How to hide your number when calling (iPhone and Android)

Maybe you are calling a landlord, a seller on a marketplace or a business that you do not want calling you back at all hours. Maybe you just prefer to keep your cell number to yourself. Either way, you can hide it, and it takes less than a minute. There are three ways to do it: a code you dial for one call, a setting on the phone that covers every call, and a block that your carrier puts on the line. Here is how each one works on iPhone and Android, which US carriers behave differently, and what to do when the person on the other end still sees your number.

What does the other person see when you hide your number?

When your caller ID is blocked, the screen of the person you call usually shows Private, Blocked, Anonymous, Unknown or No Caller ID. The exact word depends on their phone and their carrier. Your name and number do not show up on the call screen or in their recent calls list.

Hiding the number is not the same as being invisible. Your carrier still knows who is calling, and it can share that with the police if there is a legal request. Emergency numbers such as 911 always receive your real number, whatever setting you use. Treat caller ID blocking as a privacy tool for everyday calls, not as a shield.

How to hide your number for one call with *67

This is the fastest way and it works on nearly every US carrier, on both iPhone and Android. Because it is a carrier code and not a phone setting, you do not need to change anything first.

A few details help it work every time.

• Type the number by hand. If you call from your contacts or from the recents list, the code is not added. Copy the number, open the keypad, type *67 and paste the number. On an iPhone you can also tap the number in recents and use Edit before calling if your version offers it.
• It covers one call only. The next call shows your number again unless you use a setting that lasts.
• It does not hide your number in text messages. The code is for voice calls.
• To show your number on a call, dial *82 before the number. This is useful if you have blocked your caller ID for all calls and one person must see it.

How to hide your number on an iPhone for all calls

The iPhone has a switch for this, but not every carrier lets it work.

If the row is missing or greyed out, the carrier controls it. Verizon, for example, does not give iPhone customers this switch, so the options are to dial *67 or to ask Verizon to turn on Caller ID Blocking for your line, as explained below. If you have just changed carriers or set up an eSIM, the switch can take a little while to appear, so check again after a restart.

How to hide your number on Android for all calls

Android phones are made by many companies, and each names the menus a little differently. The idea is the same everywhere: open the Phone app, open its settings, find the caller ID option and choose to hide your number.

• Google Pixel and phones with the Google Phone app: open Phone, tap the three dots, tap Settings, then look for Calls, Call settings or Additional settings, and then Caller ID. Choose Hide number.
• Samsung Galaxy: open Phone, tap the three dots, tap Settings, then Supplementary services. Tap Show my caller ID and choose Hide number. On some Galaxy models the row sits under Call settings.
• Other brands: search the Phone app's settings for caller ID. If you cannot find it, use *67 or ask your carrier.

The setting can be missing if your carrier manages it. When it is, the carrier block in the next section is the answer.

How to hide your number with your carrier

A carrier block works on any phone and survives a new device, which is its main benefit. It is also the only option when the phone has no switch.

• Verizon: Verizon offers Caller ID Blocking as a free service. In the My Verizon app, go to Plans and Devices, choose the device, tap View details, tap Block specific services and switch on Caller ID Blocking. Only the account owner or an account manager can change it. Some iPhone customers have reported that the option does not show in the app, so if you do not see it, contact Verizon or use *67.
• AT&T and T-Mobile: check the account settings in the carrier's app or website, or contact support and ask for permanent Caller ID blocking on the line. The menu names change over time, so use the carrier's own help pages for the current steps.
• Prepaid and smaller carriers: support is usually by chat or phone. Ask whether the line can have outgoing Caller ID blocked, and whether *67 works for single calls.

Why does hiding your number not work?

If the person still sees your number, or the call does not connect, one of these is usually the reason.

• They block anonymous callers. Some people and some carriers reject any call with no caller ID. You may hear a message that tells you to unblock your number, or the call may simply fail. Call them with your number showing.
• You are calling a toll-free or business line. Many toll-free and business services can still capture the number that dialed, even when it is hidden on the call screen.
• You are calling 911. Emergency services always get your number.
• You typed the code wrong. It must be *67 with nothing between the code and the number.
• A setting is overriding it. A carrier block or phone setting that you switched on earlier can conflict with the code. Check that Show My Caller ID, or its Android equivalent, is not turned back on.
• You called through an app. Calls through WhatsApp, FaceTime, Google Meet or another app use that service's own identity and not your carrier number.

Should you hide your number?

It depends on who you call. Many people do not answer calls from a hidden number, because spam and scam calls often use one. If you want your call answered, a hidden number may work against you, especially with doctors, delivery drivers, employers and anyone who does not know you yet. Text them first, or leave your number in a voicemail.

It is also worth knowing that hiding your number is for privacy, not for pestering anyone. Using a blocked number to harass or threaten a person is illegal, and carriers can trace it. If someone is bothering you with calls, our guides on blocking a number on iPhone and blocking one on Android show what to do from the receiving side.

What are the other ways to keep your number private?

• Give a second number for listings and deals. A free voice app or a second line gives you a number you can drop later.
• Use a messaging app for the first contact with someone you do not know, and move to a call when you trust them.
• Keep your real number off public posts and listings, where bots and scammers collect numbers.
• Turn on the spam filter on your own phone, so that you are protected on the incoming side as well. See how to stop spam calls on iPhone.

How do you show your number again?

Reverse whatever you set up. For a single call, dial *82 and then the number. On an iPhone, turn Show My Caller ID back on in Settings, then Phone. On Android, return to the caller ID row in the Phone app's settings and choose Show number or Network default. If a carrier block is on, switch it off in your account or ask support. Then call a friend and ask what name or number appears, to confirm it worked.

Still not working?

Restart the phone, then try *67 once more with a different number. If that fails, check that your line has no restrictions, because a suspended or limited line can behave oddly. Then contact your carrier and tell them which phone you use and what you see. If you are mostly worried about calls that reach you, read what a No Caller ID call really is, and keep your own number off public pages.