On iPhone, when Gini catches a suspicious text it is moved into the Junk folder in Messages, out of your main list. Gini keeps its own record of every message it flagged, so you can review them in one place.
On Android, nothing is moved. A flagged text stays in your normal Messages app and Gini sends you a warning notification about it. The list in the Gini app is a record of what was flagged — not a folder holding messages back.
Either way, nothing is ever deleted, and you can always read anything Gini flagged.
What Are Held Messages?
Held Messages is the list in the Gini app of every text it flagged as suspicious. Think of it as a spam folder for your text messages.
Messages end up here when Gini detects:
- Spam indicators
- Scam patterns
- Suspicious links
- Known fraud tactics
Where to Find Held Messages
In the Gini App
- Open Gini Help
- Tap Dashboard or Home
- Look for Held Messages or Filtered Texts
- Tap to see all caught messages
Or:
- Tap Settings
- Tap Text Message Protection
- Tap View Held Messages
On iPhone
- Open the Messages app
- Tap Filters in the top-left corner
- Tap Junk or Unknown Senders
Filtered messages appear here as well as in the Gini app.
On Android
Flagged texts are listed in the Gini app, but the messages themselves stay in your normal Messages app — Gini does not move them. Your phone may also have its own separate spam folder in Messages, which works independently of Gini.
What You Can Do With Held Messages
Review
Look at each message to decide if it's really spam or a legitimate text you want.
Release to Inbox
If a message was caught by mistake:
- Tap on the message
- Tap Not Spam or Release to Inbox
- The message moves to your regular text conversations
Delete
If the message is definitely spam:
- Tap on the message
- Tap Delete
- The message is permanently removed
Block the Sender
To stop future messages from this number:
- Tap on the message
- Tap Block Sender or Block Number
- Future texts from this number will be automatically blocked
Why Was This Message Held?
Gini analyzes each text for:
Suspicious Links
URLs that lead to fake websites or downloads.
Known Scam Patterns
Phrases like "You've won!" or "Verify your account immediately."
Urgent Demands
Messages pressuring you to act quickly.
Fake Sender Claims
Texts pretending to be from banks, delivery services, or government agencies.
Legitimate Messages in Held Folder
Occasionally a real message might end up in Held Messages. This happens because:
- It's from a number not in your contacts
- The message contained elements similar to spam
- The sender hasn't texted you before
What to Do
- Check the Held Messages folder regularly (once a week is good)
- Release any legitimate messages
- The system learns from your choices
Messages vs. Notifications
Held Messages: Suspicious texts from unknown senders
Notifications about held messages: Gini can alert you when new messages are filtered
To adjust these notifications:
- Go to Settings > Text Message Protection
- Look for notification preferences
- Turn alerts on or off as preferred
Tips
- Check weekly - A quick review ensures you don't miss anything important
- Release legitimate messages - This helps Gini learn
- Don't click links in held messages - Even when reviewing, avoid tapping links
- Block repeat offenders - If the same spam number appears multiple times, block it
Questions?
For more help, see:
- How SMS Protection Works
- How to Review Quarantined Texts
- Why Gini Did Not Block a Spam Text