I took the time to set up the restriction on Messages to send unknown senders' texts to the folder for the unknown senders' messages. So far, the only one I received went to my Contacts & SMS folder, not to the Unknown Senders folder.
What's the point of doing this if the ONE MESSAGE I have received so far from an unknown sender went rigth to the main box still? What am I missing?
iPhone XS Max
Hello lorimand,
Thank you for reaching out to Apple Support Communities! It sounds like after turning on Filter Unknown Senders, you still received a message from an unknown sender on your iPhone. You're in the right place to find a resolution.
The feature that you're referring to will only filter iMessages from people who aren't in your contacts, and it will not filter SMS/MMS that you receive from unknown senders:
Block phone numbers, contacts, and emails on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
On the message that you received under the Contacts & SMS tab, do you see a link you can tap on that says Report Junk? If not, that indicates this message was a SMS, so it would not be filtered to the Unknown Senders tab. In that scenario, consider doing one of the following suggestions instead:
"To report SMS and MMS messages, contact your carrier."
"Messages
If you're in Messages, open the conversation, tap the contact at the top of the conversation, then tap 
. Tap the name, phone number or email address, scroll to the bottom of the screen, then tap Block this Caller.
When you block a phone number or contact, they can still leave a voicemail, but you won't get a notification. Messages that are sent or received won't be delivered. Also, the contact won't get a notification that the call or message was blocked. When you block an email address from Mail, it goes to the trash folder. Email blocking works across all your Apple devices."
Take care.
Hello lorimand,
Thank you for reaching out to Apple Support Communities! It sounds like after turning on Filter Unknown Senders, you still received a message from an unknown sender on your iPhone. You're in the right place to find a resolution.
The feature that you're referring to will only filter iMessages from people who aren't in your contacts, and it will not filter SMS/MMS that you receive from unknown senders:
Block phone numbers, contacts, and emails on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
On the message that you received under the Contacts & SMS tab, do you see a link you can tap on that says Report Junk? If not, that indicates this message was a SMS, so it would not be filtered to the Unknown Senders tab. In that scenario, consider doing one of the following suggestions instead:
"To report SMS and MMS messages, contact your carrier."
"Messages
If you're in Messages, open the conversation, tap the contact at the top of the conversation, then tap . Tap the name, phone number or email address, scroll to the bottom of the screen, then tap Block this Caller.
When you block a phone number or contact, they can still leave a voicemail, but you won't get a notification. Messages that are sent or received won't be delivered. Also, the contact won't get a notification that the call or message was blocked. When you block an email address from Mail, it goes to the trash folder. Email blocking works across all your Apple devices."
Take care.
I have this exact same experience. What i dont understand is how "Filter Unknown Senders" is not actually filtering unknown senders. Contacts work across many apps including email, messages, phone.... so what limitation could there be that makes this "is it in my contacts?" question not work for texts?
Thanks for the reply, but there is not "Report Junk" tab. And the problem is, this one company uses different numbers with every text. So blocking it would be useless.
I'm going out of my mind!!!
I quit. I went back to one folder for my texts since it flagged ONE TEXT and nothing else. What's the point? It's listed as an option but it's not a working option.
agreed :) I wonder if Android does a better job in some way...
Thank you @lorimand
@rjcheavy
I know someone I can ask, but I think he already said he gets the same thing happening on his Galaxy.
This is an *extremely* frustrating situation and I'm in the same place. Had a phone number for 15 years and in the last 3 months getting inundated with spam text.
Only option at this time - sadly and I'm unfortunately there. Get a new phone number. Terrible. Last call for help Apple!
Regards,
Ray
Ray, sadly, it will only be a matter of time before they have your new number and start the spam game all over again. And in the meanwhile, you will have had to deal with the hassle of sending out your new number to all your contacts (and remembering it every time someone asks you what your phone number is).
I just learned to live with it until they come up with the answer.
Unknown Senders Still Going to the Contacts & SMS Folder
