In today’s digital world, texting has become a dominant mode of communication. However, sometimes you may want to block yourself from texting a particular number. It could be because of various reasons such as stopping yourself from sending a message you may regret later or avoiding someone you don’t want to communicate with anymore.
Even though blocking someone on your iPhone is a common feature that many people use, blocking oneself from texting a number is a less known feature. In this blog post, we will discuss the challenges of blocking yourself from texting a number and provide you with some useful methods to achieve the same.
Video Tutorial:
The Challenges of Blocking Yourself from Texting A Number
Blocking yourself from texting can be challenging, especially if you don’t have self-control. Without self-control, it’s easy to give in to the urge to text the number again. Also, if you are a parent, you may want to block yourself from texting your child’s phone during their class hours or study time. This could be especially challenging if you have a habit of checking your phone frequently or feel anxious when you don’t check your messages.
Another challenge could be that you may have some important contacts mixed with the number you want to block. Thus, you can’t use the traditional method of blocking the number because you will block all the contacts together, which is not efficient.
Things You Should Prepare for
Before we dive into the methods, let’s look at the things you should prepare for when you want to block yourself from texting a number.
Synchronizing Data on Other Devices
One important thing to consider is that if you block yourself from texting a number on your iPhone, the same behavior won’t sync across your other devices, such as your iPad or Mac. Therefore, if you use any other devices to send messages, make sure to block the number on those devices as well.
Backup of important Data
Another thing to consider is that before trying to block a number, make sure you have a backup of all the important messages and conversations. Once you block the number, all the messages sent and received in the future will be rejected.
Loss of Communication with A Contact
Blocking yourself from texting a number could lead to losing communication with that contact if you are not careful. Be mindful of your actions and use this feature only when necessary.
Methods to Block Yourself from Texting A Number
There are several ways to block yourself from texting a number on your iPhone. In this section, we will discuss three different methods you can use.
Method 1: Use Screen Time
Screen Time is a feature in iOS that lets you set limits on the amount of time you spend on your phone. You can use this feature to block yourself from texting a particular number.
Steps:
1. Open the "Settings" app on your iPhone and click on "Screen Time."
2. Tap "See All Activity" and then click on "Week" or "Day," depending on your preference.
3. Look for the Messages app, tap on it and then click on "Add Limit."
4. Set the limit for your desired time limit (for example, 30 minutes).
5. Scroll down and then click on "Always Allowed."
6. Tap on the white circle with a green plus sign next to "Contacts."
7. Scroll down and look for the number you want to block from texting.
8. Tap on the circle next to the number to deselect it.
9. Click on "Done" to save the changes.
Pros:
– You can set your desired time limit for all messages.
– You can still receive messages from that number, but you can’t send any messages to it.
Cons:
– You need to set a specific time limit for all messages, which means you can’t send any messages to anyone during that time.
Method 2: Use Restrictions
Restrictions is another feature in iOS that lets you block certain apps or functions on your iPhone. You can use this feature to block yourself from text messaging a particular number.
Steps:
1. Open the "Settings" app on your iPhone and click on "Screen Time."
2. Tap on "Content & Privacy Restrictions."
3. Enable the restrictions by clicking on "Content & Privacy Restrictions" and entering your passcode.
4. Look for the "Allowed Apps" option and click on it.
5. Tap on the white circle with a green plus sign next to "Messages."
6. Click on the back button and then click on "Add Limit."
7. Set a passcode for the limit and then set the duration you want to block the number from texting.
8. Click on the white circle with a green plus sign next to "Contacts."
9. Scroll down and look for the number you want to block from texting.
10. Tap on the circle next to the number to deselect it.
11. Click on "Done" to save the changes.
Pros:
– You can set a passcode for the limit.
– You can still receive messages from that number, but you can’t send any messages to it.
Cons:
– You need to set a specific time limit for all messages, which means you can’t send any messages to anyone during that time.
Method 3: Use A Third-Party App
If you don’t want to use the built-in features, you can use a third-party app to block the number. There are several such apps available on the App Store. In this blog post, we will discuss one such app, "Block Apps."
Steps:
1. Open the App Store on your iPhone and search for "Block Apps."
2. Download and install the app.
3. Open "Block Apps" and click on "Enable."
4. Enter your passcode when prompted.
5. Tap on "Applications" and then click on the "+" button.
6. Look for the Messages app and select it.
7. Scroll down and look for the number you want to block from texting.
8. Tap on the circle next to the number to deselect it.
9. Click on "Done" to save the changes.
Pros:
– You can use the app to block messages from several different numbers.
– You can set a passcode for the app.
Cons:
– The app requires that you grant it access to your notifications.
– The app is not free.
Why Can’t I Block Myself from Texting A Number?
There could be several reasons why you can’t block yourself from texting a particular number. Here are a few reasons and solutions:
1. The Number is Linked to A Contact You Don’t Want to Block
If the number you want to block is linked to a contact that you don’t want to block, you can’t use the built-in blocking feature. In this case, you should use either the Screen Time or Restrictions method.
2. The Built-in Blocking Feature Blocks the Number for All Contacts
The built-in blocking feature in iOS blocks the number for all contacts. If you have some important contacts linked to that number, you can’t use this method. In this case, you should use the Screen Time or Restrictions method.
3. The Number is Not Saved in Your Contacts
If the number is not saved in your contacts and you don’t want to save it, you can’t use the built-in blocking feature. In this case, you can use the third-party app method.
Additional Suggestions
Here are a few additional suggestions that you can try to block yourself from texting a particular number:
– Turn off your iPhone during the time you don’t want to text the number.
– Remove the SIM card from the iPhone during that time.
– Put the iPhone in Airplane mode.
FAQs
Q1. What happens when you block someone on iPhone?
A1. When you block someone on iPhone, you won’t receive any calls, texts, or FaceTime from that person. The blocked person won’t be notified that they are being blocked.
Q2. Can I still receive messages from someone I blocked on my iPhone?
A2. No, you won’t receive any messages from someone you blocked on your iPhone.
Q3. Can a blocked contact still see my texts?
A3. No, a blocked contact won’t be able to see your texts.
Q4. Can I undo a blocking action?
A4. Yes, you can unblock the number by going to the "Settings" app and clicking on "Phone" or "Messages." Find "Blocked Contacts" and click on it. Tap on "Edit" and then click on the red icon next to the number you want to unblock. Finally, click on "Unblock."
Q5. Can I block A Number That’s Not in My Contacts?
A5. Yes, you can block a number that’s not in your contacts by using the built-in blocking feature or a third-party app.
Conclusion
We hope this blog post helps you block yourself from texting a particular number on your iPhone. Remember, using this feature requires self-control and mindfulness. Try to use it only for the necessary situations.