With real-time spam detection, Messages makes chatting easier and safer. Spam detection works with your message data while keeping your messages private. And it’s optional, so you're in control.
How spam detection works
How we protect your data
We use data without personally identifying you.
When spam protection is on, Messages uses machine learning models that operate on your device to detect known spam patterns in your messages. The app analyses these patterns to catch more spam and warn you sooner. Because spam is detected on-device, Messages warns you about spam even when you don't have a data connection.
To help identify spammers, Google temporarily stores the phone numbers of messages that you receive from people that aren't in your contacts, as well as your country. Google doesn't store any data on persistent identifiers like your name or phone number, which means that Google doesn't know who you're messaging.
Messages doesn't share or send your message content to Google servers for spam unless you report messages to Google as spam.
Learn more about reporting spam or blocking a number.
You're in control
Spam protection is turned on automatically, and you’ll be notified when this happens. You can turn it off at any time in your settings:
- Open the Messages app
.
- Tap More
Settings
Spam protection.
- You'll only see 'Spam protection' if it's available on your device.
- Turn Enable spam protection on or off.