Microsoft is closing down its old Call + SMS app for Windows 10 Mobile users to make way for the new Block and Filter feature. The Call + SMS received one final update today, informing users of its shut down.
Call + SMS for Windows Phone first launched in November 2013 and allowed Lumia device owners users to block unwanted calls and messages. Now those functions has moved over to the Block and Filter feature in Windows 10 Mobile, which is built into the OS,
Thanks to Clayton for the tip!
Reader comments
Microsoft shuts down Call + SMS for Windows 10 Mobile in favor of Block and Filter
it blocked calls twice, then never again after.
OK.. then maybe a little more help with the Block and Filter app?
Man, it is so hard to find info on the most basic things and this is a perfect example of why
I use cortana's "quiet hours" function to block unwanted calls and SMS basically if you're not on my inner circle, you dont get in... Much better than block and filter!
Anyone know why they made this change?
why does that take so long for microsoft to do so...there are other other apps like that too..for e.g ther are two display settings , one being of wp8.1's which has colour profile settings and isnt woking good and is still isnt merged with the win10..we want every app in extras settings to be merged into general settings
Block and Filter can't block private numbers with this option activated or it only works the first time and then it never blocks again.
Block doesn't even block text messages though. They need to fix that.
And a proper sms delivery notification, it's when ??? Because the separate thread is not very practical...
Block and filter sucks! I'm currently being harassed by a caller from a private number. There is an option to block all private numbers. The block only seems to last about 8-12 hours before the calls start coming through again.
When I check, the setting is still on.
I noticed I have to toggle it on and off every 8-12 hours.
Block and Filter still doesn't block unwanted calls and messages in Windows 10 Mobile. Atleast Call + SMS filter used to work in Windows phone 8.1
True caller for me
Does it work with Windows phone 8.1 out is it only for Windows 10 mobile?
It's working here in windows 8.1 and shut down in win 10
I dont have call+sms filter since 1 or 2 build ago and luckily found the block option that buried deep down in call.
I didn't receive any update on my phone
It is sad to see you go call + sms. We have been trough so much together. To everything comes an end. We have to accept that. Farewell. God bless you.
Shame Microsoft don't have global psalmist, that autoblocks numbers
Microsoft should give up. They will never reach Android/IOS with this junk OS and the lack of apps support. Even on Lumia 950 Windows 10 Mobile is buggy. And we are close to the official realease. WHY would someone buy the Lumia 950? when there are IOS/Android smartphones with stable OS, all the apps you will ever need and smoothness.
MICROSOFT, ARE YOU EVEN THINKING?
I regret that i trusted Microsoft's promises.. Next upgrade will not be a WP for sure.
Android and ios stable? you obviously do not use those devices as much as i do.
The most stable smartphone OS i have ever worked with was Windows mobile 6 and windows phone7 and 8.
Lol that's sad that Windows 10 is not including and missing. Marshmallow has been sweet and smooth sailing unfortunate for Windows 10
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Lol @ android and stable in the same phrase
I know to bad Windows 10 isn't including. Oh well better luck next time
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Troll better next time
+1 Boyack. (y)
All of this back and forth on what should be an app and what should be part of the OS is driving users mad.
If MS wanted to deliver something good, they'd provide API hooks for hubs and bring them back.
Driving users mad? Windows 10 Mobile hasn't been released officially yet except to 950/950XL/550 lol.
Also - they are doing this to remove old Nokia-leftovers and making them standard across all Windows devices. These are still updatable baked in apps just like all the other settings.
Great UI for the new 'block and filter': to reach its settings, open the phone app (which has a pivot without hamburger), open bottom menu, choose 'blocked calls' (which is above 'settings'). Now there's a screen with hamburger without pivot. Open hamburger menu (not the bottom one this time) and choose settings. An utter mess.
Without backup, import/export this is basically useless. Especially for Insiders that wipe their phone a lot. Also never blocks hidden numbers anymore.
Block and Filter not available for Lumia950 in Switzerland?!
lean and mean baby!!!
I prefer TrueCaller APP
True caller. Only thing that is good for, is stealing your phone numbers.
