Keep spam texts
out of sight.
What Sift does
Sift Filter sorts text messages from unknown senders using rules you write: block anything containing "prize", file shipping updates under Transactions, or always let your pharmacy through. Everything runs on your iPhone; nothing is sent anywhere. See the privacy policy.
Turn on filtering
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Apps, then Messages.
- Tap Unknown & Spam.
- Under SMS Filtering, select Sift.
Then open Sift and add filters to the Block List or Allow List.
Using Sift
Block and Allow lists
Block filters send matching messages to Junk, or to Promotions or Transactions if you choose. Allow filters always win: a message that matches an allow filter stays in your inbox even if it also matches a block filter.
Match modes
Each filter can match text that contains, starts with, ends with or exactly equals your keyword, or a regular expression for advanced patterns. Options let you ignore case and require a space or punctuation around the keyword so "win" doesn't match "window".
Test a message
Tap the magnifying-glass button on the main screen, paste a message, and Sift shows which filter (if any) would catch it.
Share filters
Use the share button to send your filters as a link. To import someone else's, tap the link, or copy it and tap Paste under Sharing › Import Filters. Sift shows the filters and skips any you already have.
Questions
Why wasn't an iMessage filtered?
iOS only lets filter apps see SMS and MMS texts from senders who aren't in your contacts. iMessages and messages from contacts never reach Sift.
How do I know filtering is on?
iOS doesn't let apps check whether their filter is enabled, so Sift can't show a status. If messages aren't being sorted, check the setting above. Filtered messages appear under Junk, Promotions or Transactions in Messages.
Does Sift read my messages?
Only to compare them against your filters, on your iPhone, at the moment they arrive. Messages are never stored or sent anywhere.
Contact
Found a problem or have a suggestion? Email sift@steveboyer.dev.