How to Undo Junk Text on iPhone

The iOS 16 update introduced a new ‘Report Junk' option that allows iPhone users to easily report unwanted spam messages and calls.

However, some users have complained about accidentally tapping ‘Report Junk', even on legitimate messages and calls. This guide will walk you through the step-by-step process to undo accidentally reported junk on your iPhone.

Understanding the Report Junk Feature in iOS 16

The ‘Report Junk' option is displayed after you delete a message or end a call on your iPhone. Tapping this prompts Apple to analyze that message or call.

If enough users report it as junk, Apple will start filtering out similar messages/calls in every iPhone user's inbox.

This crowdsourced reporting helps Apple enhance its spam detection capabilities. However, some legitimate messages or calls can get incorrectly reported as junk due to accidental taps or lack of context.

Common Reasons for Accidentally Reporting Junk

Before we jump into the steps to undo reported junk, let's first understand why users often make this mistake:

1. The ‘Report Junk' button is too prominent when deleting messages or ending calls. It's easy to tap by reflex.
2. The interface doesn't make it clear that ‘Report Junk' tags that specific message/call as spam universally.
3. Users may not be aware of the implications of reporting junk.
4. Messages with unusual formatting can appear suspicious at first glance.
5. Legitimate messages with spelling errors or odd wording can seem spammy.
6. Lack of context for a call or message can lead to mislabeling it as junk.

Step-by-Step Instructions to Undo Reported Junk

Now let's look at how to undo the ‘Report Junk' action for messages, calls, and emails on your iPhone running iOS 16:

Undoing Reported Junk Messages

1. Open the Messages app on your iPhone.
2. Find the conversation containing the message you want to undo.
3. Long press on the erroneously reported message bubble.
4. Tap ‘More' in the pop-up menu.
5. Choose the ‘Not Junk' option.

This will remove the junk tag from that particular message. The sender will no longer be blocked from sending you messages.

Undoing Reported Junk Calls

1. Open the Phone app on your iPhone.
2. Go to the Recent tab.
3. Find the phone number you want to undo.
4. Swipe left on the call entry and tap ‘More'.
5. Choose ‘Not Junk' to remove the block.

The phone number will be restored, and you'll be able to receive calls from it again.

Undoing Reported Junk Emails

1. Open the Mail app and go to the Junk folder.
2. Locate the accidentally reported email.
3. Swipe left on the email.
4. Tap on ‘More'.
5. Choose ‘Not Junk' to move the email back to your inbox.

This will prevent emails from that sender from going to your junk folder automatically.

Bulk Undo Through Settings

You can also undo reported calls, messages, and emails in bulk via the Settings app:

1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
2. Tap on ‘Phone' or ‘Messages'.
3. Go to ‘Call Blocking & Identification' or ‘Unknown & Spam'.
4. Find the erroneously reported entries.
5. Toggle the switch off to undo.

This will unblock or unreported multiple flagged calls, messages, or senders together.

Preventing Accidental Junk Reporting

Now that you know how to undo reported junk, here are some tips to avoid accidental reporting in the future:

1. Pause and double-check before tapping ‘Report Junk'.
2. Update your contacts so messages/calls from known people aren't mislabeled.
3. Carefully read messages and consider context before reporting.
4. Disable touch input or enable ‘Confirm with Tap' to avoid reflex taps.
5. Wait for iOS 16.1, which will make the report junk action less prominent.
6. Tap above the report options to dismiss the prompt entirely.

What Happens If You Can't Undo Reported Junk?

If for some reason you are unable to undo an accidentally reported message, call, or email as junk on your iPhone, here is what will happen:

1. You will stop receiving messages/calls/emails from that sender.
2. The sender's messages/calls/emails will be filtered out for all iPhone users.
3. The sender may get blocked by iPhone without notice.
4. Future communication from that sender will go straight to your junk folder.
5. The sender's reputation may be unfairly tarnished due to false reporting.
6. You may miss out on important messages if the sender is unaware of the block.

So, if the undo options don't work, it's best to directly inform the sender about the accidental report and advise them to send you a test message.

When to Report Junk Legally on iPhone

While accidental reporting should be avoided, there are times when the ‘Report Junk' option serves an important purpose:

1. Report spam messages from unknown numbers trying to scam you.
2. Flag obvious phishing attempts from untrusted email addresses.
3. Report calls from suspicious phone numbers.
4. Use it on messages/emails with dangerous malware links.
5. Tag scam messages demanding money or personal data.
6. Report texts/calls with illegal or abusive content.

Responsible reporting helps create a safer iPhone experience for everyone. But be 100% certain before you tap ‘Report Junk' on any message or call.

Key Takeaways

1. Accidentally tapping ‘Report Junk' can block legitimate messages and calls.
2. You can undo this action for individual messages, calls, or emails.
3. Bulk undo is also possible via the Settings app.
4. Be more mindful before using the ‘Report Junk' option.
5. Only report obvious spam/scams to avoid mislabeling important communication.

By following this guide, you can now easily fix any accidental junk reporting on your iPhone running iOS 16. Share this with other iPhone users to spread awareness and prevent bogus blocking.