True caller puts all your phone numbers in their database so they can have "Caller Id". I sure dont want family and friends private numbers out there
Calls & SMS would just show an error message to me any time I started it up, so I'm glad I can stop waiting for an update to fix it now.
I do wish the Block and Filter feature was a little easier to discover, but I guess being a part of the phone "app" makes sense.
Why wouldn't the Block and Filter update automatically replace Calls & SMS? Why should the user be tasked with taking care of this themselves.
It's the same crap as how Lumia Help + Tips got installed on my 950 even though it supposedly isn't supported by Windows 10. It even continued getting updates which resulted in a non-functional app icon that I couldn't delete.
I'm pretty sure they can do that already. But they did it like this to INFORM users who used the old app to use the new app. If they just randomly replaced an app, users of the previous app would be confused as to where it went.
True Caller does the job better for me.
Even if I block a few numbers with Block & Filter, I still receive call and sms from those numbers. Call+sms filter was working fine. Hopefully, MS will iron out the bugs quite well..
This app doesn't work, at least call+sms filter worked reliably
Well I never understood why this blocking number wasn't on the OS and had to be an app. so it's good they are finally integrating it on the OS, so everyone can have it.
I remember once my mother got messages from strange numbers, even if they were blocked... apparently the app wasn't working and it needed a soft reset. but yeah, being part of the OS might be more stable and nicer, so, good decision.
Go to setting > system > phone...
*somewhere down there *
Choose app
Calling & messaging
settings, system, telephone, at the end of menu choose applications.
I don't see the block feature. Edit: Nevermind. I'm dumb.
Still doesn't properly block calls like it did when Nokia first introduced it. A "blocked caller" now just goes to voicemail. Who wants a voicemail from someone you blocked??? I could just hit ignore for that. It used to just drop the call and not give that person the opportunity to go to voicemail.
BTW, I've submitted feedback a while ago in the feedback app if anyone wants to upvote it.
I agree 100% I have spammers calling daily from Fake Microsoft and Fake DELL that wont give up trying to trick someone into letting them control my computer. I ended up installing TrueCaller to see if that would help. I have a 950XL and the blocking there didnt seem to help as it went to Voicemail. It is crazy how they use DELL's masked caller ID, some other 6699, or private number. AT&T isnt helping either, but it would be nice to really block calls from the OS without third party apps. I'll up vote this tonight!
Call and SMS Filter on WP8.1 punts all blocked calls to voicemail. *shrug*
Used to just drop them before the Nokia buy.
So where do u find block and filter?..I do have call and sms in extras but block and filter is nowhere to be found.
tap and hold on a number in your call history
Ok found it. By going to contact/called number by press on number and a menu comes up...looks easier
Either way, the feature is not working. I have already blocked a number (and tried to do so again several times) that dials me every day and it still gets through
At least your gives you the impression that it has blocked someone, on my side it gives me a funny error message when I try to block a number
How do i access block and filter ?
I'm wondering the same thing. It seems like my 950 doesn't have block and filter or call+sms installed.
i can't find the app, but for some reason it is under Storage - > Apps and Games. Still cannot uninstall it. Where is the damn thing?? I really liked the call and sms filter. SO MANY ******* WEIRD CHANGES. UNNECESSARY CHANGES.
open the "phone" app, tape "..." at lower-right corner, choose "blocked calls", that's the block & filter.
Seems like duel sim phones don't have it.
There is in the DualSIM mobile, on my Lumia 640 XL DualSIM, with Windows 10 Mobile 10586.63, go to Phone Apps then press "... /three dot" in the right below corner, then "Blocked calls" in this case i linked tiles, even do unlinked tiles, also still there the "Blocked calls" to access bild in calls and messege filter
Its linked in Phone App. Check there....
I go to phone Tile Screen, then History and long press on a call I want to block. Tap on block number and does nothing. I have this issue since couple of builds ago. Also if tap in Blocked calls, it does nothing
Lumia 920 - Build 10.0.10586.63
You are not the only one
So let me get this straight: Microsoft claims a key element of their strategy is to take things out of the OS and make them apps to give flexibility in updating. Then..... they go and move things that already work fine in an app to the OS?
