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How to Stop Flash Messages on Android Smartphones (Airtel, Vodafone, Idea, BSNL and Jio)

Last Updated on March 27, 2020 by Amar Ilindra 18 Comments

Everyone moved to instant messaging applications like WhatsApp and the usage of normal text messages has got down to almost zero. Except for OTPs and transactional messages, people have stopped using traditional SMS. Since people are not checking their SMS inbox, advertisers started sending annoying flash messages to promote offers. Flash SMS is definitely annoying and blocks the entire screen with a popup and user interaction is required to close them. Fortunately, a simple solution is available to stop flash messages on any Android device permanently.

Most of the flash messages will be coming from your network service provider and they are enabled by default. Since the option for disabling is buried deep inside the settings, a very few people notice to disable flash messages. Unlike normal notification that appears on the top and dismisses automatically, flash messages appear at the center of the screen as a pop-up with an option to either accept or cancel it.

Most of the times those will be a service activation messages and accepting it accidentally will surely deduct money from your network balance. In order to get rid of the annoying pop-ups and accidental service activations, you need to disable flash messages on your Android device.

stop flash sms in Android

The process is very simple but the name of the service will be different for each network provider. Don’t worry, I’ll summarize the service names of all popular networks which you need to deactivate to stop flash messages on Android phones and tablets.

Steps to disable flash messages in Android

Here is the generic solution to stop flash SMS on any Android smartphone. For the tutorial, I have taken Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro with Vodafone SIM inside. However, the steps for deactivating flash messages will be almost the same for other network providers like  Airtel, Idea, BSNL, etc. The only difference will be the name of the services you need to deactivate.

  1. Unlock your phone and go to the app drawer.
  2. Open SIM toolkit application.
  3. Tap on the flash SMS service.
  4. Click Activation.
  5. Select Deactivate.
  6. Click OK for confirmation.

steps to disable flash messages in Android

Once you deactivate or stop the service, you will never receive a promotional flash message from your network provider unless you enable again or reset your mobile. If you are not a Vodafone user, then you might notice minor differences in the wordings of the above steps. For instance, on a few networks, it will be Stop / Start instead of Deactivate / Activate. To clear the confusion, here are the exact service names and steps for each service provider.

Bharti Airtel

To disable flash messages on Android with Airtel network, open SIM toolkit application and tap on Airtel Now! service. Now click on Start / Stop and select Stop to deactivate flash SMS completely. You may also receive a text message confirming the deactivation of service.

In addition, you can also message STOP ANOW to 58234 to request the service deactivation.

Vodafone

In order to stop flash SMS on Android with Vodafone network, open SIM toolkit app, click on FLASH! and select Activation option. Here you need to click on Deactivate and select OK to confirm the selection.

Idea

Similar to Airtel, you have two options to deactivate flash messages in Idea network. The first method is to open the Idea Power app on your Android mobile and tap on Idea Flash service. Now select the Activation option and tap Deactivate to discontinue the service.

The other way is dialing *121*46# from your default phone dialer.

BSNL

BSNL Android users, you need to open the BSNL Mobile app on your phone and click on BSNL Buzz service. In this screen, tap on Activation, select Deactivate and hit OK to disable flash SMS on your BSNL mobile.

Reliance Jio

The process is complex in case of Reliance Jio. Unfortunately, on Android phones with Jio SIMs, you can not find SIM toolkit application to disable any services on your network. The best possible way to disable fullscreen pop-up overlay ads in Jio is by contacting the customer support at @JioCare along with your mobile number. They can turn off these ads for your number at the server level.

Meanwhile, you can also try uninstalling Jio 4G Voice, MyJio, Jio Music, Jio Movies and all other Jio apps one by one to make sure none of them are responsible for showing flash messages.

Network Steps to stop flash SMS
Airtel SIM toolkit > Airtel Now! > Start / Stop > Stop > OK
Vodafone SIM toolkit > FLASH! > Activation > Deactivate > OK
Idea Idea Power > Idea Flash > Activation > Deactivate >OK
BSNL BSNL Mobile > BSNL Buzz > Activation > Deactivate > OK
Jio Contact Jio customer care or try uninstalling all Jio apps from your Android mobile.

What about Class 0 messages?

class 0 message in Android

If you are still getting flash messages occasionally even after disabling them, then they must be class 0 messages. The worst part about class 0 message is, you can not stop them from. The sender of Class 0 messages are difficult to trace and it is not possible to block them. If you are frequently getting class 0 messages, don’t hesitate to contact the customer support and they might be able to block it at the server end.

