How to Unreport Junk Text on iPhone?

Have you ever reported a text as junk by mistake? Or, you tapped “Report Junk” on a text without verifying the number or message content.

Now, there you are, regretting your action, thinking if the sender found out you reported their message as junk. Worse, you were desperately waiting for a reply from that one important person, but could not recognize their number.

Sounds relatable? Well, this happens more often than you think with many people daily.

But don’t worry. There are still a few things you can do to ease this situation.

In this blog, you can explore what happens when you report a text, what you can do next, and how to avoid accidentally reporting any text in the future.

What Does “Report Junk” Mean in iMessage?

Apple introduced “Report Junk” as a feature to help its users report unsolicited and deceptive messages, especially from an unknown user, as spam or junk.

The main aim of this feature is to help the phone system detect spam messages immediately and instantly aware other users as well.

It is necessary to analyze and track real text scams to protect users from possible harm in the future.

If you ever feel a message is shady, asks you to act urgently, click on some links, or share your personal information, it is likely spam. You should report it right away.

It is advisable not to reply to such texts and click on any such links. Refrain from sharing any personal details. Authorized companies generally do not ask for your details simply over a one-line text without prior information or notification.

Make sure you verify the number and message before taking any action that could bring drastic consequences.

Does Apple Do Anything When I Report Junk?

Yes. When you report a text message as spam, the contact information of the sender and the message content are sent to Apple. This action permanently deletes the message from your message app.

Apple uses this data to identify patterns of spam messages and prevent future spam from the same numbers.

What Happens When You Tap “Report Junk”

Are you curious about what happens when you tap the “Report Junk” option? Read below to find out.

• The Message Gets Deleted: The moment you tap on the “Report Junk” option, the message is instantly deleted.
• Apple Receives a Report: Next, Apple receives a report of the incident along with the sender’s ID, phone number, and the message content.
• The Sender Is Not Blocked Automatically: When you report a message as junk, the sender is not blocked. The sender can still send you messages.
• It Only Applies to iMessages: This feature is only available for iMessages. For SMS or MMS, spam reporting is handled by the carrier.
• You won’t See The Conversation Again: Once you report the message and it gets deleted, you won’t see the conversation thread anymore.
• Apple Does Not Notify the Sender: The sender does not get notified about the reporting. Apple uses the information for spam detection only.

How to Unreport Junk Text on iPhone?

You reported a text as junk. But realized it was a mistake. Now you must be thinking about how to unreport a junk text. But first, can you unreport junk text on your iPhone?

The answer is ‘No’. Unfortunately, you cannot unreport a junk text. There is no “undo” button for this.

But there are a few things you can do to make the situation better.

What Can You Do If You Accidentally Reported a Message as Junk?

Since you reported a text as junk, you must be sad or even angry at yourself. But rest assured. You are not doomed. You can still do the things mentioned below.

A. Check if the Message Thread Still Exists

Sometimes, when you report the message as junk, it does not immediately delete the message, especially in earlier versions of iOS.

Check if there the message threads. And reply to the message to notify the iOS that it is a legitimate number.

B. Add the Number to Your Contacts

Immediately add the number to your contact list. Once the number is saved as a contact, it signifies to iOS that the number is not junk but a verified contact.

To add the number to your contact, go to Phone> Recents or type the number. Tap “Create New Account” or “Add to existing”.

C. Reach Out to Apple Support

You can visit Apple Support and relay your message to the system. Although the message cannot be restored, it notifies their system that the contact is relevant and verified.

It is usually beneficial if the contact is from your relevant company, such as a bank or hospital.

D. Contact Your Carrier (For SMS junk reports)

If it is a standard SMS (Short Message Service) (green bubble), you need to contact your carrier. You can either call or send a message to the carrier to notify them that you accidentally reported a text as junk.

You need to confirm it was a mistake so that the number is number isn’t blocked or filtered.

Although you cannot unreport a junk text, you can still save the situation from getting worse.

Common Scenarios of Accidental Reporting

Given that accidental reporting of messages is not a new thing, you can relax. Such incidents are common to all. Here are a few real-life scenarios when people tend to make such mistakes.

I. Quick-Tap Mistakes While Deleting Messages

Once in a while, you may be on a cleaning spree, and you want to declutter your message box. You start sorting out the messages to delete those that are unwanted or those no longer needed.

But in a rush, you tap Report Junk instead of Delete. And just like that, the messages disappear.

II. Misjudging a Legitimate Unknown Number

Let’s be honest. We all second-guess messages from an unknown number. Although it could be your friend’s new number or a doctor’s appointment reminder, it is human nature to be skeptical.

Since it looks dubious, you tap Report Junk without even checking it first. You later realize it was a legitimate sender.

III. Messages From a New or Changed Number

Your family members or friends get a new number, but you are unaware of it. They text you without reminding you about their new number.

Since it is not saved on your contact list, iOS displays the Report Junk button. You proceeded with it without checking, leading to this mistake.

