spam Messages on Google Messages

Google Messages now comes pre-installed on Android devices, and the only reason why new phones launched in recent years have it instead of the stock messaging apps by OEMs is because Google has made it mandatory to use the Google Dialer and Messages app.

Google says that it streamlines the experience across Android, as it comes with the power of instant messaging because of the modern SMS technology called RCS (Rich Communication Service) built-in.

However, thereโ€™s a downside to modern SMS technology, which is spam messages. If you are too annoyed with it, today you will learn how to stop ads or spam messages on the Google Messages app.

How to Disable Ads and Spam Messages on Google Messages

The Google Messages app has several features, including the RCS (Rich Communication Services) for better communication. For those unfamiliar, RCS lets users share better-quality photos and videos, engage in group chats, share reactions, and others.

While all of this is great, companies are using it to send annoying visual ads or spam messages to users via the RCS feature. No matter whether your phone has an active SIM card or not, you will receive these ads or spam messages if the device is connected to the internet.

Read on to check out different methods to stop these ads or spam messages from Google Messages.

Block and Report Spam Manually

If you are receiving ads or spam image messages from a particular brand or company, then you can easily deal with it by blocking them. Here’s how you can do it:

Step 1: Open the Google Messages app on your device.

Step 2: Tap to open the spam message.

Step 3: Click on the three-dot icon at the top-right corner.

Step 4: Choose Block and Report Spam. Finally, tap Block to confirm.

As soon as you do, you will not receive any visual ads from the brand. Moreover, some brands offer an unsubscribe button; just tap on it if you want to take your number off their list.

Disable RCS Chats

If you are tired of blocking messages from different brands every other day, you can choose to disable the RCS chats on the app. Follow the below steps to turn it off.

Step 1: Open the Google Messages app on your phone.

Step 2: Tap on your profile icon at the top right corner.

Step 3: Select Messages settings, then General.

Step 4: Click on RCS chats and turn off the toggle for Turn on RCS chats and confirm the action. On some devices, you will see the Enable chat features option instead of RCS chats, disable it.

Enable Spam Protection

If you are looking to just stop the normal spam messages, you can enable spam protection on the application. After turning on the feature, Google Messages will automatically filter messages, mark them as spam, and block them once it detects spam and send them to a sperate folder. Here’s how you can enable spam protection:

Step 1: Open the Google Messages app on your phone.

Step 2: Click on the profile icon at the top and choose Messages settings.

Step 3: Select General from the available settings.

Step 4: Tap on Spam protection and turn on the toggle for Enable spam protection.

To view the messages Google Messages automatically blocked, tap on the three-line icon at the top-left corner and select Spam & blocked. Here, you will see all the messages Google marked as spam and blocked.

Use a Different App

Another way through which you can get rid of the ads or spam messages is by switching to a different messaging app.

Some apps, like Microsoft SMS Organizer, Signal, etc., include RCS-like features and other capabilities. Hence, switch to an alternative, as they could help you avoid the RCS spam.

Wrapping Up

So, these are some of the best methods through which you can stop ads or spam messages on the Google Messages app. I hope the article helped you declutter the app from annoying messages.

If you have any questions related to the article, let us know in the comments below.

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AUTHOR.

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Harsh Saxena

Hi! I am Harsh and I write about technology on different websites. I frequently write about these topics and cover them. I am available on Twitter at @Harsh4saxena or Email me at harsh4saxena@gmail.com to send in your feedback and tips. Worked at GadgetsToUse, BrowserToUse, DailyTechByte, FreshFounder, and with many other websites as an author and researcher.

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