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How can I permanently remove spam numbers in Custom Labels?

I have dug for the last couple months trying to find a solution, and I CANNOT find it. I just recently acquired an iPhone XR, and have transferred all my information over with relative ease.

I’ve had TrueCaller and Hiya as Spam-Blocking apps for my devices for the last few months, since I CONSTANTLY receive spam calls and texts on a daily basis. They do a pretty good job blocking numbers I don’t recognize, BUT I think they’ve been using my Contacts custom labels to save over 300 blocked numbers (see snapshot of partial list below).

I've read countless, Apple community forums to find solutions. These included:

  • Using WhatsApp to delete them, but this doesn’t work anymore since 2013.
  • Manually deleting each of them, but they ALL reappear when reloading a contact’s Edit function for the Custom Labels.
  • Deleting these spam labels from iCloud.com via my desktop, but they DON’T show up as a label at all!
  • Deleting the spam-blocking apps permanently, or removing them from iCloud backups, but yet these labels STILL there.
  • There have been other solutions offered through Apple Community, but these are obsolete for being six-year-older posts. There is NOTHING current to resolve this.

I am at my wits end with why this is happening. I just want some resolution, because this seems like a weird aspect of having a smartphone. Why can’t I figure this out? Any CURRENT answers and solutions would be GREATLY appreciated, from both consumers and Apple support teams. Thank you!



iPhone XR, iOS 13

Posted on May 13, 2020 2:29 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 2, 2020 12:29 PM

I FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT MYSELF!!! Truecaller saved a “SPAM” contact in my phone, and custom labeled all the numbers that I imputes for blocking. I deleted each number, since I deleted the app prior to this (see first screenshot of partial list). Deleting all these entries BEFORE deleting the contact leads to NO MORE CUSTOM LABELS (see second screenshot of total labels saved)!!! YAY!!!


Summary: If an app that blocks numbers saved a contact on your phone as “SPAM” and created custom labels for EACH number that also shows up whenever you add/edit a different contact, delete the app, delete each entry, delete the contact, and find a different app. I suggest Hiya, because there are no contacts in my list of any blocked or spam numbers.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jun 2, 2020 12:29 PM in response to Joseph_S.

I FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT MYSELF!!! Truecaller saved a “SPAM” contact in my phone, and custom labeled all the numbers that I imputes for blocking. I deleted each number, since I deleted the app prior to this (see first screenshot of partial list). Deleting all these entries BEFORE deleting the contact leads to NO MORE CUSTOM LABELS (see second screenshot of total labels saved)!!! YAY!!!


Summary: If an app that blocks numbers saved a contact on your phone as “SPAM” and created custom labels for EACH number that also shows up whenever you add/edit a different contact, delete the app, delete each entry, delete the contact, and find a different app. I suggest Hiya, because there are no contacts in my list of any blocked or spam numbers.

May 14, 2020 9:59 AM in response to LadyCato

Hi LadyCato,


Thanks for your post! I see you have been experiencing an issue where you cannot effectively block spam calls and text messages. I would first try to use the built in software on your iPhone XR to resolve this issue.


First, refer to this article for guidance on filtering unknown messages:


Filter and block messages on iPhone


Next, look here to address spam calls:


Detect and block spam phone calls


I would also suggest reaching out to your cellular provider, as most carriers offer call blocking technology.


Cheers!

May 14, 2020 7:59 PM in response to Teddy_B

I appreciate your input, but this is NOT what I have an issue with. I know how to block numbers and texts either using the iPhone’s features or using other apps that block them. I really don’t believe you saw my question at it’s fullest detail, because you would have seen what my actual issue is.

My problem is I don’t know how to remove the endless list of these spam phone numbers that are stored in my Custom Labels when adding/editing a contact (see screen shot of partial list of over 300 NUMBERS...and yes I counted them). I want to know how to permanently REMOVE them...entirely...completely...because I have tried the methods above from other sources to see how to do so without resolve.

How can I permanently remove spam numbers in Custom Labels?

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