Unblocking a number on Samsung takes 30 seconds through the Phone app

Open the Phone app, tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right, select Settings, then Blocked numbers. Find the number you want to unblock and tap the minus sign or delete icon next to it. The number is unblocked when ready and can call or text you again.

If you blocked the number through Messages instead of Phone, you will need to unblock it there separately. The process is similar but happens in a different app, so check both places if you are not sure where you blocked it.

The unblocking happens when ready with no confirmation step or waiting period. Once you tap delete, the person can reach you through calls, texts, or both, depending on which app you unblocked them in.

Key Takeaways

  • The Phone app and Messages app maintain separate block lists, so a number blocked in one app will still be blocked in the other until you unblock it there too.
  • You can unblock a number in Phone by going to Settings > Blocked numbers and tapping the delete icon next to the contact.
  • To unblock in Messages, open the app, tap the three-dot menu, go to Settings > Blocked contacts, and remove the number.
  • Unblocking happens when ready; there is no confirmation step or waiting period, and the person receives no notification that you unblocked them.
  • Messages or calls that arrived while the number was blocked are deleted permanently and will not reappear after you unblock.

Unblocking through the Phone app

Open the Phone app and look for the three-dot menu icon (sometimes called the overflow menu) in the top right corner of the screen. Tap it and select Settings. Scroll down until you see Blocked numbers and tap it.

You will see a list of all numbers you have blocked through the Phone app. Find the number you want to unblock, then tap the minus sign or trash icon next to it. Some Samsung models show a small circle with a minus sign; others show a trash can. Either way, tapping it removes the block.

The number is unblocked as soon as you tap delete. You do not need to confirm or save anything. The person can now call or text you, and their calls and messages will come through normally to your Phone app.

Unblocking through the Messages app

If you blocked the number while texting, you blocked it in the Messages app instead. Open Messages, tap the three-dot menu in the top right, and select Settings. Look for Blocked contacts (the exact wording varies slightly by Samsung model and Android version).

Tap Blocked contacts to see your list. Find the number and tap the minus sign or delete icon next to it. The block is removed when ready, and the person can text you again.

After unblocking in Messages, the person can send you text messages and they will arrive normally. Their old messages that arrived while they were blocked will not reappear; blocking deletes incoming messages, not your message history with that contact.

Why the same number might still be blocked

If you unblocked a number in Phone but it still cannot reach you, check whether you also blocked it in Messages. The two apps do not share a block list. A number can be unblocked in one app and still blocked in the other, which means calls might go through but texts do not, or vice versa.

To be thorough, unblock the number in both Phone and Messages. That way you know it is completely unblocked no matter which app the person uses to contact you. This takes only a minute and eliminates confusion about why they can reach you one way but not another.

Unblocking a number you do not recognize

If you blocked a number and forgot who it was, you can still unblock it. The blocked number list shows the phone number itself, and sometimes a name if the number was saved in your contacts before you blocked it. Look through the list until you find the number you want to unblock.

If the number is not saved in your contacts, you will see only the digits. You can unblock it anyway by tapping delete, then check your call or message history to see who it was. Once unblocked, any future calls or texts from that number will come through normally.

What happens after you unblock

Unblocking a number does not restore old calls or messages that arrived while the number was blocked. Those are gone permanently. The person can only reach you with new calls or texts sent after you unblock them.

The person does not get a notification that you unblocked them. They straightforward see that their calls and texts go through again instead of being rejected or silenced. From their perspective, it will look like your phone is working normally again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I block a number again after unblocking it?

Yes. Go back to Phone or Messages settings, find the number in your call or message history, and block it again. You can block and unblock the same number as many times as you need to.

Will the person know I unblocked them?

No. Unblocking sends no notification. They will only know if their call or text suddenly goes through after being rejected before, which they might notice on their own.

Do I have to unblock in both Phone and Messages?

Only if you blocked the number in both apps. If you only blocked it in Phone, unblocking there is enough. Check both apps to be sure where you blocked it originally.

What if I unblock a number but still do not see old messages?

Messages that arrived while the number was blocked are deleted and cannot be recovered. Unblocking only allows new messages to come through. The old ones are gone permanently.

Can I unblock multiple numbers at once?

No. Samsung requires you to unblock each number individually by tapping the delete icon next to it. There is no option to select multiple numbers and unblock them together in one action.