Gini catches suspicious texts and holds them for your review. Here's how to check these messages and decide what to do with them.
Opening Your Held Messages
Method 1: From the Dashboard
- Open Gini Help
- You're on the Dashboard (home screen)
- Look for Held Messages or a number badge showing caught texts
- Tap to open
Method 2: From Settings
- Open Gini Help
- Tap Settings
- Tap Text Message Protection
- Tap View Held Messages
Method 3: On iPhone Messages App
- Open the Messages app
- Tap Filters in the top-left
- Tap Junk
What You'll See
Each held message shows:
- Sender's number - Who sent it
- Message preview - First few words
- Why it was caught - "Suspicious link," "Spam detected," etc.
- Date and time - When it arrived
Reviewing a Message
Tap on any message to see:
- Full message text
- Complete sender information
- Detailed reason for filtering
- Available actions
Taking Action
If It's Spam or a Scam
Delete it:
- Tap Delete or the trash icon
- Confirm deletion
- The message is gone
Block the sender:
- Tap Block Sender
- Future texts from this number are automatically filtered
If It's a Real Message
Release to your inbox:
- Tap Not Spam or Release
- The message appears in your regular text conversations
- Gini learns that this sender is okay
Add to contacts: If it's someone you want to hear from:
- Release the message
- Save their number to your contacts
- Future messages from them won't be filtered
If You're Not Sure
Leave it:
- You don't have to take action immediately
- The message stays in Held Messages
- You can decide later
Check the sender:
- Google the phone number
- See if the message claims to be from a company you use
- When in doubt, contact the company directly through their official channels
Bulk Actions
To manage multiple messages at once:
- Look for Select or Edit mode
- Check the boxes next to messages you want to manage
- Choose Delete Selected or Release Selected
How Often to Check
Recommended: Once a week
A quick weekly check ensures:
- You don't miss legitimate messages
- Spam doesn't pile up
- You can spot patterns in scam attempts
Warning Signs in Held Messages
Even when reviewing, be careful of messages that:
- Claim you've won a prize
- Say your account is suspended
- Ask you to click a link immediately
- Request personal information
- Come from unknown numbers claiming to be family
These are almost always scams - even if they sound urgent.
What Happens to Released Messages
When you release a message:
- It appears in your regular text inbox
- You may get a notification about the "new" message
- Gini remembers this sender is okay
- Similar messages from this sender may not be filtered in the future
Can I Recover Deleted Messages?
Once you delete a message from Held Messages, it's gone permanently. If you're not sure about a message, leave it in Held Messages rather than deleting it.
Questions?
For more help, see:
- Understanding Held Messages
- How SMS Protection Works
- Why Gini Did Not Block a Spam Text