Spam calls and annoying messages from strangers have become a real problem for instant messenger users. T Viber often you have to deal with advertising mailings or fraud attempts from contacts that are not in your address book. Fortunately, developers have provided effective tools to protect personal space. Blocking an unknown subscriber is not just deleting a chat, but a comprehensive measure that prevents any attempts to communicate through the app.
The procedure for restricting access may differ depending on the version of the operating system Android and the smartphone shell used (for example, MIUI, OneUI or clean Android). In this article, we will analyze in detail all the ways to isolate unwanted interlocutors: from manually blocking a specific number to turning on automatic filters. You will learn how to hide your online status and prevent new spammers from appearing in your contact list.
Manually blocking a specific unknown contact
The most common scenario is that you received a message or received a call from a number that you did not save. To block access to this specific user, you need to go into the correspondence history. Even if the chat is empty or contains only one message, the algorithm of actions remains unchanged. Open a dialogue with an unknown caller and click on their name or avatar at the top of the screen.
The contact's profile page will open. Scroll down the menu to the very bottom. There you will find a red button with the inscription "Block" or an icon of a crossed out circle. Clicking this button will instantly stop delivery of messages and calls from this number. The user will not receive a notification that he is blocked, but his messages will never be delivered to you.
If you want to delete your entire correspondence history at the same time as blocking, the system will offer the appropriate option. This is useful for clearing the device's memory and removing incriminating information. Remember that after confirming the action, it will be impossible to restore the chat without a backup copy.
⚠️ Attention: Blocking a contact does not delete its number from your phone’s memory if it was saved earlier. To completely disappear a contact, you must delete it from the system phone book.
☑️ Manual blocking algorithm
Using the built-in spam and unknown numbers filter
For those who do not want to manually block each spammer individually, Viber there is an automatic filter function. It allows you to redirect all messages from numbers that are not in your address book to a special Spam folder. This saves the main list of chats from visual noise and notifications.
To activate this feature, go to the main menu of the application (three dots in the corner or the “More” tab) and select the section Settings. Next, find the item Privacy. Inside this section there will be an option "Spam filter". Activate the switch to enable protection.
After enabling the filter, all incoming messages from unknown senders will be marked as spam. You will not receive a sound notification or vibration when they arrive. However, you can always go to the Spam folder and check the contents if you are expecting an important message from a courier or delivery service whose number has not been saved.
| Filtering type | Application behavior | Notifications |
|---|---|---|
| No filter | All messages in the general list | Sound and vibration |
| Spam filter | Messages in the Spam folder | Silent (no sound) |
| Full blocking | Messages are not delivered | None |
Check your Spam folder regularly once a week so as not to miss important messages from services that use short numbers or new support lines.
Privacy settings: hiding status and photo
Often unknown numbers gain access to your information not through calls, but by viewing your profile. To minimize the interest of scammers and spammers, you need to properly configure the visibility of your data. In the section Settings -> Privacy you will find access control parameters.
Pay attention to item "Online Status". By default, it can be visible to everyone. Change the setting to Nobody or My Contacts. This will hide your online presence from prying eyes, making it more difficult for automatic bots that scan active users to send advertisements.
It is also recommended to limit viewing of your profile photo and time of last visit. Set the value "My Contacts" for these parameters. This way you will create an additional barrier: a stranger who receives your number will see only a standard stub instead of your photo, which will reduce the likelihood that your number will end up in targeted spam databases.
Why is it important to hide your online status?
Hidden "Online" status prevents your number from getting included in lists “live” users who are sold to spammers. Bots often check account activity before launching an attack.
Blocking through Android system settings
Sometimes the capabilities of the messenger itself are not enough, especially if calls come in constantly and interfere with the operation of other applications. In this case, you can use the built-in tools of the operating system Android. Most modern smartphones allow you to block numbers at the system level, which automatically applies to all applications, including Viber.
Go to the system Settings phone, find the section Applications and select Viber. There may be an option to block incoming calls in the permissions or notifications menu. However, a more effective method is to use the “Black List” in the standard “Phone” application of your smartphone.
Add an unknown number to the blacklist through the system dialer. After this, even if the subscriber tries to call via Internet protocol Viber Out or a regular call, the connection will be disconnected automatically. This method is especially relevant for devices with shells MIUI (Xiaomi) and EMUI (Huawei), where anti-terrorism and anti-spam functions are built very deeply.
⚠️ Attention: The system settings interface may differ depending on the smartphone manufacturer. If you do not find the “Black List” item, use the search in the settings by entering the request “Blocking”.
What a blocked user sees
Many users are concerned about the question: will the spammer know that he has been blocked? Direct notifications Viber are not sent. However, there are indirect signs by which an experienced user can guess about blocking. Understanding these nuances will help you evaluate the effectiveness of the measures taken.
A blocked subscriber continues to see your avatar and name if they have not been changed after blocking. However, the “Online” and “Was online...” status will not be displayed for it. Instead of the real time of the last visit, he will see old data or an empty field.
The most obvious sign is the message delivery status. Messages sent to you will hang with status “Sent” (one checkmark) and will never change to “Delivered” (two checkmarks). Calls from a blocked user will ring, but your phone will not ring.
Complete invisibility of the “Online” status and the eternal “Sent” status for messages are the main indicators that the number has been successfully blocked.
Managing the list of blocked contacts
Over time, the list of blocked numbers may grow. Sometimes a situation arises when you accidentally blocked an important client or acquaintance, or spam attacks have stopped and the filter can be weakened. This list is managed in the same privacy section.
Go to Settings -> Privacy -> Blocked contacts. A complete list of all numbers to which you have restricted access will be displayed here. You can remove any number from this list by clicking on the cross or the “Unblock” button next to the name.
After unblocking, the user will again be able to write and call you. The correspondence history deleted at the time of blocking will not be restored, but new messages will begin to arrive instantly. It is recommended to periodically review this list to ensure that it is up to date.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Can I block a number if they didn't even text me first?
Yes, you can add any number to the blacklist manually through the privacy settings, even if you do not have active correspondence with him. To do this, you need to enter the number in the field to add a blocked contact.
Will the person know that I read their message before blocking?
If you opened a chat and the message received the “Read” status (blue checkmarks) before you pressed the block button, the sender will see this status. Blocking does not cancel actions already taken with messages.
Does blocking in Viber work for regular phone calls?
No, blocking within the application Viber applies only to calls and messages via the Internet within the messenger. To block regular cellular calls, you need to use a blacklist in the settings of the phone itself.
What to do if a spammer changes numbers and continues to write?
In this case, it is most effective to enable the “Spam Filter” in the privacy settings, which automatically hides messages from all numbers not saved in your address book.