Apple's Junk Message Reporting Now Covers SMS for Select U.S Carriers in iOS 16 - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple's Junk Message Reporting Now Covers SMS for Select U.S Carriers in iOS 16

With the second iOS 16 beta, Apple is expanding the built-in "Report Junk" feature in the Messages app to cover SMS/MMS messages, allowing spam messages to be reported to select carriers in the United States.

report junk message ios 16
If you long press on an SMS/MMS message in the Unknown Senders section of the Messages app in iOS 16, you can select the "Report Junk" option. Using this option lets you report a message as junk, sending it to Apple and Verizon and deleting the message.

"Report Junk" was previously available for iMessage, with junk iMessages able to be reported to Apple, but the new option also covers SMS/MMS messages and makes it easier to report spam directly to carriers.

Related Forum: iOS 16

Popular Stories

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max Feature

'Apple Upgrade' Program Reportedly Launching Next Week

Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30 am PDT by
Apple and Klarna are partnering on a new "Apple Upgrade" leasing program set to launch in the U.S. on Tuesday, July 28, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The program will allow you to finance most iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models, with a 24-month term for iPhones and Apple Watches and a 36-month term for iPads and Macs. Customers will be able to pay off the device early during...
iPhone 18 Pro Deep Red Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching in Two Months With These 12 New Features

Tuesday July 21, 2026 6:22 am PDT by
It is now mid-July, and that means the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are now just two months away. The devices are expected to look similar to the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, but there will still be many year-over-year changes, with rumored features including a smaller Dynamic Island, 5G via satellite, and more. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, ...
apple silicon mac lineup 2024 feature purple

Apple to Overhaul Mac Lineup With 11 New Models

Wednesday July 22, 2026 8:13 am PDT by
Apple is preparing to refresh every Mac it sells over the next two years, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The plans come amid a Mac resurgence, with sales projected to climb for a third consecutive year, partly thanks to a growing following among users who lean on the machines for demanding, agent-based AI workloads. The wave of new Macs will begin this fall with a refreshed...

Top Rated Comments

53 months ago
Sounds a lot easier than having to forward the text to 7726 (SPAM) like I've been doing: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-report-spam-text-messages#report
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
53 months ago
Just took advantage of it! Carrier is Verizon, iOS 16 beta 2 - reported an SMS as junk immediately.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
senohpoxas88 Avatar
53 months ago
Do we know which carriers have this? It would be great to at least mention which of the big carriers have this
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sniffies Avatar
53 months ago
That's good news
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
53 months ago
Finally! Others and I have been part of awful group spam messages and hoping this will end it.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
53 months ago

All I really wanted to see out of this year's WWDC was some attention paid to the Phone app. It's embarrassing now how far they are lagging behind Google in terms of junk call protection.
You might see if your carrier has a junk call protection app on the App Store. I’m an AT&T user, and I find their Call Protect app to be at least mildly helpful.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)