Message Blocking is a service that allows you to block messages to and from your phone, helping you avoid unwanted messages. Best of all, T-Mobile provides this service to you at no charge!
- With Message Blocking, you can block incoming and outgoing text messages (SMS), picture messages (MMS), Instant Messages (IM), and email.
- Blocking incoming and outgoing Instant Messages and email applies to phones which use text messaging to send/receive these messages.
- If you want to be able to send or receive messages, Message Blocking is not the right service for you.
- Messaging Blocking is intended to block messages in general, not to prevent overage charges. Message Blocking is not currently available for Prepaid accounts.
For more information about blocking messages, refer to the following sections:
- Adding Message Blocking
- Adding Message Blocking
- Filtering emails sent to my phone
- Blocking messages from a specific number
- What should I do if I receive spam text messages on my wireless phone?
- Receiving unwanted text messages from +10476000000?
- What happens if you attempt to send or receive messages while having Message Blocking actively on your account?
Adding Message Blocking
For a list of Message Blocking options, refer to the following:
- Block ALL messages (SMS, MMS, IM, and email)
- Blocks: Incoming/outgoing text and picture messages; text to email and email to text messages (i.e. messages sent to and from your @tmomail.net address); incoming/outgoing IM and email messages sent to or from your mobile phone.
- Does not block: Free messages including: Voicemail notifications, Amber Alerts, messages delivering content such as games/ringtones, and service notifications. IM or email on Windows Mobile®, BlackBerry®, or Sidekick® devices; IM or email sent to or from your mobile phone using t-zones®/MobileLife Web.
- Block text and picture messages (SMS & MMS) only
- Blocks: Incoming/outgoing text and picture messages. This includes text to email and email to text messages (i.e. messages sent to and from your @tmomail.net address).
- Does not block: Free messages including, Voicemail notifications, Amber Alerts, messages delivering content such as games/ringtones, and service notifications.
- Block Instant Messages (IM) only
- Blocks: Incoming/outgoing IM messages sent to or from your mobile phone.
- Does not block: IM on Windows Mobile®, BlackBerry® or Sidekick® devices, IM sent to or from your mobile phone using t-zones®/MobileLife Web.
- Block email messages only
- Blocks: Email sent to or from your mobile phone using the email program in the phone menu.
- Does not block: Email on Windows Mobile®, BlackBerry®, or Sidekick® devices; email sent to or from your mobile phone using t-zones®/MobileLife Web, My Email, or email sent to and from your @tmomailnet address.
Note: Message Blocking will block text and picture messages even if you have a messaging bundle or plan that includes messaging.
Other options
Message Blocking may not be for everyone. For those who do not wish to block all messages of a certain type, T-Mobile offers several other options:
- SPAM & Keyword Filters - Filters block messages sent from the Internet to your @tmomail.net address. They will not block messages sent to you from other mobile phones or 3rd party services. If you are receiving SPAM to your @tmomail.net address from email addresses, see Filtering emails sent to my phone.
- Other forms of alert messages– Some 3rd party services send messages to your phone periodically. Many times you can stop these messages by replying to the unwanted message with the word STOP or UNSUBSCRIBE. If you have tried this and the messages continue, contact Customer Care.
Adding Message Blocking
To add Message Blocking, perform the following steps:
- Go to My T-Mobile and log in.
- Select Manage, and then select Plans & Services.
- Select a message blocking feature from the list provided and click the CHANGE SERVICES button.
- Complete the transaction and Message Blocking will activate.
Filtering emails sent to my phone
To filter emails sent to your phone, perform the following steps:
- Go to My T-Mobile and log in.
- Hover over MobileLife, and then select Email and text tools.
- From the Email filters and spam blocking section, select Create email filters.
- Select CREATE FILTER or turn on one of the preset filters.
- NOTE: A Create/Edit a new filter form will become available here.
- Depending on what needs to be filtered, select the appropriate items from the drop-down menus and enter the information.
- To block a specific address use the From field.
- To block a specific topic use Subject.
- Click Save.
Blocking messages from a specific number
No. At this time you are not able to block messages or calls from a specific mobile number. You can set up a filter if the message is coming from an email address. For more information, see Filtering emails sent to my phone.
What should I do if I receive spam text messages on my wireless phone?
Please follow the steps in What should I do if I receive spam text messages on my wireless phone?
Receiving unwanted text messages from +10476000000?
If you receive text messages from +10476000000, this message is from your personal email notifying you of a new email. The body of the message will contain one of the following codes:
- n:m=1=1
- n:m=2=1
- n:m=4=1?
If you used the preloaded Email Application with a previous device (i.e. Samsung Blast, Motorola W490, etc.), and then you changed devices, it can lead to this situation. This message is usually delivered every hour, until the service is stopped.
To stop receiving these messages, put your SIM card back into the device that you used to set up access to your email, and then remove all email addresses from the Email Application.
What happens if you attempt to send or receive messages while having Message Blocking actively on your account?
If you send a message to a user who has message blocking, you'll receive the following error message informing you that they didn't receive the message because they have message blocking on their account:
Message to be delivered: “Free T-Mobile Message: Receiver (MSISDN) unable to receive message - Message Blocking is active”
If you have message blocking (Block All or Block SMS/MMS) and try to send a message, you'll receive the following error message, informing you that you have message blocking on your account:
Message to be delivered: “Free T-Mobile Message: Unable to send message - Message Blocking is active”