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iOS 13.3 Includes Improvements to Minimize Junk Messages

Tuesday December 10, 2019 12:47 PM PST by Joe Rossignol

In a new support document, Apple has indicated that iOS 13.3 includes improvements to further minimize junk messages in the Messages app.

If you are trying to send a message to someone and you see an alert on your device that says the message was delivered as junk, Apple has provided some potential solutions to get around that:

- Ask the person that you're trying to message to add your phone number to their Contacts.
- Ask the person that you're trying to message to send you a message to start the conversation.
- On your device, go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive and make sure that only your phone number is selected under Start New Conversations From. If your Apple ID is selected, the messages will be delivered as junk.
- If you're on an iPad or iPod touch, turn on Text Message Forwarding from your iPhone.

iOS 13.3 was publicly released earlier today.

Tag: Messages

Related Forum: iOS 13

Top Rated Comments

trigf

80 months ago

"Ask the person that you're trying to message to send you a message to start the conversation."

How is that any different than you sending them a message to start the conversation?

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Ntombi

80 months ago

Every junk message I get appears in Unknown Senders. TBH it's a worthless feature.

I wish mine did!

I have an Ohio area code, even though I now live in SoCal (I've had the number for >20 years, through four states), and I get a ridiculous number of spam texts from political candidates, organizations, and pollsters.

None of them go to my “unknown senders” section. I can’t block all calls and texts from non-contacts, so I’m stuck with them for now.

Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

gsmornot

80 months ago

You will have to call, email or talk to the person in person to ask them to add you. Might as well just not know them anymore. Just kidding.

Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

C DM

80 months ago

this is great and all but what about regular sms. There needs to be something similar to block or send to junk any messages from “unknown” numbers like the calls

There is a way to filter such messages: https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/filter-and-block-messages-iph203ab0be4/ios

Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

ignatius345

80 months ago

"Ask the person that you're trying to message to send you a message to start the conversation."

How is that any different than you sending them a message to start the conversation?

Heard of phone calls? Or emails? Or speaking?

Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

I7guy

80 months ago

Ask them to add you to your contacts? What is this? 1950?

Whitelist your contacts. What a novel idea.

Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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