What Released in iOS 26?
Screen Unknown Senders Opt in to stay in control of who can reach you. Screened messages from unknown numbers are placed in a new area of your conversation list and out of your way. Once you approve a screened number, they can call or text you across Phone, FaceTime, and Messages.
Text Filters Opt In to further organizing messages from unknown senders by sorting them into Promotions (offers, marketing, subscriptions) and Transactions (receipts, bills, confirmations) so you can quickly find important information.
Allow Notifications Select with type of messages—Time Sensitive, Personal, Transactions or Promotions—from unknown senders you want to be notified for. Messages in the selected categories will show notifications and appear in the main conversation list for 8 hours.
Learn more about iOS 26: OS - iOS 26
How Does This Affect Me?
If you have Screen Unknown Senders enabled on your iPhone, text messages from your hotel, vacation rental, or other accommodation properties may be filtered away from your main iMessages inbox since their phone numbers likely aren't saved in your contacts.
This means you could miss important communications such as:
- Check-in instructions and door codes
- Property information and hours
- Emergency notifications or alerts
- Checkout reminders and instructions
What you might experience:
- Property messages appear in the "Unknown Senders" section instead of your main conversation list
- You won't receive immediate notifications for these messages unless you've selected "Transactions" in your notification preferences
- Time-sensitive information (like last-minute reservation codes) might be delayed if you don't regularly check filtered messages
How Can I Receive Automated Messages?
By default, your Messages settings should have Screen Unknown Senders disabled which allows you to receive Akia’s automated messages, regardless if you already have the property saved in your contacts.
📲 You can check your Messages settings by going to Settings > Apps > Messages > Screen Unknown Senders
If you have Screen Unknown Senders enabled, please ensure that Time Sensitive notifications are also enabled so you can receive Akia’s automated messages.
