Setting Up SMS Protection on iPhone

This guide walks you through setting up SMS protection on your iPhone. After setup, Gini will automatically filter spam and scam text messages.

Requirements

  • An iPhone running a recent version of iOS
  • The Gini Help app installed
  • A few minutes

Step-by-Step Setup

Step 1: Open SMS Protection Settings

  1. Open the Gini Help app on your iPhone
  2. Tap Settings at the bottom of the screen
  3. Tap Text Message Protection

Step 2: Start the Setup Process

Tap Set Up Protection or Enable Protection to begin.

Gini will guide you through the next steps.

Step 3: Enable SMS Filtering in iPhone Settings

The Gini app will ask you to enable SMS filtering in your iPhone's settings. Here's how:

  1. Open your iPhone's Settings app (the grey gear icon)
  2. Scroll down and tap Apps
  3. Scroll down to the letter M and tap Messages
  4. Scroll down to Message Filtering and tap Unknown & Spam
  5. Tap Gini Help to select it

On older versions of iOS, Messages sits directly in the main Settings list — there is no Apps section to tap through first. Everything after that is the same.

This is a picker, not a switch: your iPhone allows one message filter at a time, so choosing Gini Help replaces whatever was selected before. The Gini app shows you a picture of each screen as you go.

This tells your iPhone to use Gini to filter text messages from unknown senders. Messages from people in your contacts are never filtered.

Step 4: Return to the Gini App

After enabling SMS filtering:

  1. Go back to the Gini Help app
  2. The app will confirm that setup is complete
  3. You'll see a checkmark or "Protection Active" message

What You'll See After Setup

Once SMS protection is enabled:

  • A green checkmark appears next to Text Message Protection in the Gini app
  • Suspicious texts from unknown senders are moved into the Junk folder in Messages
  • Gini keeps its own list of everything it flagged, so you can review it in one place

Nothing is deleted. Anything filtered is still readable in the Junk folder.

How It Works on iPhone

When you receive a text from someone not in your contacts:

  1. The message arrives on your phone
  2. Gini analyzes it for spam and scam patterns
  3. If it's safe: The message appears in your regular inbox
  4. If it's suspicious: The message goes to the Junk folder in Messages and Gini's Held Messages

You can find filtered messages in two places:

  • iPhone Messages app: Look for the "Junk" or "Unknown Senders" section
  • Gini Help app: Tap the Held Messages section

Checking Your Held Messages

To see what Gini has caught:

In the Gini App:

  1. Open Gini Help
  2. Go to Dashboard or Settings > Text Message Protection
  3. Tap Held Messages or View Filtered Messages

In the Messages App:

  1. Open Messages
  2. Look for Filters at the top left (you may need to tap it)
  3. Tap Junk or Unknown Senders

Releasing a Legitimate Message

If Gini catches a text that you actually wanted:

  1. Find the message in your Held Messages or Junk folder
  2. Tap on the message
  3. Tap Not Junk or Move to Inbox

The message will move to your regular inbox, and future messages from that sender should come through normally.

Troubleshooting

"I can't find Message Filtering in Settings"

  • Make sure you're running iOS 14 or newer
  • Look under Settings > Messages > Message Filtering
  • The exact location may vary slightly between iOS versions

"Gini Help doesn't appear in the filter list"

  1. Make sure Gini Help is installed and updated
  2. Try closing the Settings app and opening it again
  3. Restart your iPhone and check again
  4. Uninstall and reinstall Gini Help if needed

"I'm still getting spam texts in my regular inbox"

  • Spam filtering only works for messages from unknown numbers (people not in your contacts)
  • Give it a day or two - the AI learns and improves
  • Some new scam tactics may slip through initially

"Legitimate texts are being filtered"

  1. Check your Held Messages/Junk folder regularly
  2. Mark legitimate messages as "Not Junk"
  3. Add important senders to your contacts

"I don't see a Junk folder in Messages"

The Junk folder only appears after:

  • SMS filtering is enabled
  • You've received at least one filtered message

If you just set up filtering, wait until you receive a spam text.

Turning Off SMS Protection

If you want to disable text message protection:

  1. Go to iPhone Settings > Messages > Message Filtering
  2. Turn OFF the switch next to Gini Help

Or in the Gini app:

  1. Go to Settings > Text Message Protection
  2. Tap Disable Protection or turn off the toggle

Tips for Best Results

  1. Keep Gini updated - App updates improve spam detection
  2. Check Held Messages weekly - Make sure nothing important was caught
  3. Mark false positives - When legitimate texts are filtered, mark them as "Not Junk"
  4. Add important contacts - Numbers in your contacts aren't filtered

Questions?

For more help, see:

  • How SMS Protection Works
  • Understanding Held Messages
  • Why Gini Did Not Block a Spam Text