This is how you can disable or stop flash messages on your Android mobiles. I have covered multiple networks provides along with their service names. In the case of dual SIM mobiles, after opening the SIM toolkit app, you need to first select the network and the rest of the steps remains the same. Hope this article is helpful and you will be able to stop flash messages on Android devices easily.

#Advertising#Airtel#Android#BSNL#Idea#Jio#SMS#Text Messaging#Vodafone
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Amar Ilindra is a gadget freak, tech enthusiast and full stack developer. He loves to try everything with technology and blog about his tech experience. Apart from writing, he spends most of this time developing useful web apps and mobile applications for Android and iOS.

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Comments

  1. Avatar for Venu nVenu n says

    November 4, 2021 at 12:48 AM

    Stop flash message

    Reply
  2. Avatar for PrajwalPrajwal says

    October 5, 2021 at 2:16 PM

    I’m using Samsung phone and I get a lot of flash messages and Samsung oneui don’t have the sim toolkit option please tell me what to do

    Reply
  3. Avatar for kashif hassankashif hassan says

    January 21, 2021 at 2:27 PM

    how to block flash sms in ZONG pakistan?

    Reply
  4. Avatar for Sidhesh KholkarSidhesh Kholkar says

    December 19, 2020 at 11:13 PM

    Very very helpful

    Reply
  5. Avatar for NsnNsn says

    December 12, 2020 at 2:45 PM

    For jio use MyJio app and in setting disable End of call message

    Reply
  6. Avatar for THANKGOD EMMANSONTHANKGOD EMMANSON says

    August 21, 2020 at 6:54 PM

    I’m using gionee s10 lite,my SIM talkit is not opening. Please help me, what do I do to deactivate this message, taking all my recharging. Thanks

    Reply
    • Avatar for Amar IlindraAmar Ilindra says

      August 24, 2020 at 10:13 AM

      What is your Mobile Network Operator?

      Reply
  7. Avatar for Sumeet GaurSumeet Gaur says

    May 19, 2020 at 7:25 PM

    Hi, using the 2 pathetic of the lots…. VODAFONE & SAMSUNG (A50). The samsung one UI doesn’t have sim tool kit or Vodafone services and even worse, samsung doesn’t have the option to disable flash. Please help.

    Reply
    • Avatar for Amar IlindraAmar Ilindra says

      May 20, 2020 at 12:55 PM

      You can also disable the flash messages on Vodafone by sending a text message.

      Prepaid Users:
      SMS CAN FLASH to 144

      Postpaid Users:
      SMS CAN FLASH to 199

      Reply
      • Avatar for kpkp says

        October 12, 2020 at 9:23 PM

        This worked – please include it in your article thanks.

        Reply
  8. Avatar for vkvk says

    December 19, 2019 at 11:52 AM

    Very informative and detailed. thank you

    Reply
  9. Avatar for SomsubhraSomsubhra says

    December 8, 2019 at 5:48 PM

    Thanks the flash message has stopped

    Reply
  10. Avatar for adairadair says

    November 1, 2019 at 4:00 PM

    Hi Amar,

    I thought I had struck gold when I found your site re:flash messages BUT Idea /Vodafone in last system update only has in Sim toolkit IDEA POWER 2 which is useless as IDEA POWER 2 works for only one option ” premium services”. I have tried EVERYTHING on my Redmi note 4 to disengage the VZ IDEA charge notification and nothing works. Before the system update I was at least able to find deep deep in the menu world an option to turn off the sound of the notification. Now… that is not even possible. Any new research on this?

    Reply
    • Avatar for Amar IlindraAmar Ilindra says

      November 1, 2019 at 11:44 PM

      Hi

      Can you please provide more details about the “System update”? What is the current latest version you are using or what is the previous version that worked partially for you?

      Reply
      • Avatar for Koushik KarmakarKoushik Karmakar says

        April 10, 2021 at 11:56 AM

        I am facing same issue.

        Reply
  11. Avatar for RoseRose says

    September 22, 2019 at 6:25 PM

    Thanks a lot for the info,I kept getting flash messages every 3-5 mins.

    Reply
  12. Avatar for Nony MouseNony Mouse says

    July 27, 2019 at 7:14 PM

    Thanks. You are a life saver.

    Reply
  13. Avatar for Bishal dasBishal das says

    July 25, 2019 at 12:44 PM

    Thanks a lot, Flash Messages got stopped

    Reply

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