Apple’s iOS 26 brings a spam-busting feature to Messages app

Apple has officially unveiled iOS 26 at this year's Worldwide Developer Conference, showcasing not only its striking Liquid Glass design but also a host of new features aimed at enhancing user experience. Among these, a significant update to the Messages app aims to tackle a common annoyance: spam messages. A recent report from 9to5Mac highlights a new functionality in the iOS 26 beta that allows users to silence texts from unknown senders. This feature effectively filters spam messages into a designated area within the app, helping users regain control over their inboxes. When activated, the Messages app will prompt users to enable a screening feature that identifies and sorts potential spam texts. Once this feature is turned on, notifications for these messages will be muted, and they will be relocated to a separate section, providing a cleaner messaging experience. Users can still access their filtered messages by clicking on the filtering tool located at the upper right corner of the Messages app. This update introduces four distinct sections: Messages, Unknown Senders, Spam, and Recently Deleted. While users won’t receive notifications for suspected spam texts, they will see a visual alert on the filters button whenever a screened message is available for review. This system allows users the flexibility to decide whether to engage with a text from an unknown sender or simply ignore it. However, iOS 26's new features are not without controversy. Reports have emerged this week indicating that the FaceTime app may freeze during video calls if nudity is detected. Initially introduced as part of a child safety initiative, this feature appears to impact all users and raises questions about whether it is a planned functionality or merely a glitch in the beta version. Stay connected for the latest technology news and updates by downloading The Mint News app, your source for daily market insights and live business updates.