It's also an "app", but now it's for everyone instead of just Lumia users.
So you are saying that John was wrong when he said: "Now those functions has moved over to the Block and Filter feature in Windows 10 Mobile, which is built into the OS,"
Correct, it is built into the OS but also works as an app as it can be updated throught he store (just like it's been overtime).
When he says "built into the OS", it means into the Settings app, which means just like all the other settings can get updated just like an app. It still behaves baked in, but can be updated like an app.
Wish Block & Filter gets a fix for the nasty bug of resetting the filters after a restart. Basic functionality that was never tested! Every time phone gets restarted due to some or the other issue, I have to add those lovely folks again on to my filter list. Daniel - shout as loud as you can and get this fixed please. Will you?
Sounds good
Goodbye my lover...goodbye my friend.... xD temporary only....
Microsoft abandons their apps and only updates them just to inform they are going to shut them down.
This was an app created by Nokia and only worked on Lumia phones. This is Microsoft shutting down an app that was exclusive to Lumias because this feature is built in to the OS for ALL devices that run W10M now.
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You have been the one... You have been the one for me.
I love James Blunt haha
Best part is that it's not Lumia exclusive functionality anymore.
This, so much. It should be standard, not exclusive.
Ah! Nice observation. That is indeed good.
Sadly.
I know. It's awesome that Microsoft is doing this. I can't imagine why anyone would ever dislike this.
Most Lumia fans prefer Lumia exclusives but that's gone. Let's hope the other oems release their apps then
At this time, Microsoft needs more OEMs to sell their phones with the Windows OS. It makes perfect business sense to make the OS as feature rich as they possibly can. In addition, by embedding the s/w into the OS, it should promise better performance. Like earlier, the software sometimes allowed half a ring before dropping calls for blocked numbers. It may be better if this is baked in the OS
Makes sense. I always found it confusing that there were two separate options that do the same thing.
Does it do *all* the same things, our are there missing features? Does it have a liver role like Call and SMS Filter does? Does it block MMS yet? Right now (at least in Windows 8.1), if you have someone blocked it will block calls and SMSs but not MMSs, which isn't the expected behaviour for me.
By "liver role" I mean "live tile". Not sure why I can't edit the comment. :-)
hahaha, I was wondering what the "liver role" was.
You know the liver is capable of doing several hundred different things. You could say it has many "features". So "liver role" seemed appropriate to me. Haha
Yep, the new one finally does that. How stupid was not blocking damn MMS lol drove me mental
Now *that* is a reason to get excited about Windows 10 Mobile for me! :D
I know it's stupid but it really annoys me that I can't uninstall this app now.
you can from the storage settings
Well how about that. Now I've seen everything.
That's bloody awesome. Never knew that. Thanks
Huh, nice. I was getting mildly annoyed by the redundant entries of the two apps.
Now how do I get rid of the blank Travel icon?
It'll probably be uninstalled after a few OS or App updates.
Why can't you uninstall it (if you know)?
I guess worst case you can do a hard reset and no restore. For me that would only cost a few weeks of figuring out and re-installing which 50 or so of the hundreds of apps I own but no longer had on my phone. LoL
Yeah, once-upon-a-time teh Uninstall might've been available - however, 'tis that no moar. :-/
^^ Screenshot @i.imgur.com/ov3xP8e.png
Just set date to something 2150 years or so, then TRY open it. You'll have uninstall option (for this and many more in Settings)
Strange but call+sms doesn't seem to have ever been installed on my 950 and I can't find block and filter anywhere.
Maybe dual sim phones don't have this feature yet.
Go to all settings > Phone
Scroll down to where it says "Choose apps" after the manage recorded calls drop-down, and select that. Brings me to where I can choose what I want to filter calls. With 10586.29 it's set to "Block and Filter"
Block and filter is linked into phone app
I had it on my 640 DS.. but once i upgraded to w10.. It automatically got replaced by block and filter settings