IV. No Message History Displayed

The iMessages from companies may come as one-time alerts with no previous conversation history. Such messages from delivery apps or companies are generally to the point without much context.

This makes them look like spam. You assume it is sketchy and report it as junk. Later, you realize it’s your delivery or some important number.

V. Tech-Savvy Challenges

You could be tech-savvy, but sometimes you make mistakes, too. It is normal not to have an idea about what every feature on your phone does or how to use it.

Apart from a few usual features that everybody uses, people often have no idea what other features the phone has. You may sometimes try the features out of curiosity and then regret it, like reporting junk.

VI. Marketing Messages You Signed Up For

You subscribe to numerous promotions and deals from companies and apps that you usually forget to keep track of.

Later, we get reminder texts about them offering lucrative deals and unbelievable offers that make us annoyed, assuming they are not even genuine. So, you report it as junk.

Next time you are handling your messages, slow down, check numbers and messages, verify contacts, and proceed carefully. One single tap sometimes can make you regret more.

How to Prevent Accidental Reporting?

You can avoid accidentally reporting text messages as junk by following the tips below:

1. Don’t Rush to Tap “Report Junk”

It is normal to get the urge to clear out unwanted messages or texts from an unknown number. But while rushing to do so, you may accidentally report the message as junk.

So pause, read the message, check the number carefully, check if someone you know got a new number, and establish the authenticity of the number and message. If it still sounds sketchy, simply delete it.

2. Add Known Senders to Your Contacts

Once you add legitimate numbers to your contacts, your phone system will stop showing the Report Junk option.

If the number is in your contact, you won’t see that option anymore. Make sure to add new friends, family, and authorized businesses and companies to your contact list to avoid this mishap.

3. Block Instead of Reporting (When Appropriate)

Sometimes you know the message or the number is spam right away. You may not be comfortable with the text message subject and feel unsafe.

In this case, you can block the number without reporting it. Blocking is a safe choice against possible spam. It gives you control over who can text you and who you want to keep at bay.

4. Enable “Filter Unknown Senders”

iOS has this “Filter Unknown Senders” feature. If you enable this feature, your phone system stores the messages from the unknown sender in a separate tab.

This allows you the freedom to handle your messages from known contacts and lowers the risk of confusing them with other messages from unknown senders.

5. Be Aware of Common Spam Tactics

While some spam messages look phony, some successfully disguise themselves as legitimate. They might use a real company name and logo, and send you deals and information that sounds urgent and credible.

You need to be aware of such spam, as the chances of you believing those spam messages are high. Go online and search the company and contacts to verify its credibility.

6. Use Third-Party Spam Filtering Apps

You can also use apps like Hiya, Truecaller, or Robokiller for additional spam protection. These apps help with text and call filtering, also detecting spam, and notifying you immediately.

Some carriers offer spam-filtering apps. Check with your carrier if they are offering such services.

7. Know When to Use Report Junk

It is crucial to understand when to use this feature. Instead of carelessly tapping the option now and then, use it only when you are sure of spam or a scam.

If you receive any shady links, fake job offers, unsolicited offers, or lottery scams, report them as spam right away. Otherwise, delete the message to be secure or avoid the reporting hassle.

Usually, it is better to be safe than sorry. And it applies to both being careful with reporting messages as junk and reporting spam. Be sure to verify the number and message before rushing to report junk. But if it still feels unsettling, report it immediately.

You cannot unreport a junk text, nor is disabling the report junk an option. Hence, you need to use this feature wisely. Be careful with tapping the report junk button.

Conclusion

Accidental reporting of text messages as junk can be nerve-wracking. But hey, you are not alone. More often than not, we do it accidentally, while sometimes, we misjudge the number for its credibility.

Although you can report junk text in a single tap, unreporting the text is a whole other issue.

Since you cannot unreport the text, it is crucial to handle messages with care and attention.

You can avoid accidental reporting by being cautious and pausing once in a while to pay attention to numbers and messages so that you verify them before causing any regrettable mishaps.

FAQs

Will the sender know I reported their message as junk?

No. The sender won’t know when you report their message as junk, as Apple does not notify//them.

Can I retrieve the deleted junk message?

Yes. To recover a deleted text, you need a backup or a third-party recovery tool. Otherwise, you cannot retrieve them.

Does reporting a message as junk block the number automatically?

No, reporting a message as junk does not block the sender’s number. You can still receive messages from them until you manually block them.

Will I stop receiving messages from the sender if I report them as junk?

Not really. You can still receive their messages, especially if you add them to your contact list. If you do not want to receive any further messages, you can block them manually by yourself.

Can I recover a junk message using iCloud or backups?

If you have a recent iCloud or iTunes backup from before you deleted the message, there is a chance you could recover it. But this will reset your device to the backup point.

Can I find reported junk messages in a folder like spam email?

Unfortunately, no. iOS irrevocably deletes the messages when you report them as junk.